Partitioning the Drives in XP

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Member Since: Nov 04, 2005

I was thinking of partitiong my drive. In fact I allready did. I want to try two operating systems. One for my XP compatable software, and one for the Windows Millinium software. Actually it is Guitar Tracks Pro, for Millinium, and the XP is for the Cubase 0404 EMU card and software, as if I don't allready have problems. Now I got to make it worse. But, on to the subject matter. Like I said, I allready partitioned my Harddrive. I wasn't expecting to use two operating systems. I just did it to experiment. But it worked. But the two drives say Logical Drives. I now want to install Windows Millinuim on the other Logical Drive. Do I have to change the drive to an Extended Partition or can I leave it as Logical Drive. This is in Computer Management in Control Panel. Then under Disk Management. Can I add my other operating system in Disk Management or do I have to go through all the steps from the beginning again. You know formatting from the beginning, rebooting and installing Windows XP and then partitioning from the beginning. Any info appreciated. Actually out of all the recording trouble I have had, I think this is more fun than a Barrel of Monkeys playing trombone at a Donkeys wedding.

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Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Nov 05, 2005 04:41 pm

Run Guitar Tracks Pro on XP, don't use Millenium for just that, or just anything...XP is the FAR more stable operating system, ME, I personally liked, but it has a fair share of issues, and it runs on the FAT file system whereas XP runs on NTFS...XP has backwards compatability features to run older software and it actually work pretty well...I would definately try running it on XP before commiting to the dual boot thing...it's likely just not necessary.

www.TheLondonProject.ca
Member
Since: Feb 07, 2005


Nov 05, 2005 06:02 pm

Quote:
XP has backwards compatability features to run older software


Tip: right click on the program icon and select properties -> compatibility and change it to the desired OS.

Sound Gal - Michelle
Member
Since: Jul 11, 2005


Nov 05, 2005 10:10 pm

Windows ME is the stuff my night mares are made of. Steer away from it at all costs. Stick with XP.

The Eternal Student
Member
Since: Oct 08, 2005


Nov 05, 2005 11:14 pm

I second the motion. One of my roommates had a laptop with ME on it... he had all kinds of problems with it... then he reformatted... then he almost had as many problems with it. Chances are, XP will still run your program (I ran a game designed for win 95 on XP).

Member
Since: Mar 12, 2005


Nov 06, 2005 05:41 am

I did that once, screwed everything up, stick to XP n use only one large partition, works great, U can also tweek the mem for performance, its fast n cool.

Member
Since: Nov 04, 2005


Nov 06, 2005 08:57 am

What program icon and where is it located.

Member
Since: Nov 04, 2005


Nov 06, 2005 09:04 am

Is that really you in the picture. If it is you, and your a girl your pretty. Just kidding! But really you are pretty. Hard to take advice from a girl sometimes. But there advice is allways helpfull. Actually, when I was running windows ME, and using Guitar tracks pro, it worked great. But I didn't like the sound quality. You could tell it was 16 bit. But many experts say that your ears cannot tell the difference between CD quality and 24 bit or better. But I think 24 bit sounds better than 16 bit. But it also depends on the equipment. I have a fostex 16 bit 8 track recorder, and it sounds really good. Actually better than my 24 bit 0404 EMU sound card. But then again it could be the Computer. Thanks for advice!

Member
Since: Nov 04, 2005


Nov 06, 2005 09:26 am

I found the XP icon, I did what Dragon child said, but (I think it was dragon Child) I didn't see anything in properties that had an older compatibility thing. The version I have of GTPro, is for Windows ME or 2000. It won't work with XP or I would be using it. I can get an upgraded version, but I haven't tried that yet. I tried installing the GTPro on XP, but it would not work. There may be something in this XP operating system that allows me to use GTPro, but I don't know where it is. If you know of another way let me know. Well, it won't much matter, I am shopping for a new computer, maybe I can find one. But I want to use it mainly for Music Recording. Home recording! Got any ideas on a new computer. I am checking Best Buy and Sams Club. I know Sams sells Dell computers, and I have heard that the Dell brand is a good choice other than the Mac5. So I'll look into that. I thought I might ad that I think the Cakewalk software is much more user friendly than the Cubase. So, I plan on going with that. I just need to upgrade it. Thanks for advice!

Member
Since: May 09, 2004


Nov 07, 2005 04:27 am

I have a question kind of along these lines... I have a 80 gig HD in my laptop which I use as my all in all studio. I hear that if I partition the HD into a drive that I have the OS and programs installed on, and a drive that I have all my data on, then my computer will run much faster and be more stable, since the OS will not have to dig around 80 gigs of data to access needed OS files, and thus, run like new.

Could anyone else confirm this? I heard this from a freind who does graphics, and he says it's an absolute essential if I really want to get much out of my pc. Plus that means I could reinstall windows periodically without destroying my data, which I also hear is necessary as windows collects junk over time and slos itself down.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Nov 07, 2005 06:43 am

The part about reinstalling windows without destroying data is true, hell, I am doing that right now, tho, rather than partitioning my hard drive, I just have two physical drives.

However, the part about partitioning hard drives speeding things up isn't true at all. It can, in given situations, but generally has no impact at all on performance. That theory used to be true back when Windows had trouble dealing with partitions over a couple gigs...but those times are long gone.

Sound Gal - Michelle
Member
Since: Jul 11, 2005


Nov 07, 2005 09:38 am

:-)

I think partitioning just seems to help make filing, defragmentation, and optimisation quicker when you need to run those programs, it SEEMS faster to run them on smaller drives and thats perhaps one reason why its popular(even though you dont have to do it), but windows XP generally takes care of all those maintenance tasks for you anyway, and will tell you when a disk need defragmenting.

To a certain extent, it makes sense to have all your operating system, programs on one disk, and all Data, audio files, mixing sessions, and stuff (including perhaps backup install files) etc on another partition, because it means you can re-install everything, your operating system, and programs cleanly without having to search for and move all your data so that you can format the partition for a clean install if necessary...

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Nov 07, 2005 09:42 am

Since when is partitioning popular? I waven't known hardly anyone to do it since Windows 98...the only people that do are people that are "told by a friend" that it's helpful...and that friend was told that ten years ago and hasn't bothered to research it since.

www.TheLondonProject.ca
Member
Since: Feb 07, 2005


Nov 07, 2005 10:56 am

When partitioning, I never seem to allow myself enough room on my "C" drive and end up with a problem keeping my applications separate anyways.

I'll also mention at this time to DO REGULAR BACKUPS. Accidents happen and if you are unexperienced and you are messing with partitions you may just end up losing everything. I picked up a external USB drive cage that makes this process quick and easy.

As far as running applications in compatibility mode, all you have to do is "right-click" on a program icon and select "properties" and then click on the "compatibility" tab.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Nov 07, 2005 10:57 am

Just don't friggin do partitions, thats the easy answer, hard drives are cheap now, just get a second drive.

jimmie neutron
Member
Since: Feb 14, 2005


Nov 07, 2005 06:26 pm

It's just as easy to backup a folder as it is to backup a drive... As for the "tools", when you're done for the day, do your backups (I burn CDs for small projects, DVDs for big ones) (don't forget to "verify" the files...) & run a defragger as you're cleaning up the area or showering, or just let it run overnight... who cares how long it takes? For me, the fewer the drive letters, the less confused I get...

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Nov 07, 2005 10:20 pm

A partition on the same hard drive is still on that drive, and the drive is still seeking the same disk even with a seperate partition. The only true way to get more speed and stability out of the OS drive is to have it only running the OS and apps. And the data should be run on a completely seperate drive. Both dB and myself have been running this way for years, as have almost any of the peeps in the digital recording industry.

As dB stated, drives are cheap now. I can get my hands on 80 gig Seagate Barracuda's for less then $50.00 now and charge a client $75.00 for the drive if he chooses to keep it or have me store it here.

In the case of a laptop, I can see that being your only choice. But with the cheap price on USB external drives that would be my first choice instead of a partitioned drive.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Nov 07, 2005 10:26 pm

Yeah, Noize said what I should have, with two drives you have two heads seeking two different drives, with partitions on the same drive you have one set of heads trying to seek at the same time on the same drive...that equals slower performance.

Good shout Noize

Sound Gal - Michelle
Member
Since: Jul 11, 2005


Nov 08, 2005 03:31 am

Yes, good points... I think that is what I meant.lol. Mixed up the words partition and drive. such a dingbat I am.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Nov 08, 2005 09:59 pm

I figured that was were you were going dB. Since you were the one, I believe who turned me onto the seperate drives. I have never looked back. That why all my samples and every thing are on seperate drives. Some of my heavier sampler/synths actually have their content stored on several drives so as not to burden just one audio drive.

Heavily used sampler data is spread out on two seperate drives, as well as all other sample content used by the synths. Then the actual audio and project data being recorded is on another drive altogether. So I usually have at leat 4 drives running at once. Plays hell with the RAM though, so make sure you have lots of RAM.

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