Simple 2 HD format question

ramdexramdex Tucson
edited August 2004 in Hardware
Im about to format my computer and need to back up some stuff. I have 2 hard drives and I was wondering if i Just move some files over to the secound if itll be ok when I format, in other words when I format will my other drive not be affected or will it make me format both. Also what should I do about program files on the secound HD.

Comments

  • SSR_06SSR_06 Iowa
    edited August 2004
    what HD do you want to have your OS on? the first or second one? also, you'll have to reinstall your program files if your 1st hard drive has the OS or if you don't do a full drive copy to the second HD. a good program for HD to HD copying w/o useing windows is maxblast 3, http://www.maxtor.com/portal/site/Maxtor/?epi_menuItemID=3c67e325e0a6b1f6294198b091346068&epi_menuID=976d37cd478c5826433f226075b46068&epi_baseMenuID=976d37cd478c5826433f226075b46068&channelpath=/en_us/Support/Software%20Downloads/ATA%20Hard%20Drives&downloadID=57
    this can also complely clear a hard drive &/or format it.
  • kryystkryyst Ontario, Canada
    edited August 2004
    if you have a c and d drive and you do format c d will be unaffected and vice versa.

    If you are formating your main drive like SSR said, you'll have to re-install anything that was on it. Which is generally the case anytime you are formating your main OS drive. As program files install things into the registry and system files so simply copying the program directory won't get all the files.
  • ramdexramdex Tucson
    edited August 2004
    kryyst wrote:
    if you have a c and d drive and you do format c d will be unaffected and vice versa.

    If you are formating your main drive like SSR said, you'll have to re-install anything that was on it. Which is generally the case anytime you are formating your main OS drive. As program files install things into the registry and system files so simply copying the program directory won't get all the files.

    thats what i thought and i knew the programs wouldnt work after the format so ill just delete those files. I just didnt want to back up and find out that the drive woulddnt like the format untill it was also formated. Thanks.
  • kryystkryyst Ontario, Canada
    edited August 2004
    Nope the 2nd drive won't care what you do and as soon as the first drive is re-installed it'll see the 2nd drive no problem.
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