[Astarael]

I've got a little to much crap on my computer. . . I want to get rid of some things to free up space but don't want to delete any of my programs, the only ones I have I'm keeping.
At first I though moving some stuff to my backup drive would work but I found out you cant move programs easily. What with all the sub-directories and whatnot, don't really understand those. And I was wondering if I got say an External Hard drive. . .Would it work then?


I was thinking about getting one. . .moving all my programs that I use to it and then wiping my C drive of everything I don't need on it to get good space for performance. Any tips/ideas/comments/etc.? Really need some feedback.

[daniel_b2380]

astarael,
welcome to tech support guy,

in SOME ways, your idea is good - however in many ways it WILL cause you some MAJOR problems

if you've 'moved' your programs / applications to another drive
1. when your computer 'boots up' - the registry checks in excess of usually about half a million items concerning all the 'internal links' - [we'll call them that for now]- to be able to run these programs / applications

2. if for some reason
- A - you 'forgot' to have this external harddrive plugged in
- B - you 'forgot' to turn the power on to this harddrive
- C - either the power cord or the usb plug got 'bumped' - [by children, pets, your wife, you......]

3. YOU WILL HAVE ENTERED THE TWILIGHT ZONE!!!
once #2 has happened, the os cannot complete what it set out to do in #1 -AND- you will be looking at a bsod that pretty much there is no 'easy' repair for - [just plugging it back in or turning the power on doesn't solve it]


now if you want to think of partitioning the harddrive, that is a whole different solution
1. you eliminate the #2 & therefore the #3 above

2. the only problem there though is there will STILL be SOME of the 'stuff' from those programs / applications that will be installed to the c drive - so you will NOT get every bit of 'space' freed-up as you might have thought you would - [but this is the better solution and many people do this]

3. there are a number of other things that also can also be moved to a partition
A - the page file
B - many of the 'temp' file folders

your 'personal' files - [pics, docs, music, movies and so on], can be moved to an external drive with no problems


ok?

[Astarael]

So your saying to not do it? Hmm. . .

Ok, what if I just wiped my entire C and D drives. . .and then got my programs back. . .would that be an easier solution? Know anything that can do that?

[daniel_b2380]

Originally Posted by Astarael

So your saying to not do it? Hmm. . . .

no, i didn't say that, i offered the suggestion that you could cause yourself a lot of grief

Originally Posted by Astarael

....Ok, what if I just wiped my entire C and D drives. . .and then got my programs back. . .would that be an easier solution? Know anything that can do that?

if you mean would you have to reinstall all your programs / applications? - yes you will

rather than me post some longgggggg dissertation - here are a couple good links with information about partitioning to help answer some questions and let you get started in the right direction

Disk partitioning
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disk_partitioning

List of disk partitioning software
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...oning_software

good info and suggestions on partitioning
http://partition.radified.com/


a question for you now - [in that your pc specs on your computer aren't visible - new member]
this c and d drives you speak of - does one of them happen to be the 'hidden' partition - [like from a big-box store - dell, hp-compaq, gateway] - where the manufacturer installed the backup in case you want to restore your pc?

if this is the case, you might think twice about this project - you would need to buy an os to install after doing all this partitioning - $$$
note: it is possible to make a disc from the 'hidden' partition - but NOT without some experience in manipulations

[Rich-M]

Yes get the external hard drive and start moving files and data there.

[Astarael]

Probably. Its a dell. That partitioning stuff seems a little to complicated for me. I'm not a computer technician. . .at least not yet. If there was an easier way to learn it I'd go for it. But right now I'm strapped for cash and time. And yes I meant reinstalling everything. Know anything that can wipe a drive of anything occupying space that's not needed for the computer to run? Sorry if I'm being difficult.

[daniel_b2380]

astarael,

That partitioning stuff seems a little to complicated for me. I'm not a computer technician. . .at least not yet. If there was an easier way to learn it I'd go for it.

and not trying tobe difficult with you either - but there is always a learning curve with any software that you go to use - some softwares are fairly easy to use - some require a considerable amount of reading to learn to use

did you click the links and read the info at the links i posted?

But right now I'm strapped for cash and time.

in today's world, i would say all of use are somewhat strapped for cash - in that we all WANT to do more - HAVE more, etc
time being the most precious commodity of all though!!!
we just have to set our priorities to that which we deem the most important to us at that point in time - 'cause every day is going to be different


there is usually an alternative to either let us do it in a bit different way - or do it in a couple steps - rather than just click - and it's done$$$$


for right now, you may gain considerable space just moving your personal files and data to that external drive, as i said earlier

do the reading so that you are somewhat familiar with the principles and termonology and then posting your questions here that don't seem to make sense to you - if i'm not on, there will be someone here to give you an answer - there are a lot of knowledgable people on this forum

[Astarael]

Yea I read a little on the links, and also bookmarked 'em for future reference. Just not exactly sure what to do first.

[daniel_b2380]

1st -

for right now, you may gain considerable space just moving your personal files and data to that external drive, as i said earlier

2nd -

do the reading so that you are somewhat familiar with the principles and termonology and then posting your questions here that don't seem to make sense to you - if i'm not on, there will be someone here to give you an answer - there are a lot of knowledgable people on this forum

ok?

[Astarael]

Kay.