Wins in drive D; Programs files separation?!

[Wai_Wai]

Qs on how install Wins in drive D, how separate program files, program installation problems

I don't know much about computer.

I would like to ask questions, or ask for clarification (many boring questions though):

1. Is it possible to install Windows in drive D? What I am worried is I think I need to set the drive D (which I installed Windows) as primary partition and active. But then the drive lettering system should change it back as drive C. However someone said it is possible. Could anyone help me out?

2. I wonder how to separate programs files(PF) from windows, ie to move the folder of PF (and its sub-folders) away from drive D (which I'll install Wins) to another drive, I think, drive C. However I think this might cause problems. How to do it indeed?

3. Someone said it is a good idea to separate programs files from windows. But does anyone know the reason? I can't see any good.

4. It seems when you install a program/game, if you don't follow the installation path, problems will arise. Eg: If the default path is: D:\Program files\xx company\xx program, you change as D:\Program files\xx program. Problems will occur. But I don't whether it will cause problems if we simply change nothing except the drive no (eg E:\Program files\xx program). What do you think?

5. Assuming:

-Drive D contains Wins

-Drive E contains PF

When I reinstall my windows, do I need to delete PF as well? Since PF has links with Wins, if wins is reinstalled, the links between them should be broken. That implies we need to delete PF (since it become faulty). And in this regard, I need to reinstall all programs/games. What do you think?

6. What (kinds of) programs/games should be put together with the Wins? Is there any way to know whether one program need to put together, or can separate from Wins?

[MadGutts]

I'm not sure why and what your trying to achieve.

1. What version of windows are you trying to install? Setting a primary partition and making it active will become C:.

The drive lettering works like this...

a. The 1st Partition of the the first HDD becomes C:,

b. If there is another HDD then the 1st partiton becomes the next logical letter D:

c. continue b. until all HDD's are read.

d. Then the rest of the partitions on the 1st drive get the next logical addresses,

e. Then the 2nd drives partitions, etc....

So: if you had 2 HDDs, with 3 partitions on the first drive, and 2 on the second then this is what the letters and drives would look like:

Drive = D, Partition = P, Letter = L

D | P | L

1 | 1 | C

1 | 2 | E

1 | 3 | F

2 | 1 | D

2 | 2 | G

NB. If your using NT or W2k you can assign drive letters with Drive manager.

2. Why? i cant see any point in this.

3. I have never heard that. However, After a clean install of windows, you could install MS Office, Games etc on another partition if you hav a small OS drive then this would save space.

4. I have never had this problem !

5+6. WINS has nothing to do with program files. Program files are exactly that. WINS is an older networking protocol used for 98 machines to connect to a network. Not used nowadays as TCP/IP is far better.

Hope this is helpful for you.

Also, please ensure your posts are in the right forum.