Christian and Beccy

iTrader: (14)

I am finally looking to replace the hard-drive that has been on the blink for ages, before it finally gives in!!

It's not that bad, just the PC has become slow and I wonder if it's the HD slowing things down.

I have a couple of questions though.

1. I don't use the PC for gaming, but do sometimes play DVD's etc. Will I notice a worthwhile difference by going for 10,000rpm? I could buy a smaller 10,000rpm HD and use the current iffy one for storage (it would be under less stress I presume by being a 'slave' drive? Or I could buy one big (300gb ish) 7200rpm drive.

2. Regarding Windows. We currently have XP which was factory installed. I don't think we have a disc (I'm not 100% certain), but the PC does have the Windows XP Sticker on the Tower with the key on it etc. Can I re-install onto the new HD somehow? Or should I look at Windows Vista?

3. I presume by having the Operating System on a smaller HD and the storage separately, it will run quicker? Or can the same result be had by adding a partition?

Help!!

Thrush

iTrader: (1)

1) The HDD has nothing to do with watching DVD's - other than allowing the OS and programme to run of course. So the speed of the drive will not affect viewing DVD's, and watching DVD's will not affect the speed f the HDD

2) You can use a service called "Norton Ghost" that mirrors everything that is on your current drive, and moves it onto the new drive, so that when you swap the drives over, you still have a working copy of XP from the outset

3) In theory, yes. But it depends on the way it's set up. But using a partition won't make any difference. The reason it's faster using two drives as opposed to one, is you double the seek and read times, because you have two drives running at a total of 14400rpm (2x 7200rpm) - one drive is seeking and reading the data (for example, a movie file) on your slave drive, and the other drive is running the OS and the programmes - rather than one drive trying to run the OS and programmes AND seek and read the movie data at the same time.

Adrian

Christian...

Dont bother with Vista!

Stu.H

Christian,

I'll catch you on MSN soon and sort something out for the day before RR day

Christian and Beccy

iTrader: (14)

Adrian - Thanks. I'm kinda glad about that.

Thrush - So, I can use Norton Ghost to transfer my OS from the old HD to the new one?

I would like to remove the OS from the old HD and just keep the files on there. Is that possible?

Stu - Whatever.

D4nny8oy

Hi Christian, it's a bit off topic but I've PM'd you about my car.

Give Gary a poke with a stick!

Cheers

Graham S1

Using Ghost is an option, but if you can find your original install / recovery disc, your system will run much faster with a fresh install.

Once installed on new drive, then just delete the Windows directory off the old drive and defrag.

Stu.H

Christian, as I said, I'll bring XP with me and do a fresh install for you, none of the preloaded bollox. Will be back to warp speed again...

I'll also do it for gratis, as I've got a favour to ask.