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How can I change boot drive to C?


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Posted

Hi. While trying to assist my niece to install WinXP over the phone a

few weeks ago, something got crossed or misinterpreted and I found out

recently that she installed XP to her H drive instead of her C drive.

Her H drive is now nearly full and the much larger C drive is almost

empty. Short of reinstalling her system more carefully, is there a way

to easily change her system drive to C, along with her profiles, etc?

Thanks in advance.

  • Replies 20
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Guest waxman80014@hotmail.com
Posted

Re: How can I change boot drive to C?

 

You might be able to use Nortion Ghost to do that...

 

On Jul 30, 9:18 pm, "M.L." <m...@privacy.net> wrote:

> Hi. While trying to assist my niece to install WinXP over the phone a

> few weeks ago, something got crossed or misinterpreted and I found out

> recently that she installed XP to her H drive instead of her C drive.

> Her H drive is now nearly full and the much larger C drive is almost

> empty. Short of reinstalling her system more carefully, is there a way

> to easily change her system drive to C, along with her profiles, etc?

> Thanks in advance.

Guest Nepatsfan
Posted

Re: How can I change boot drive to C?

 

In news:wSxri.1771$Yz6.529@newssvr22.news.prodigy.net,

M.L. <me@privacy.net> wrote:

> Hi. While trying to assist my niece to install WinXP over the

> phone a

> few weeks ago, something got crossed or misinterpreted and I

> found out

> recently that she installed XP to her H drive instead of her

> C drive.

> Her H drive is now nearly full and the much larger C drive is

> almost

> empty. Short of reinstalling her system more carefully, is

> there a way

> to easily change her system drive to C, along with her

> profiles, etc?

> Thanks in advance.

 

Unfortunately, reinstallation is the only safe way to get XP on

the C drive. If you have do go the reinstall route, make sure

the only hardware connected to the computer are a keyboard,

mouse, and monitor. The situation you describe often happens

when something like a card reader is attached to the computer.

 

As always, back up any important files before you do this. And

have her make sure she can open the backed up files before

formatting the hard drive.

 

Good luck

 

Nepatsfan

Guest Pegasus \(MVP\)
Posted

Re: How can I change boot drive to C?

 

 

"M.L." <me@privacy.net> wrote in message

news:wSxri.1771$Yz6.529@newssvr22.news.prodigy.net...

> Hi. While trying to assist my niece to install WinXP over the phone a

> few weeks ago, something got crossed or misinterpreted and I found out

> recently that she installed XP to her H drive instead of her C drive.

> Her H drive is now nearly full and the much larger C drive is almost

> empty. Short of reinstalling her system more carefully, is there a way

> to easily change her system drive to C, along with her profiles, etc?

> Thanks in advance.

>

 

You need to post the exact partition structure of

her machine.

Guest Harry Ohrn
Posted

Re: How can I change boot drive to C?

 

Unfortunately there is no easy way to do this as many of the registry

entries will point to H. Your easiest option is to do a fresh install to C.

 

--

 

 

Harry Ohrn MS MVP [shell\User]

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp

 

 

"M.L." <me@privacy.net> wrote in message

news:wSxri.1771$Yz6.529@newssvr22.news.prodigy.net...

> Hi. While trying to assist my niece to install WinXP over the phone a

> few weeks ago, something got crossed or misinterpreted and I found out

> recently that she installed XP to her H drive instead of her C drive.

> Her H drive is now nearly full and the much larger C drive is almost

> empty. Short of reinstalling her system more carefully, is there a way

> to easily change her system drive to C, along with her profiles, etc?

> Thanks in advance.

>

Guest Gerry
Posted

Re: How can I change boot drive to C?

 

Harry

 

What you say is not necessarily true! It depends on whether you want the

operating system in C or you want sufficient free space in the partition

containing the operating system. It can be simpler to create more space

in H by relocating items to C. Things like Temporary Internet Files,

Outlook Express Store Folder and a host of other items comes to mind.

Reinstalling requires a lot of work.

 

 

--

Regards.

 

Gerry

~~~~

FCA

Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Harry Ohrn wrote:

> Unfortunately there is no easy way to do this as many of the registry

> entries will point to H. Your easiest option is to do a fresh install

> to C.

>

> "M.L." <me@privacy.net> wrote in message

> news:wSxri.1771$Yz6.529@newssvr22.news.prodigy.net...

>> Hi. While trying to assist my niece to install WinXP over the phone a

>> few weeks ago, something got crossed or misinterpreted and I found

>> out recently that she installed XP to her H drive instead of her C

>> drive. Her H drive is now nearly full and the much larger C drive is

>> almost empty. Short of reinstalling her system more carefully, is

>> there a way to easily change her system drive to C, along with her

>> profiles, etc? Thanks in advance.

Posted

Re: How can I change boot drive to C?

 

>>> Hi. While trying to assist my niece to install WinXP over the phone

>>> a few weeks ago, something got crossed or misinterpreted and I found

>>> out recently that she installed XP to her H drive instead of her C

>>> drive. Her H drive is now nearly full and the much larger C drive is

>>> almost empty. Short of reinstalling her system more carefully, is

>>> there a way to easily change her system drive to C, along with her

>>> profiles, etc? Thanks in advance.

>> Unfortunately there is no easy way to do this as many of the registry

>> entries will point to H. Your easiest option is to do a fresh install

>> to C.

> What you say is not necessarily true! It depends on whether you want

> the operating system in C or you want sufficient free space in the

> partition containing the operating system. It can be simpler to

> create more space in H by relocating items to C. Things like

> Temporary Internet Files, Outlook Express Store Folder and a host of

> other items comes to mind. Reinstalling requires a lot of work.

 

I'd like to thank everyone for their prompt responses. We were both

resigned to the possibility of a reinstallation, and it won't hurt so

much since there isn't a lot of new stuff on her system. If possible,

I'd like her to be able to keep the contents of her H drive intact and

delete redundant data on it only after we verify the stability of the

new C drive install.

Guest Ron Badour
Posted

Re: How can I change boot drive to C?

 

If you don't format H: partition or otherwise overwrite the data, it will

still be there after installing XP on C:

 

--

Regards

 

Ron Badour

MS MVP 1997 - 2007

 

 

"M.L." <me@privacy.net> wrote in message

news:FrFri.817$jO3.304@nlpi070.nbdc.sbc.com...

>>>> Hi. While trying to assist my niece to install WinXP over the phone

>>>> a few weeks ago, something got crossed or misinterpreted and I found

>>>> out recently that she installed XP to her H drive instead of her C

>>>> drive. Her H drive is now nearly full and the much larger C drive is

>>>> almost empty. Short of reinstalling her system more carefully, is

>>>> there a way to easily change her system drive to C, along with her

>>>> profiles, etc? Thanks in advance.

>

>>> Unfortunately there is no easy way to do this as many of the registry

>>> entries will point to H. Your easiest option is to do a fresh install

>>> to C.

>

>> What you say is not necessarily true! It depends on whether you want

>> the operating system in C or you want sufficient free space in the

>> partition containing the operating system. It can be simpler to

>> create more space in H by relocating items to C. Things like

>> Temporary Internet Files, Outlook Express Store Folder and a host of

>> other items comes to mind. Reinstalling requires a lot of work.

>

> I'd like to thank everyone for their prompt responses. We were both

> resigned to the possibility of a reinstallation, and it won't hurt so

> much since there isn't a lot of new stuff on her system. If possible,

> I'd like her to be able to keep the contents of her H drive intact and

> delete redundant data on it only after we verify the stability of the

> new C drive install.

>

>

Guest Harry Ohrn
Posted

Re: How can I change boot drive to C?

 

The question was

"is there a way to easily change her system drive

to C, along with her profiles, etc?" [end quote]

 

My answer stands.

 

 

--

 

 

Harry Ohrn MS MVP [shell\User]

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp

 

 

"Gerry" <gerry@nospam.com> wrote in message

news:eP057F00HHA.3916@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

> Harry

>

> What you say is not necessarily true! It depends on whether you want the

> operating system in C or you want sufficient free space in the partition

> containing the operating system. It can be simpler to create more space

> in H by relocating items to C. Things like Temporary Internet Files,

> Outlook Express Store Folder and a host of other items comes to mind.

> Reinstalling requires a lot of work.

>

>

> --

> Regards.

>

> Gerry

> ~~~~

> FCA

> Stourport, England

> Enquire, plan and execute

> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>

> Harry Ohrn wrote:

>> Unfortunately there is no easy way to do this as many of the registry

>> entries will point to H. Your easiest option is to do a fresh install

>> to C.

>>

>> "M.L." <me@privacy.net> wrote in message

>> news:wSxri.1771$Yz6.529@newssvr22.news.prodigy.net...

>>> Hi. While trying to assist my niece to install WinXP over the phone a

>>> few weeks ago, something got crossed or misinterpreted and I found

>>> out recently that she installed XP to her H drive instead of her C

>>> drive. Her H drive is now nearly full and the much larger C drive is

>>> almost empty. Short of reinstalling her system more carefully, is

>>> there a way to easily change her system drive to C, along with her

>>> profiles, etc? Thanks in advance.

>

>

>

Posted

Re: How can I change boot drive to C?

 

>> I'd like to thank everyone for their prompt responses. We were both

>> resigned to the possibility of a reinstallation, and it won't hurt so

>> much since there isn't a lot of new stuff on her system. If possible,

>> I'd like her to be able to keep the contents of her H drive intact

>> and delete redundant data on it only after we verify the stability

>> of the new C drive install.

> If you don't format H: partition or otherwise overwrite the data, it

> will still be there after installing XP on C:

 

That's added comfort. Thanks.

Guest Unknown
Posted

Re: How can I change boot drive to C?

 

You are correct. Stick to your guns.

"Harry Ohrn" <harry---@webtree.ca> wrote in message

news:%23ae4LL40HHA.5980@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

> The question was

"is there a way to easily change her system drive

> to C, along with her profiles, etc?" [end quote]

>

> My answer stands.

>

>

> --

>

>

> Harry Ohrn MS MVP [shell\User]

> http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp

>

>

> "Gerry" <gerry@nospam.com> wrote in message

> news:eP057F00HHA.3916@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

>> Harry

>>

>> What you say is not necessarily true! It depends on whether you want the

>> operating system in C or you want sufficient free space in the partition

>> containing the operating system. It can be simpler to create more space

>> in H by relocating items to C. Things like Temporary Internet Files,

>> Outlook Express Store Folder and a host of other items comes to mind.

>> Reinstalling requires a lot of work.

>>

>>

>> --

>> Regards.

>>

>> Gerry

>> ~~~~

>> FCA

>> Stourport, England

>> Enquire, plan and execute

>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>>

>> Harry Ohrn wrote:

>>> Unfortunately there is no easy way to do this as many of the registry

>>> entries will point to H. Your easiest option is to do a fresh install

>>> to C.

>>>

>>> "M.L." <me@privacy.net> wrote in message

>>> news:wSxri.1771$Yz6.529@newssvr22.news.prodigy.net...

>>>> Hi. While trying to assist my niece to install WinXP over the phone a

>>>> few weeks ago, something got crossed or misinterpreted and I found

>>>> out recently that she installed XP to her H drive instead of her C

>>>> drive. Her H drive is now nearly full and the much larger C drive is

>>>> almost empty. Short of reinstalling her system more carefully, is

>>>> there a way to easily change her system drive to C, along with her

>>>> profiles, etc? Thanks in advance.

>>

>>

>>

>

>

Guest Gerry
Posted

Re: How can I change boot drive to C?

 

Harry

 

The question actually asked was "Short of reinstalling her system more

carefully, is there a way to easily change her system drive to C, along

with her profiles, etc?"!

 

However, the concern was expressed that the H drive was nearly full

whereas the much larger C drive was nearly empty. All I was trying to

say that shifting files / folders from H to C was likely to be easier

that reinstalling Windows to C. Your answer was 100% valid but not

necessarily the easier to implement.

 

--

Regards.

 

Gerry

~~~~

FCA

Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

 

Harry Ohrn wrote:

> The question was

"is there a way to easily change her system

> drive to C, along with her profiles, etc?" [end quote]

>

> My answer stands.

>

>

>

> "Gerry" <gerry@nospam.com> wrote in message

> news:eP057F00HHA.3916@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

>> Harry

>>

>> What you say is not necessarily true! It depends on whether you want

>> the operating system in C or you want sufficient free space in the

>> partition containing the operating system. It can be simpler to

>> create more space in H by relocating items to C. Things like

>> Temporary Internet Files, Outlook Express Store Folder and a host of

>> other items comes to mind. Reinstalling requires a lot of work.

>>

>>

>> --

>> Regards.

>>

>> Gerry

>> ~~~~

>> FCA

>> Stourport, England

>> Enquire, plan and execute

>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>>

>> Harry Ohrn wrote:

>>> Unfortunately there is no easy way to do this as many of the

>>> registry entries will point to H. Your easiest option is to do a

>>> fresh install to C.

>>>

>>> "M.L." <me@privacy.net> wrote in message

>>> news:wSxri.1771$Yz6.529@newssvr22.news.prodigy.net...

>>>> Hi. While trying to assist my niece to install WinXP over the

>>>> phone a few weeks ago, something got crossed or misinterpreted and

>>>> I found out recently that she installed XP to her H drive instead

>>>> of her C drive. Her H drive is now nearly full and the much larger

>>>> C drive is almost empty. Short of reinstalling her system more

>>>> carefully, is there a way to easily change her system drive to C,

>>>> along with her profiles, etc? Thanks in advance.

Guest Gary S. Terhune
Posted

Re: How can I change boot drive to C?

 

As noted, you should move personal files to C:\ and perhaps temporary files,

also, though they ideally shouldn't be that much. Then what *I* would do is

to use BootIt NG to resize and move the partitions as necessary. You can do

so without purchasing the application. http://www.bootitng.com. Download the app,

extract the ZIP file if necessary, and run bootitng.exe to create a bootable

installation floppy or CD. Boot to that media and Cancel the installation.

Then use Partition Work.

 

Otherwise, the answer is that there essentially *isn't* any way to change

the system drive from H:\ to C:\.

 

--

Gary S. Terhune

MS-MVP Shell/User

http://www.grystmill.com

 

"M.L." <me@privacy.net> wrote in message

news:wSxri.1771$Yz6.529@newssvr22.news.prodigy.net...

> Hi. While trying to assist my niece to install WinXP over the phone a

> few weeks ago, something got crossed or misinterpreted and I found out

> recently that she installed XP to her H drive instead of her C drive.

> Her H drive is now nearly full and the much larger C drive is almost

> empty. Short of reinstalling her system more carefully, is there a way

> to easily change her system drive to C, along with her profiles, etc?

> Thanks in advance.

>

Guest Gerry
Posted

Re: How can I change boot drive to C?

 

To increase you free space on your XP partition select Start, All

Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk CleanUp, More Options,

System Restore and remove all but the latest System Restore points?

Restore points can be quite large.

 

It is likely that an allocation of 12% has been made to System Restore

on your H partition which is over generous. I would reduce it to 700

mb. Right click your My Computer icon on the Desktop and select System

Restore. Place the cursor on your C drive select Settings but this

time find the slider and drag it to the left until it reads 700 mb and

exit. When you get to the Settings screen click on Apply and OK and

exit.

 

Another default setting which could be wasteful is that for temporary

internet files especially if you do not store offline copies on disk.

The default allocation is 3% of drive. Depending on your attitude to

offline copies you could reduce this to 1% or 2%. In Internet Explorer

select Tools, Internet Options, General, Temporary Internet Files,

Settings to make the change. At the same time look at the number of

days history is held.

 

The default allocation for the Recycle Bin is 10 % of drive. Change to

5%, which should be sufficient. In Windows Explorer place the cursor

on your Recycle Bin, right click and select Properties, Global and

move the slider from 10% to 5%. However, try to avoid letting it get

too full as if it is full and you delete a file by mistake it will

bypass the Recycle Bin and be gone for ever.

 

If your drive is formatted as NTFS another potential gain arises with

your operating system on your C drive. In the Windows Directory of

your C partition you will have some Uninstall folders in your Windows

folder typically: $NtServicePackUninstall$ and $NtUninstallKB282010$

etc. These files may be compressed or not compressed. If compressed

the text of the folder name appears in blue characters. If not

compressed you can compress them. Right click on each folder and

select Properties, General, Advanced and check the box before Compress

contents to save Disk Space. On the General Tab you can see the amount

gained by deducting the size on disk from the size. Folder

compression is only an option on a NTFS formatted drive / partition.

 

You can also increase free disk space on your H partition can be

achieved by relocation of folders.

 

For Temporary Internet Files select Start, Control Panel, Internet

Options, Temporary Internet Files. Settings, Move Folder.

 

To move the Outlook Express Store Folder select in Outlook Express

Tools, Options, Maintenance, Store Folder, Change.

http://www.tomsterdam.com/insideoe/files/store.htm

 

My Documents is one of a number of system created Special Folders

including My Pictures and My Music. These can more easily be relocated

using Tweak Ui. Download TweakUI, one of the MS powertoys, from here:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/powertoys.asp

 

In TweakUi select My Computer, Special Folders. You can scroll down to

see the full list of Special Folders to the left of the Change

Location button.

 

You may also need to change Default File locations in the Microsoft

Office programmes you choose to move the My Documents folder. For Word

go to Tools, Options, File Locations, highlight Documents, click on

Modify and change file path. For Excel go to Tools, Options, General

and change default file path.

 

 

 

--

 

Hope this helps.

 

Gerry

~~~~

FCA

Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

M.L. wrote:

> Hi. While trying to assist my niece to install WinXP over the phone a

> few weeks ago, something got crossed or misinterpreted and I found out

> recently that she installed XP to her H drive instead of her C drive.

> Her H drive is now nearly full and the much larger C drive is almost

> empty. Short of reinstalling her system more carefully, is there a way

> to easily change her system drive to C, along with her profiles, etc?

> Thanks in advance.

Guest Unknown
Posted

Re: How can I change boot drive to C?

 

Perhaps not the easiest to implement but the best solution to avoid future

problems.

"Gerry" <gerry@nospam.com> wrote in message

news:OAQ45N60HHA.3848@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

> Harry

>

> The question actually asked was "Short of reinstalling her system more

> carefully, is there a way to easily change her system drive to C, along

> with her profiles, etc?"!

>

> However, the concern was expressed that the H drive was nearly full

> whereas the much larger C drive was nearly empty. All I was trying to say

> that shifting files / folders from H to C was likely to be easier that

> reinstalling Windows to C. Your answer was 100% valid but not necessarily

> the easier to implement.

>

> --

> Regards.

>

> Gerry

> ~~~~

> FCA

> Stourport, England

> Enquire, plan and execute

> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>

>

>

> Harry Ohrn wrote:

>> The question was

"is there a way to easily change her system

>> drive to C, along with her profiles, etc?" [end quote]

>>

>> My answer stands.

>>

>>

>>

>> "Gerry" <gerry@nospam.com> wrote in message

>> news:eP057F00HHA.3916@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

>>> Harry

>>>

>>> What you say is not necessarily true! It depends on whether you want

>>> the operating system in C or you want sufficient free space in the

>>> partition containing the operating system. It can be simpler to

>>> create more space in H by relocating items to C. Things like

>>> Temporary Internet Files, Outlook Express Store Folder and a host of

>>> other items comes to mind. Reinstalling requires a lot of work.

>>>

>>>

>>> --

>>> Regards.

>>>

>>> Gerry

>>> ~~~~

>>> FCA

>>> Stourport, England

>>> Enquire, plan and execute

>>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>>>

>>> Harry Ohrn wrote:

>>>> Unfortunately there is no easy way to do this as many of the

>>>> registry entries will point to H. Your easiest option is to do a

>>>> fresh install to C.

>>>>

>>>> "M.L." <me@privacy.net> wrote in message

>>>> news:wSxri.1771$Yz6.529@newssvr22.news.prodigy.net...

>>>>> Hi. While trying to assist my niece to install WinXP over the

>>>>> phone a few weeks ago, something got crossed or misinterpreted and

>>>>> I found out recently that she installed XP to her H drive instead

>>>>> of her C drive. Her H drive is now nearly full and the much larger

>>>>> C drive is almost empty. Short of reinstalling her system more

>>>>> carefully, is there a way to easily change her system drive to C,

>>>>> along with her profiles, etc? Thanks in advance.

>

>

Guest Harry Ohrn
Posted

Re: How can I change boot drive to C?

 

Gerry I read the question and there is no way to easily change the system to

C. Yes you can free up space by shifting things around however the fact of

the matter is the OP asked if there was an easy way to change from H to C

and the answer is no.

 

Think of it this way. I move all of my possessions into a new house. I was

actually supposed to move my possessions into the house next door but I made

an error and moved to the wrong address. Now I'm wondering, short of moving

all of my stuff over to the house next door, is there an easier way. Perhaps

I can have the house I'm currently in (the wrong house) recognized as the

correct house. I could contact the City and asked to have the lot

renumbered - I don't think so. I could contact the Postal Service and ask

them to deliver my mail to the house I moved into even though it is

addressed to the house next door. That will keep me guessing and will likely

cause me grief at some point when mail I was supposed to receive gets lost.

I could purchase the house I accidentally moved into then move some of my

stuff to the house I was supposed to move into yet keep my most important

stuff at the house I did move into. Now I'm trying to maintain two different

residents. Do you see how confusing this is? There is no easy solution that

will meet my needs over the long term short of moving where I was supposed

to move to in the first place.

 

Before you reply please go back and re-read the posts in this thread. In

your first reply to me you said that my response to the OP was not true.

Then you say it is 100% valid. Obviously it can't be both.

 

--

 

 

Harry Ohrn MS MVP [shell\User]

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp

 

 

"Gerry" <gerry@nospam.com> wrote in message

news:OAQ45N60HHA.3848@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

> Harry

>

> The question actually asked was "Short of reinstalling her system more

> carefully, is there a way to easily change her system drive to C, along

> with her profiles, etc?"!

>

> However, the concern was expressed that the H drive was nearly full

> whereas the much larger C drive was nearly empty. All I was trying to say

> that shifting files / folders from H to C was likely to be easier that

> reinstalling Windows to C. Your answer was 100% valid but not necessarily

> the easier to implement.

>

> --

> Regards.

>

> Gerry

> ~~~~

> FCA

> Stourport, England

> Enquire, plan and execute

> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>

>

>

> Harry Ohrn wrote:

>> The question was

"is there a way to easily change her system

>> drive to C, along with her profiles, etc?" [end quote]

>>

>> My answer stands.

>>

>>

>>

>> "Gerry" <gerry@nospam.com> wrote in message

>> news:eP057F00HHA.3916@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

>>> Harry

>>>

>>> What you say is not necessarily true! It depends on whether you want

>>> the operating system in C or you want sufficient free space in the

>>> partition containing the operating system. It can be simpler to

>>> create more space in H by relocating items to C. Things like

>>> Temporary Internet Files, Outlook Express Store Folder and a host of

>>> other items comes to mind. Reinstalling requires a lot of work.

>>>

>>>

>>> --

>>> Regards.

>>>

>>> Gerry

>>> ~~~~

>>> FCA

>>> Stourport, England

>>> Enquire, plan and execute

>>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>>>

>>> Harry Ohrn wrote:

>>>> Unfortunately there is no easy way to do this as many of the

>>>> registry entries will point to H. Your easiest option is to do a

>>>> fresh install to C.

>>>>

>>>> "M.L." <me@privacy.net> wrote in message

>>>> news:wSxri.1771$Yz6.529@newssvr22.news.prodigy.net...

>>>>> Hi. While trying to assist my niece to install WinXP over the

>>>>> phone a few weeks ago, something got crossed or misinterpreted and

>>>>> I found out recently that she installed XP to her H drive instead

>>>>> of her C drive. Her H drive is now nearly full and the much larger

>>>>> C drive is almost empty. Short of reinstalling her system more

>>>>> carefully, is there a way to easily change her system drive to C,

>>>>> along with her profiles, etc? Thanks in advance.

>

>

Guest Harry Ohrn
Posted

Re: How can I change boot drive to C?

 

You can try all of the things Gerry suggests to free up space. A typical

reinstall takes about 45 minutes, updating Windows can take 60 - 90 minutes

depending on your connection speed. The number of apps you have to install

could take a couple of hours along with making a few tweaks. My experience

is that a complete reinstall, including tweaks and restoring backup data

generally takes about 4 hours. I've done hundreds of these. You posted the

question at 9:18 pm last night. You could easily have reinstalled and got

everything up and running by now. Tweak all you want now but the bottom line

is you will eventually bite the bullet and reinstall anyway. I'd bet good

money on that happening.

 

--

 

 

Harry Ohrn MS MVP [shell\User]

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp

 

 

"M.L." <me@privacy.net> wrote in message

news:wSxri.1771$Yz6.529@newssvr22.news.prodigy.net...

> Hi. While trying to assist my niece to install WinXP over the phone a

> few weeks ago, something got crossed or misinterpreted and I found out

> recently that she installed XP to her H drive instead of her C drive.

> Her H drive is now nearly full and the much larger C drive is almost

> empty. Short of reinstalling her system more carefully, is there a way

> to easily change her system drive to C, along with her profiles, etc?

> Thanks in advance.

>

Guest Gerry
Posted

Re: How can I change boot drive to C?

 

Harry

 

Harry Ohrn wrote:

> Gerry I read the question and there is no way to easily change the

> system to C. Yes you can free up space by shifting things around

> however the fact of the matter is the OP asked if there was an easy

> way to change from H to C and the answer is no.

 

The answer to the question is No! We agree!

>

> Think of it this way. I move all of my possessions into a new house.

> I was actually supposed to move my possessions into the house next

> door but I made an error and moved to the wrong address. Now I'm

> wondering, short of moving all of my stuff over to the house next

> door, is there an easier way. Perhaps I can have the house I'm

> currently in (the wrong house) recognized as the correct house. I

> could contact the City and asked to have the lot renumbered - I don't

> think so. I could contact the Postal Service and ask them to deliver

> my mail to the house I moved into even though it is addressed to the

> house next door. That will keep me guessing and will likely cause me

> grief at some point when mail I was supposed to receive gets lost. I

> could purchase the house I accidentally moved into then move some of

> my stuff to the house I was supposed to move into yet keep my most

> important stuff at the house I did move into. Now I'm trying to

> maintain two different residents. Do you see how confusing this is?

> There is no easy solution that will meet my needs over the long term

> short of moving where I was supposed to move to in the first place.

 

That's a possible problem that may or may not arise in the future! You

cannot prevent people assuming that something is true just because it is

true 9 times out of 10. Just because people get run over crossing the

does mean one should never cross the road. The more immediate problem is

insufficient free disk space in the partition containing the operating

system

>

> Before you reply please go back and re-read the posts in this thread.

> In your first reply to me you said that my response to the OP was not

> true. Then you say it is 100% valid. Obviously it can't be both.

 

Again you are misquoting! What I actually said was "What you say is not

necessarily true!". I did not say "not true".

 

100% valid refers to your comment "Unfortunately there is no easy way to

do this as many of the registry entries will point to H." Not

necessarily true refers to "Your easiest option is to do a fresh install

to C." Each approach has it's advantages and disadvantages; that's why I

used the expression "not necessarily true". A new install can be

challenging, especially with issues like third party drivers and

reinstalling older programmes like Office 2000. There are lots of things

to remember. What is easy for some users will not be easy for others!

 

--

Regards.

 

Gerry

~~~~

FCA

Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

 

>

>

> "Gerry" <gerry@nospam.com> wrote in message

> news:OAQ45N60HHA.3848@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

>> Harry

>>

>> The question actually asked was "Short of reinstalling her system

>> more carefully, is there a way to easily change her system drive to

>> C, along with her profiles, etc?"!

>>

>> However, the concern was expressed that the H drive was nearly full

>> whereas the much larger C drive was nearly empty. All I was trying

>> to say that shifting files / folders from H to C was likely to be

>> easier that reinstalling Windows to C. Your answer was 100% valid

>> but not necessarily the easier to implement.

>>

>> --

>> Regards.

>>

>> Gerry

>> ~~~~

>> FCA

>> Stourport, England

>> Enquire, plan and execute

>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>>

>>

>>

>> Harry Ohrn wrote:

>>> The question was

"is there a way to easily change her system

>>> drive to C, along with her profiles, etc?" [end quote]

>>>

>>> My answer stands.

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>> "Gerry" <gerry@nospam.com> wrote in message

>>> news:eP057F00HHA.3916@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

>>>> Harry

>>>>

>>>> What you say is not necessarily true! It depends on whether you

>>>> want the operating system in C or you want sufficient free space

>>>> in the partition containing the operating system. It can be

>>>> simpler to create more space in H by relocating items to C. Things

>>>> like Temporary Internet Files, Outlook Express Store Folder and a

>>>> host of other items comes to mind. Reinstalling requires a lot of

>>>> work. --

>>>> Regards.

>>>>

>>>> Gerry

>>>> ~~~~

>>>> FCA

>>>> Stourport, England

>>>> Enquire, plan and execute

>>>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>>>>

>>>> Harry Ohrn wrote:

>>>>> Unfortunately there is no easy way to do this as many of the

>>>>> registry entries will point to H. Your easiest option is to do a

>>>>> fresh install to C.

>>>>>

>>>>> "M.L." <me@privacy.net> wrote in message

>>>>> news:wSxri.1771$Yz6.529@newssvr22.news.prodigy.net...

>>>>>> Hi. While trying to assist my niece to install WinXP over the

>>>>>> phone a few weeks ago, something got crossed or misinterpreted

>>>>>> and I found out recently that she installed XP to her H drive

>>>>>> instead of her C drive. Her H drive is now nearly full and the

>>>>>> much larger C drive is almost empty. Short of reinstalling her

>>>>>> system more carefully, is there a way to easily change her

>>>>>> system drive to C, along with her profiles, etc? Thanks in

>>>>>> advance.

Guest Harry Ohrn
Posted

Re: How can I change boot drive to C?

 

Gerry the OP wants an easy way to change the drive letter for the os from H

to C.

 

 

--

 

 

Harry Ohrn MS MVP [shell\User]

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp

 

 

 

"Gerry" <gerry@nospam.com> wrote in message

news:%237fuMn80HHA.5380@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

> Harry

>

> Harry Ohrn wrote:

>> Gerry I read the question and there is no way to easily change the

>> system to C. Yes you can free up space by shifting things around

>> however the fact of the matter is the OP asked if there was an easy

>> way to change from H to C and the answer is no.

>

> The answer to the question is No! We agree!

>

>>

>> Think of it this way. I move all of my possessions into a new house.

>> I was actually supposed to move my possessions into the house next

>> door but I made an error and moved to the wrong address. Now I'm

>> wondering, short of moving all of my stuff over to the house next

>> door, is there an easier way. Perhaps I can have the house I'm

>> currently in (the wrong house) recognized as the correct house. I

>> could contact the City and asked to have the lot renumbered - I don't

>> think so. I could contact the Postal Service and ask them to deliver

>> my mail to the house I moved into even though it is addressed to the

>> house next door. That will keep me guessing and will likely cause me

>> grief at some point when mail I was supposed to receive gets lost. I

>> could purchase the house I accidentally moved into then move some of

>> my stuff to the house I was supposed to move into yet keep my most

>> important stuff at the house I did move into. Now I'm trying to

>> maintain two different residents. Do you see how confusing this is?

>> There is no easy solution that will meet my needs over the long term

>> short of moving where I was supposed to move to in the first place.

>

> That's a possible problem that may or may not arise in the future! You

> cannot prevent people assuming that something is true just because it is

> true 9 times out of 10. Just because people get run over crossing the does

> mean one should never cross the road. The more immediate problem is

> insufficient free disk space in the partition containing the operating

> system

>

>>

>> Before you reply please go back and re-read the posts in this thread.

>> In your first reply to me you said that my response to the OP was not

>> true. Then you say it is 100% valid. Obviously it can't be both.

>

> Again you are misquoting! What I actually said was "What you say is not

> necessarily true!". I did not say "not true".

>

> 100% valid refers to your comment "Unfortunately there is no easy way to

> do this as many of the registry entries will point to H." Not necessarily

> true refers to "Your easiest option is to do a fresh install to C." Each

> approach has it's advantages and disadvantages; that's why I used the

> expression "not necessarily true". A new install can be challenging,

> especially with issues like third party drivers and reinstalling older

> programmes like Office 2000. There are lots of things to remember. What is

> easy for some users will not be easy for others!

>

> --

> Regards.

>

> Gerry

> ~~~~

> FCA

> Stourport, England

> Enquire, plan and execute

> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>

>

>

>

>>

>>

>> "Gerry" <gerry@nospam.com> wrote in message

>> news:OAQ45N60HHA.3848@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

>>> Harry

>>>

>>> The question actually asked was "Short of reinstalling her system

>>> more carefully, is there a way to easily change her system drive to

>>> C, along with her profiles, etc?"!

>>>

>>> However, the concern was expressed that the H drive was nearly full

>>> whereas the much larger C drive was nearly empty. All I was trying

>>> to say that shifting files / folders from H to C was likely to be

>>> easier that reinstalling Windows to C. Your answer was 100% valid

>>> but not necessarily the easier to implement.

>>>

>>> --

>>> Regards.

>>>

>>> Gerry

>>> ~~~~

>>> FCA

>>> Stourport, England

>>> Enquire, plan and execute

>>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>> Harry Ohrn wrote:

>>>> The question was

"is there a way to easily change her system

>>>> drive to C, along with her profiles, etc?" [end quote]

>>>>

>>>> My answer stands.

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>

>>>> "Gerry" <gerry@nospam.com> wrote in message

>>>> news:eP057F00HHA.3916@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

>>>>> Harry

>>>>>

>>>>> What you say is not necessarily true! It depends on whether you

>>>>> want the operating system in C or you want sufficient free space

>>>>> in the partition containing the operating system. It can be

>>>>> simpler to create more space in H by relocating items to C. Things

>>>>> like Temporary Internet Files, Outlook Express Store Folder and a

>>>>> host of other items comes to mind. Reinstalling requires a lot of

>>>>> work. --

>>>>> Regards.

>>>>>

>>>>> Gerry

>>>>> ~~~~

>>>>> FCA

>>>>> Stourport, England

>>>>> Enquire, plan and execute

>>>>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>>>>>

>>>>> Harry Ohrn wrote:

>>>>>> Unfortunately there is no easy way to do this as many of the

>>>>>> registry entries will point to H. Your easiest option is to do a

>>>>>> fresh install to C.

>>>>>>

>>>>>> "M.L." <me@privacy.net> wrote in message

>>>>>> news:wSxri.1771$Yz6.529@newssvr22.news.prodigy.net...

>>>>>>> Hi. While trying to assist my niece to install WinXP over the

>>>>>>> phone a few weeks ago, something got crossed or misinterpreted

>>>>>>> and I found out recently that she installed XP to her H drive

>>>>>>> instead of her C drive. Her H drive is now nearly full and the

>>>>>>> much larger C drive is almost empty. Short of reinstalling her

>>>>>>> system more carefully, is there a way to easily change her

>>>>>>> system drive to C, along with her profiles, etc? Thanks in

>>>>>>> advance.

>

>

Guest Gerry
Posted

Re: How can I change boot drive to C?

 

Harry

 

I thought we agreed there isn't one!

 

--

Regards.

 

Gerry

~~~~

FCA

Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Harry Ohrn wrote:

> Gerry the OP wants an easy way to change the drive letter for the os

> from H to C.

>

>

>

> "Gerry" <gerry@nospam.com> wrote in message

> news:%237fuMn80HHA.5380@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>> Harry

>>

>> Harry Ohrn wrote:

>>> Gerry I read the question and there is no way to easily change the

>>> system to C. Yes you can free up space by shifting things around

>>> however the fact of the matter is the OP asked if there was an easy

>>> way to change from H to C and the answer is no.

>>

>> The answer to the question is No! We agree!

>>

>>>

Guest Harry Ohrn
Posted

Re: How can I change boot drive to C?

 

Whatever.

--

 

 

Harry Ohrn MS MVP [shell\User]

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp

 

 

"Gerry" <gerry@nospam.com> wrote in message

news:e0Kki380HHA.5644@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

> Harry

>

> I thought we agreed there isn't one!

>

> --

> Regards.

>

> Gerry

> ~~~~

> FCA

> Stourport, England

> Enquire, plan and execute

> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>

> Harry Ohrn wrote:

>> Gerry the OP wants an easy way to change the drive letter for the os

>> from H to C.

>>

>>

>>

>> "Gerry" <gerry@nospam.com> wrote in message

>> news:%237fuMn80HHA.5380@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>>> Harry

>>>

>>> Harry Ohrn wrote:

>>>> Gerry I read the question and there is no way to easily change the

>>>> system to C. Yes you can free up space by shifting things around

>>>> however the fact of the matter is the OP asked if there was an easy

>>>> way to change from H to C and the answer is no.

>>>

>>> The answer to the question is No! We agree!

>>>

>>>>

>

>


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