Adding a second HDD, configuration

Hello again,

My 98SE, 1GHz P-3, 40Gb, 256Mb computer has all 4 IDE channels taken (HDD, DVD-ROM, CD-RW and Zip 100). With my new DV camcorder I need more HDD space so I bought a new IDE controller card and a WD80Gb HDD. I am installed and formatted.

My original HDD is already divided into 5 partitions via Partition Magic 6.0. Works fine. I was hoping to accomplish the following:

Copy (image) everything on the 40Gb HDD to the 80Gb and make the 80Gb the primary HDD. Then I would like to utilize the 40Gb as a ghost back up HDD so that whatever I do in the specified partitions (the 5 currently used ones) would be mirrored and updated real time. In that way, if the older one crashes, I have it all on the new one. I do own Norton Ghost.

That being said, am I totally off-base (logically or practically) or is this reasonably do-able? If so, how. I have searched the net and hardware sites but have not found the configuration that I seek spelled out anywhere. Is that because it is ill-advised?

Thanks a lot in advance!

Lar

 

ghost

Is the new IDE controler bios bootable? Lets say no for now. Place the new 80 on the controler ribbon & setup the software so windows "sees" this drive, partition/format with whatever ute ya want. Now use ghost or driveimage or maybe a ute came with the big gig drive? I like to use the ute that comes with IBM drives or diskimage from powerquest. Anyway image over from C drive to new 80 gig. Now power off, change drives making the 80gig master on IDE channel one & the old 40gig place on new IDE controler ribbon. As far as mirroring redundant to the 40 gig someone else can answer that i'm sure However if you are setting up a "RAID" dynamics change of course

 

Hi again, I actually got most of that!

The IDE card is not Bios bootable (as you assumed). I am up to having the 80 on the new card and windows has assigned it to D:/. It is formatted and ready for action.

I have Ghost and I am going to work on that aspect over the next few days. I have emailed Norton for more info on what it can/cannot do. The website mentions a possible 70Gb limit to Ghost. Hmmm.

When I image over the 40 to the 80, how will Ghost handle the remaining 40, create a new partition for it? I understand changing the drives around. Since they will both be the same, will the rest of the computer not even know that there was a change?

I have also asked Norton about real time updating of the image once I have switched their positions. I'll update accordingly.

Once again, thanks Rancher,

Lar

 

Well, I Ghosted it and switched them around. Windows is not happy.

Getting a VFAT Window Protection Error on the old drive (now attached to the new IDE controller card). I have given up...

It is now unplugged, unused and and unappreciated. No one seems to have any idea as to what has caused this. I have checked the MS Knowledge Base but the only thing that mentions VFAT issues is irrelevant to my situation. Only the general article on Windows Protection Errors applies and the possiblities are truly endless.

I cannot seem to find out how to get the old drive to not want to lead. I wonder if that may be part of the problem.

Lar

 

Oh No

Lar- do you have the jumpers on the new 80 as master & on the primary ide channel & is this drive then "seen" in the bios? You don't need to have the old 40 attached at all for now as it mite confuse things. Just try & get the new 80 to run as the boot drive. You may have to even remove the pci card that has the extra ide channels for now. we need to have the bios "see" a new MBR on the 80

 

Oh yeah! The Bios is very happy with the new HDD. Shows it right where the old one was and without the old one plugged in, the computer boots up fine.

I think that old HDD is envious!!!

Lar

 

Kewl

Well the "virtual file allocation table" don't like longer file names then 8+3. You prolly have fat on old & fat32 on new?
Virtual File Allocation Table (VFAT) is the part of the Windows 95 and later operating system that handles long file names, which otherwise could not be handled by the original file allocation table file allocation table (FAT) programming. A file allocation table is the means by which the operating system keeps track of where the pieces of a file are stored on a hard disk. Since the original FAT for the Disk Operating System (DOS) assumed file names were limited to a length of eight characters, a program extension was needed to handle the longer names allowed in Windows 95. Microsoft refers to this extension as a driver since other operating systems may need to install and use it in order to access FAT partitions written by Windows 95 and later Windows systems. The VFAT extension runs in protected mode, uses 32-bit code, and uses VCACHE for disk cache. Solution=

Heck you have everything over on new 80gig so delete the old partition, reformat fat32, now you have a 40gig slave. The registry on 80gig prolly has referance to the other drive but is second in line for regonition after few bootups. You can also use regcleaner to clean things that have no further links

 

Hi Rancher,

I hear ya but it makes no sense. My old drive was on the same computer with Win98SE and was Fat32, as well. Where this VFAT conflict is coming from is nonsensical. However, maybe it is moot.

As another experiment I set the old one to slave on the IDE card and when I booted up I think that they both wanted to be in charge. I came up with a notice that the System REgistry needed to be corrected and to reboot ((but no VFAT notice). I didn't like the sound of that so I shutdown and unplugged the old one.

That is the current status.

Reformat the old HDD is the way to go. I am not clear on how to get the old HDD to stay subservient once I Ghost it from the new one.

Lar

 

drive over 40

Dang it now, I think if you would have put your fears aside when the registry correction statement came up the puter would have figgered out who is "boss" & that would be the end of it. That's what I was tryin' to get ya ta do You can easily format the 40 while in windows!! Hook the dang 40 back on the extra ide controler, set the jumper to slave just so as it will not get in the way of your 80gig master, bootup, open "my computer" rite click the 40g slave drive & select format BTW where are located? I notice I sleep when you are awake

 

S**t Howdy!!!

I am in a little hamlet called Lawse Anjeleeees! You are just a couple of hours earlier, aren't yee? Your beddy time must be about 10pm. When my kids are down, I wake up for about 2 hours.

If I hook up the ol' 40 and boot up, I will get the System Registry message thingee again. That will stop me dead in my tracks and I will never get to My Puter (oh, my poor lil' puter). I am going to try one more configuration. I am going to move the ol' HDD to the middle connector of the IDE card's ribbon wire (instead of the end slot). It is already set to Slave. But, then again, I understand that a single drive on an IDE channel auto defers to Master anyway.. but I'll try.

What about moving the Zip to the IDE card and putting the ol' 40 as slave on the same IDE channel as big bopper (80)? Will that disenfranchise my Zip from Norton's Zip Rescue program. Jeeez.

What a pain in the arse!!!

Lar

 

ide & more

On the ide cable issue. Unless it's an 80 wire ATA/66 cable attached to a primary ata/66-100 controle,it don't matter where ya put the slave, middle or end. If it is said cable on primary w/80gig new master, then set BOTH drives to cable select & the cable will sort the master to be at the end of ATA/66 cable auto. And will you please tun norton off while you get this thang stait.

 

Hi Rancher, just wanted to tie up loose ends.

What I finally had to do was to boot up with the Win98 Start Up disk and fdisk the old geezer (40Gb HDD) now that the new one was the active one. Then I formatted and Ghosted back to the old one.

I am a just happier than a pig in.....

Thanks for all your help, pard.

From Laws Angeleeeeze,

Lar

 

Ghost

How ya been doin' in that city of angles better know as lala land?
yep ghost or drive image are mighty fast utes

 

The City of cities got rain today and the world seemed to stop.

Of course, I was on a freeway at the time and it indeed DID stop. A little rain and "gosh'n'begorin ". If it ever snowed here I would need 10 days of rations to get me through it!

Now that my 'puter is stumbling with both feet now I can turn a clearer attention to more important things. My kids homework ( "come'on Dad... are you on the computer again!) and my sick Daddy-O...82 yrs old) .

Best to ya, hope you have an early summer, and hats off to Alaska!!

Lar