[mclimbin]

OK, so the family has gone out of town for a few days, so I was able to use the time to buy a new hard drive and do a clean install of Windows 7 on the new hard drive. I have installed most of my programs and updated almost everything, and so far no problems. I'll keep my digital appendages crossed and hope everything is alright (just a little "digital" humor there).

This is unrelated to the original problem (which was originally just a request for advice!), but could you tell me how to make the old drive a data drive? This was easy to do in XP, but from what I have read from different searches I have made, it is quite complicated in Win7. So far the new drive is holding everything, including the system files and all the data files that I had backed up. The old drive (now E: Documents) has been formatted and is ready to go.

One thing that I learned doing searches on this was that I should have thought about this before I started installing Win7, but I didn't know that, and besides, I wanted to be careful with my data and not format the old disk until the new one was working properly...

Thanks again for all your help.

[iammykyl]

Will need to get back to you on the set up of the E drive.

If you C drive is stable, you should use window7 tools to create an image and a recovery Disc, should you get problems again it will save you all the hassle you have gone through. Store on external drive or USB.

[iammykyl]

I do not know just how helpful I am able to be in suggestions for setting up your HDD.
Eyes the only one on this PC so for me, was easy. I did start from the beginning by ensuring that only essential programs went on the C drive, disc 0. Office etc., went on the second drive E, disc 1, Program partition. I moved my User Profile to (E) DATA partition. Here I also have the default Download folder and an Odds and Sods folder. The third partition is for backups including images of the C drive.. I also have an external backup drive. This contains images of both the C & E drive.

You have already set up the C drive as you want it, so there is little point in a program partition On E.

I think the following needs to be put forward for others to verify.

Drive E. Move your profile to Partition 1, Michael. (primary)
Partition 2, media, (Logical) Folders for TV, pics, music, etc.
Big question here, Partition 3, DATA, (Logical) Is it useful, practical, to move the other users "My Documents" folders here???
Partition 4, backups, (Extended)

Read this guide, much would apply to a HDD boot drive. Also has heaps of other very useful info.
http://www.overclock...e-for-ssds-hdds
Other how to. http://www.sevenforu...age-backup.html<br style="color: rgb(24, 24, 24); font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(232, 232, 232); ">http://www.sevenforu...start-time.html<br style="color: rgb(24, 24, 24); font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(232, 232, 232); ">http://www.sevenforu...stallation.html<br style="color: rgb(24, 24, 24); font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(232, 232, 232); ">http://www.sevenforu...t-location.html<br style="color: rgb(24, 24, 24); font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(232, 232, 232); ">http://www.sevenforu...al-folders.html

It is most important that you do a manual System Restore before every step.

[mclimbin]

Just wanted to report in and let you know that the re-install is working perfectly. No shut downs, restarts or BSODs for almost 3 weeks. Thanks so much!

[iammykyl]

You are welcome.
Great that you have a stable system.

Remember to do a manual restore post before making alteration as the auto system does not always work. I keep my first 2 Images, originals, plus 1 from last month and 1 current. I create an image every month and delete the oldest one. Sounds paranoid but gives options to recover from a failed Microsoft update or virus infection.

Need any help in the future, "Just whistle"