Questions about my new 120GB Maxtor Hard Drive?

**jxcheng** · March 18th, 2003, 05:16 PM

I just bought a new 120G Maxtor HDD from Staples, and have a few questions here:

1. How do I check the disk?
Is it enough to go to Win2000 DOS prompt and type "scandisk" command?
Current, Windows 2000 is installed on my old 10G HDD.

2.
Any suggestions on partion the disk?
I would take my old 10G HDD out, and only keep the 120G Maxtor HDD.

Thank you!

Jim

**NeoStarO1** · March 19th, 2003, 10:13 PM

My first advise is if you haven't backed up the data files you want off your 10gigger, that be the first thing I do before putting in the new hdd.

As for partitioning. I like to partition mine in at least 3 partitions.
the first partition holding my operating system and my programs.
Second partition I like using for my pageswap files only.
Here is a great guide on how to optimize your swapfiles written by NDC.
Optimizing pagefiles. The third partition I like having it for my datafiles only. it makes it a snap to back up and burn to cdr. rather than hunting all over looking for your files. this keeps them all in one place and organized.

As for your question of checking the disk, yes you can use scandisk or you can use the maxblast utilites that either came with your hard drive or you can download them from maxtors website.

**Nighthawk** · March 19th, 2003, 10:24 PM

2K is chkdsk, and yes it'll work fine on a maxtor 120GB hard drive (at least on mine it does).

I set mine up as a secondary disk so I could just use it as extra storage. Some people like to split it up into a bunch of partitions but I just leave mine as one big partition.

Regardless, make sure to use MaxBlat 3 if you're going to do a sector-by-sector copy off an existing drive. I didn't know there was a newer version than the disk in my box so I had to move stuff from within Windows.

**chris64** · March 19th, 2003, 10:49 PM

MaxBlast 3 is a great utility. Although I know how to use FDISK and FORMAT from Dos this was much easier.

**Richard Cranium** · March 19th, 2003, 10:58 PM

Yeah the software that comes with the drive will allow you to partition and then copy the old HD to the new, unless they've changed lately

as you've got what's called a "Retail" drive..

**jxcheng** · March 19th, 2003, 11:04 PM

Thank you guys.

The maxtor 120G hard drive just arrived today.

I will try to use MaxBlast to copy the data from my old HDD later tonight.

**Dazbo666** · March 19th, 2003, 11:15 PM

I've had a Maxtor 80gig for the past 6 months... no problems... a GREAT buy!!

**chris64** · March 19th, 2003, 11:33 PM

jxcheng just curios but did you get that drive from the Comptusa deal.

Maxtor Hardrive $149.99 - $30(instant rebate) - $40(MIR) = $79.99

**jxcheng** · March 19th, 2003, 11:42 PM

Actually, I got from Staples.com

It costs $139.99 -$30 (coupon) - $40 MIR = $69.99

**chris64** · March 19th, 2003, 11:47 PM

Originally posted by jxcheng
Actually, I got from Staples.com

It costs $139.99 -$30 (coupon) - $40 MIR = $69.99

I guess I overpayed.

**Dazbo666** · March 19th, 2003, 11:48 PM

$70 for 120gig ????

OMG I'm living in the wrong country.... my 80gig Maxtor was £92 (about $144 USD !!)

**chris64** · March 19th, 2003, 11:51 PM

Originally posted by Dazbo666
$70 for 120gig ????

OMG I'm living in the wrong country.... my 80gig Maxtor was £92 (about $144 USD !!)

Don't feel bad I payed $80 for a 120gb hard drive.

Why don't you move here to the US.

**Dazbo666** · March 19th, 2003, 11:54 PM

....yeah, anyone got a spare room (preferably with a broadband connection already available??) heehee

**chris64** · March 20th, 2003, 12:03 AM

Originally posted by Dazbo666
....yeah, anyone got a spare room (preferably with a broadband connection already available??) heehee

Depends how much money are you gonna pay.

Maybe knowing that it was $109.99 before MIR will make you feel better about what you paid

**Dazbo666** · March 20th, 2003, 12:29 AM

Originally posted by chris64
Depends how much money are you gonna pay.

I was thinking more along the lines of a big box with "airmail" written on it??

**jxcheng** · March 20th, 2003, 01:23 PM

My new Maxtor HDD has been installed successfully.
However, ther is one problem:
I partitioned the HDD into 2 partitions: 33% and 67%.
However, the logic drive letters are arranged a bit weird:
First Partition: C
CD-ROm: D
CD-Burner : E
Second Partition: F

How could I assign "D" to the second partition?

Thank you!

Jim

**Nighthawk** · March 20th, 2003, 01:49 PM

The way I did it for mine is to go into Disk Manager under my computer->manage, assign the CD-ROM to drive G (for example), then assign the second partition to D. Reboot, then put the CD-ROM where you want it.