Formatting & Partitioning Brand New Dell E510

I realize this is a big question. I have been surfing for a week and
am quite confused. A lot of the recommendations might be to solve
obsolete problems. I want to figure out the best way to set up my
brand new (arrived 11/30/05) Dell E510 desktop:

945G Chipset, P4 630 HT 3.0GHz
Internal: 1) Dell 160GB HD, 2&3) Maxtor DiamondMax10's 300GB, 4)
Floppy (taking forum advice), 5) CD/DVD Reader
External: 6) Sony USB2.0 DVD Burner, 7) IEEE 1394 Card
Video: 128MB PCI Express, DVI cable to LCD
Software: XP Media Ctr, Norton Ghost 10 (taking forum advice),
Maxblast 4 (Maxtor download)

I figure I want to load OS, programs & drivers on 160GB, 1st Maxtor for
Data, 2nd Maxtor for Disk Image of 160GB. I bought the 3 HD ($90) to
possibly eliminate some partitioning (taking forum advice).

Would like to boot off 3rd HD if need to reformat 1st.

Questions:
Will latest 11/30/05 Dell BIOS with XP Media Ctr, read 300GB
HD/partitions?
Does it automatically have 48b LBA enabled? I think so, but if not,
there seems to be many places I can enable this from. Which is best?
Do I need/want Maxtor EZ-BIOS?
Should I partition 160GB at all?
Maybe I should just partition 3rd 300GB drive at 160GB, image from
160GB to this, and save rest for data backup.
Should I load OS on 3rd HD, or is imaging better?
Should I format with XP MC, or Maxblast 4?
Should I partition with XP MC, Maxblast 4, or Norton Ghost 10?
Should I image OS, programs, drivers, settings with XP MC, Maxblast 4,
or Norton Ghost 10?

I don't think I want to make periodic images. I don't want to
clone a problem. I think I just want to get the OS, Programs, Drivers,
etc. into a good, lean state, then go back to that state (reformat and
load image) to eliminate full re-load when computer fizzles.

That's a lot of questions to ask, but I could use some help...I want
to get everything well thought out, configured and trouble-shot by
Christmas so my daughters can actually play their favorite game.

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Formatting & Partitioning Brand New Dell E510
    ... Where will you be putting the two Maxtor drives? ... > Should I format with XP MC, or Maxblast 4? ... > Should I partition with XP MC, Maxblast 4, or Norton Ghost 10? ...
    (alt.sys.pc-clone.dell)
  • Re: Can win98 and w2k manage safely a 90G partition ?
    ... From recollection I used default w98 cd tools to partition. ... Two days ago, I installed win98 on e: using a procedure described in a group post: after installing win98, I ran the win2000 setup and chose to repair the w2k installation. ... But then I had second thoughts and decided to clean install ... or maxblast did. ...
    (microsoft.public.win2000.general)
  • Re: EZ-BIOS, Formatting & Partitioning HDs
    ... A lot of the recommendations might be to solve obsolete problems. ... Should I format with XP MC, or Maxblast 4? ... Should I partition with XP MC, Maxblast 4, or Norton Ghost 10? ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers)
  • Re: flaky Seagate 80gig drive
    ... MaxBlast 5 hung up while looking at the ... PartitionMagic7 hung when trying to error check ... Windows and delete the partition. ...
    (alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt)
  • Re: Can win98 and w2k manage safely a 90G partition ?
    ... Personally I've allways found it best to use the win2k cd to partition. ... > procedure described in a group post: after installing win98, ... > But then I had second thoughts and decided to clean install ... > NAV did a stupid thing, or maxblast did. ...
    (microsoft.public.win2000.general)