Where did you read that putting the OS on a D instead of C makes it safer? It doesn't stop a good hacker. Who would want to hack you anyway? You won't be able to detect any real difference on the paging file idea. How would you get the OS to the outer edge of the disk pr platters, exactly?
Hard drives are cheap... very cheap... nowadays... look at Directron, Zipzoomfly, Frys, NewEgg, PCMall... and so many other sites. You can get a 160 GB drive for less than a 40 GB drive cost two years ago... and a 250 GB is hardly any more than a 160. Look for a 320 GB, as they are the lowest cost per GB.
"So would you go with a new(er) Western Digital, but partitian it as well? Use a second drive for the paging file?"
Not me. I would get one large, fast 7200 rpm drive such as a Seagate or Western Digital... no others. I would never use a second drive as a paging file. I would start over. You should never partition a drive unless you have a very specific reason for doing so. Partitions gain you very little unless you need to divide your systems. You can get a 10,000 rpm drive if you can stand the expense. It will work in that computer. But the life will be reduced.
When you add a 7200 rpm drive, the speeds increase as the size increases until you get to about 250 GB, then drop dramatically after that... but adding partitions reduces speed even further. Partitions should only be used to separate and protect data or install systems... for instance if you wanted to add a Windows 98 or Windows VISTA. But whatever you add, the newest operating sytem must be installed first.
I have read that putting OS on D: instead of C: can help prevent hackers and the like?
Or, conversely, making C:, the faster edge of the disk, the paging file, do you think, but then next OS and then prgm files?
"What if I tried stripping the power supply from an older computer for a faster drive?"
Well what if you did? Power supplies have nothing to do with drive speed. See previous info on power supplies... More power, if high quality, improves reliability. But you must have a power supply that fits your case. Get one without a power switch or one where the power switch matches what you have.
"...I do have 1.25 gig on memory & am looking for another gigger if anyone has one laying around..."
You can get 2 GB of Buffalo DDR400 PC3200 on Directron.com for about $27 each. If you are suggesting that anyone has 1 GB of memory laying around, think again, as donations are not the mode here.
"...trying to make backup's of my XP Pro disk, now have 3 operating systems on the two disks & I've no idea of how to UNDO the others & wonder how many duplicate files I've now got."
Time to clean up your system.
"... having a heck of a time trying to create backups -> 2nd disk. I'd like to shadow copy in case the primary goes, but it just about always tells me I don't have enough space."
The space issue is due to the way your system is setup. Avoid the gimmicks. You would probably benefit from a reformat and reinstall... getting rid of the extra partitions and duplicate installs all together.
"And, lastly, do you think the latest Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator upgrade - About ten years old - is worth the $20, or are there any freewares out there for me?"
No decent freeware for Combat Flight Simulator. If you like it, get the real deal.
Bottom line is you should be doing a standard install with good quality hard drive and memory, and avoid the gimmicks. Nobody uses them because they don't help you at all when you have a basic system. Get a good drive of 160 GB or larger, boost your memory to 2GB before the prices go any higher, then save your pennies for a new system... The best way to deal with that Dell is leave it alone. It can never do graphics well. It will never be high speed. But it is a darn good computer for the price. Diddle with it, and it will fail. If it were mine, I would boost the power supply to 500 W if I could find one that would fit... The current power supply will handle everything you have, because the system really is not upgradeable. Only if you get a new and high powered video card will you need any change in power supply.
You are limited by the BUS on that system, by the 40 GB hard drive, and by your 1 GB memory for some uses. But basically, you have enough good in your system to begin learning how to use Windows XP. You need to ask yourself if you know how to use all that computer has to offer, before you go about changing it.
