Partitioning hard drive on WinXP Home reinstallation

[Guest]

Have a Dell Latitude D600 laptop with 30Gb hard drive, currently partitioned
as one basic disk using NTFS. During the OS reinstallation setup process,
which will be a clean install, I want to re-partition into three areas: 1
for the OS/startup, other applications, Windows updates; 1 for the data
created; and 1 small area for trying out new software, eg MS AntiSpyware
beta1 etc.

Have read and printed out a number of KB articles concerning partitioning
and formatting the hard drive in Windows XP and various file systems. I also
have the Windows XP Inside Out book which contains useful information. It is
a mountain of new information for a new user such as myself; it's all very
interesting and some of it makes sense, but is all quite overwhelming. What
I'd like to know is this:

1) For the three partition areas mentioned above, what would be an
appropriate proportion/Mb size for each area, including leaving some
unallocated space for future changes if needed? What would be the best
configuration for these areas, ie partition, extended partition, logical
drive; or partition with two logical drives, etc? I don't understand this
part of the process!!!
2) As a consequence of your answer to question 1, what file system would
you suggest as the best, most robust, keeping in mind XP Home does not have
encryption only compression. I use an external drive with encryption
software so don't need the hard drive to have it. I am somewhat confused
about the pros and cons of FAT and NTFS.
3) Would it be better to re-partition and format *before* installation,
just in case of hard drive recognition problems that may occur? If so, how
can I do that easily using XP itself as I don't have any other partitioning
software?

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Please read the following:

Benchmarking on Windows XP
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/sysperf/benchmark.mspx

NTFS Preinstallation and Windows XP
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/winpreinst/ntfs-preinstall.mspx

<snip>

Microsoft implemented certain disk-layout optimizations in Windows XP.
To perform this optimization, during idle time Windows XP moves pages
used for booting the system and launching frequently used applications to
ensure these files are laid out contiguously on the hard disk. The contiguous
disk layout of these pages results in reduced disk seeks and improved disk I/O,
contributing to improved boot time and application launch time.

Windows XP does not perform these optimizations across volumes. Therefore,
for this optimization to be available to users, the hard disk must be partitioned
as a single volume.

<end of snip>

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| Have a Dell Latitude D600 laptop with 30Gb hard drive, currently partitioned
| as one basic disk using NTFS. During the OS reinstallation setup process,
| which will be a clean install, I want to re-partition into three areas: 1
| for the OS/startup, other applications, Windows updates; 1 for the data
| created; and 1 small area for trying out new software, eg MS AntiSpyware
| beta1 etc.
|
| Have read and printed out a number of KB articles concerning partitioning
| and formatting the hard drive in Windows XP and various file systems. I also
| have the Windows XP Inside Out book which contains useful information. It is
| a mountain of new information for a new user such as myself; it's all very
| interesting and some of it makes sense, but is all quite overwhelming. What
| I'd like to know is this:
|
| 1) For the three partition areas mentioned above, what would be an
| appropriate proportion/Mb size for each area, including leaving some
| unallocated space for future changes if needed? What would be the best
| configuration for these areas, ie partition, extended partition, logical
| drive; or partition with two logical drives, etc? I don't understand this
| part of the process!!!
| 2) As a consequence of your answer to question 1, what file system would
| you suggest as the best, most robust, keeping in mind XP Home does not have
| encryption only compression. I use an external drive with encryption
| software so don't need the hard drive to have it. I am somewhat confused
| about the pros and cons of FAT and NTFS.
| 3) Would it be better to re-partition and format *before* installation,
| just in case of hard drive recognition problems that may occur? If so, how
| can I do that easily using XP itself as I don't have any other partitioning
| software?
|
| --
| CEC4

 

[Guest]

Dear Carey,
thanks your prompt reply. I appreciate what you suggest about best
optimization across a single volume.

Interestingly, my local Windows SIG which covers XP, has discussed this
issue often and has recommended the separation of OS and application software
from data, mainly as a data loss prevention measure in times of system
crashes, as well as, for instance, to keep beta software from possibly
polluting/corrupting the rest. I have to say, though, I don't recall them
mentioning how large a hard drive had to be for this arrangement to work
well; maybe it wouldn't do so well on such a small drive as mine, which I
could understand. They never mentioned any problems with optimization, and
generally talked from their experiences in doing this partition separation
process.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

I would suggest investing in a good external backup drive
which will protect your data in the event of a hard drive failure
or system corruption.

Examples:

Maxtor OneTouch II
http://www.maxtor.com/portal/site/M...II Family/Maxtor OneTouch II FireWire and USB

Western Digital Dual-Option Media Center
http://www.westerndigital.com/en/products/Products.asp?DriveID=77

Where to Buy
http://www.newegg.com/ProductSort/SubCategory.asp?SubCategory=414

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| Dear Carey,
| thanks your prompt reply. I appreciate what you suggest about best
| optimization across a single volume.
|
| Interestingly, my local Windows SIG which covers XP, has discussed this
| issue often and has recommended the separation of OS and application software
| from data, mainly as a data loss prevention measure in times of system
| crashes, as well as, for instance, to keep beta software from possibly
| polluting/corrupting the rest. I have to say, though, I don't recall them
| mentioning how large a hard drive had to be for this arrangement to work
| well; maybe it wouldn't do so well on such a small drive as mine, which I
| could understand. They never mentioned any problems with optimization, and
| generally talked from their experiences in doing this partition separation
| process.

 

[DL]

Whilst using a separate partition for data I can understand, a separate
partition for trial software is unlikely to achieve anything, as when you
install software the win registry is amended, and this resides in your Win
partition. Ergo you achieve nothing by the separation. Deleting an installed
app by simply deleting its folders will have no impact on the registry, and
could cause other problems.

 

[Uncle John]

You have quite a small drive so you find it is simplest to run it as one run
it as one single partition and back it up regularly. As to backup using a
proprietary software: Acronis TrueImage
version 9 will allow you to create a small hidden partition which you can
access from the boot process by hitting F11 or using a rescue CD. If you are
short of space buy an external HD ex. Iomega, to house your backups

 

[Guest]

Dear Uncle John and DL:
Thank you both, and Carey, for your comments and advices. Will take it on
board. Sounds like a single partition is the way to go. Will investigate
Acronis. Instinctively, would wish to use an external drive as backup.
Wish me luck, gentlemen/women -- it is my first OS installation! Cheers!

 

[Guest]

Dear Carey,
Yes, I agree with your suggestion herein and thanks for the recommendations.
Will investigate them.

Have replied to you indirectly as a response to Uncle John/DL comments.
However, also want to say that have printed out the two articles you
referenced in your earlier reply, as well as the links you gave in another
post about troubleshooting XP OS installation problems (just in case I need
them), and will study them in a quiet moment. Thank you!

I'm certainly learning a lot by going through this process, but my head
doesn't hurt. One aspect that makes it most interesting, and is to be
expected, is the differing opinions about what is the best action to take. I
guess each person's experience produces different results based on their
particular configuration/usage need. It is all relevant and it is up to me
to decide the appropriate action for me. Of course, I am also aware that if
things don't work out, I can always start again! Thank you all for your
guidance.