What should go into C: partition?

[arnie]

Based on several recommendations online, I intend to reorganize the XP
file structure in my machine; that is, place Windows XP in a small
(bootable) partition by itself, then distribute other apps and data
files on various larger partitions on my 80GB drive, with the page file
on a second drive. My questions are (and this sounds naive), does all
of Windows normally reside in the folder labelled C:\Windows? And what
other important files, if any, should also go into this small partition
with XP? None of what I've read so far really addresses this aspect.

 

[Guest]

normally everything resides on drive c: with the exception of an oem repair
\install partition or unless you partition it yourself.

 

[Michael Culley]

Based on several recommendations online, I intend to reorganize the XP
file structure in my machine; that is, place Windows XP in a small
(bootable) partition by itself, then distribute other apps and data files
on various larger partitions on my 80GB drive, with the page file on a
second drive. My questions are (and this sounds naive), does all of
Windows normally reside in the folder labelled C:\Windows? And what other
important files, if any, should also go into this small partition with XP?
None of what I've read so far really addresses this aspect.

My opinion is that it's best to use a single partition. If you've got 2 or
more partitions how do get the correct size for them? You end up with a bit
of a mess if you use up most of your space. Say E drive is set aside for
music but gets full so you start putting music on C drive and D drive. It's
much easier to follow the KISS principle and have one drive. That is, of
course, my opinion.

Michael

 

[Kelly]

I disagree totally here, Michael. The KISS method does not apply.

 

[jeffrey]

Hi,

If you want to use multiple partitions, then first think of the types of
files you will be using. On my main computer, I have 2 HDD`s, one is 160 GB
and the other is 250 GB. I have 5 partitions, C: is 30 GB, D: game drive is
70 GB, E: picture/word drive 60 GB, G: music media drive 120 GB, H: video
drive 130 GB. So for you, just decide on what your using and how you want
to organise it.

Jeff

 

[Michael Culley]

I disagree totally here, Michael. The KISS method does not apply.

That's not much info for me to reply on. I don't see why it doesn't
apply, it couldn't be simpler just having a C drive. If you've got 5 drives
like jeff it would be a lot of trouble. I've had partitions before and ended
up jugling all sorts of crap around and decided it was much easier to go
back to a single drive and use directories for different info. If paritions
auto sized or were easily sizable i'd be more inclinded to agree with you
but when you get one drive full and another partition half empty it is a
real pita.

Michael Culley

 

[jeffrey]

Hi Mikael,

Actually its very easy to sort things out. I have each drive named by its
function. C drive really doesn`t need to be that big, usually 5 to 10 gigs
is enough to keep XP OS happy. I don`t save stuff in My Documents, I have
Office setup to save it in my E drive and open to that automatically. Its
sorting out the same way if you had one partition. Also if something
happens to mess up the OS files, you can easily reinstall the OS without
worrying about loosing personal data, since they are not on the C drive. I
rather click on my different partitions to see the items I want to look at,
then having to see all the basic folders that are created and used by the
OS. I find it a lot easier to organise and quicker

Jeff

 

[Richard Urban]

No such thing as a small partition for Windows XP. I typically use an 8-10
gig partition. Most every program you install, no matter where you install
it, is going to write files to the Windows drive.

Example: AutoCad, installed on drive D, still installed 37 meg of files in
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Autodesk Shared.

You can't prevent it from happening!

--

Regards:

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

 

[Testy]

Hmm...I have a 3.5 gig partition for XP and after over 2 years still have
54% free space.

Testy

 

[Guest]

-----Original Message-----
Based on several recommendations online, I intend to reorganize the XP
file structure in my machine; that is, place Windows XP in a small
(bootable) partition by itself, then distribute other apps and data
files on various larger partitions on my 80GB drive, with the page file
on a second drive. My questions are (and this sounds naive), does all
of Windows normally reside in the folder labelled C:\Windows? And what
other important files, if any, should also go into this small partition
with XP? None of what I've read so far really addresses this aspect.
.
dont make the xp partition less than 4 gigs and with an

80 gig drive I would say 6 gigs is also not too much to
give it,what the other people do and say in reply is fine
but if you are just a home user ,with an 80 gig drive you
dont need to skimp on the partition size for xp,alot of
this talk is now a mute point it is cheaper to get a new
second drive to store data on than have many small
partitions and run out of space you can use for xp itself
and then have to clean install because people have told
you how to save hard drive space and be efficient.

 

[see.cher]

This is what I have done. The reason I have it set up this way is so
when the system gets unstable or blown away, all I need to do is ghost
my C: image back to C: - if you don't create an image partition then
just reformat the C: partition and reinstall the OS and apps.

Most all my apps and data are on the D: partition. I also have an E:
partition just for transient files (downloads, etc.). Most of the apps
must be reinstalled to get the registry links reset, but all the data
and settings will be saved. If you ghost it as discribed below you
don't need to reinstall apps.

Some apps insist on installing something, if not all of itself on the
c: partition. Sometimes you can force them on the D: partition,
sometimes it is not worth the effort.

I let apps install on the C: partition if it is directly related to
the system. Hardware drivers, firewall, anti-virus, directx, etc.
other pure apps including MS Office are installed on the D: partition.

I also use Karen's replicator to backup data and setting files from
the C: partition to a backup drive or partition. - like OE email,
favorites, start menu, quick launch, etc.

the size of the C: partiton depends on the STUFF on your system. For
normal people 5G should be big enough. I use 10G. 4.8G is currently
used. I also have a 10G drive/partition that I use to ghost the C:
partition to. That way I can just ghost it back when trouble arrives.
If I keep the image up to date I can boot from this partition and
everything functions. (this isn't an image file, it is a complete
duplicate partition.) You must set up your boot.ini to do that. You
can always expand it with partition magic. Apps don't need to be
reinstalled if you do this, except for ones install since last image.

My page file resides on another drive but could be left on the C:
partition even with 5G.

It is a chore to get used to not taking defaults when installing apps.
If you install something you want on the C: partition you can accept
the defaults. WINDOWS is usually just for the OS. Some apps put things
there (ini files, etc.). Most apps want to install in C:\PROGRAM
FILES. I have a folder D:\APPLICATIONS on the D: partition that I
direct them to.

Just keep it organized.

have fun.

 

[CZ]

Re: using multiple vols
apply, it couldn't be simpler just having a C drive. If you've got 5 drives
like jeff it would be a lot of trouble. I've had partitions before and ended
up jugling all sorts of crap around and decided it was much easier to go
back to a single drive and use directories for different info. If paritions
auto sized or were easily sizable i'd be more inclinded to agree with you
but when you get one drive full and another partition half empty it is a
real pita.

Michael:

I have two hard disks with a total of 15 vols.
If I need to resize a vol, I use Partition Magic v7.01 from a floppy boot
without problems.

Many of the vols have op systems installed (for testing).
One of the vols has data files only.
This allows me to defrag the data vol as needed (frequently) separately from
the op system vols which require much less defragmenting.

 

[Alex Nichol]

Based on several recommendations online, I intend to reorganize the XP
file structure in my machine; that is, place Windows XP in a small
(bootable) partition by itself, then distribute other apps and data
files on various larger partitions on my 80GB drive, with the page file
on a second drive. My questions are (and this sounds naive), does all
of Windows normally reside in the folder labelled C:\Windows? And what
other important files, if any, should also go into this small partition
with XP?

Installing the system also puts some things in C:\Program files (the
Accessories and Common Files folders, and ones like Messenger, Media
Player, Internet Explorer, Outlook express)

Installing third party programs may add a few files to the Windows
folder (especially drivers) and may also try to install in Program
Files. Usually if you take a Custom install you can put the major part
of an application elsewhere - eg on another drive.

If you are trying to cut down and move applications, safest way is to
uninstall, delete any residual folder of their own in Prog Files, then
reinstall, specifying the other drive. They may still put some items in
Prog Files, and especially in the Common Files sub-folder

 

[arnie]

Thanks for answering my two questions, Alex, which all other posters
except see.cher seemed to overlook. Funny how often a user asks for
specific information, and suddenly it becomes a debate.

arnie

 

[arnie]

Thanks for the thoughtful response. Your scheme is essentially what I
plan to do.

arnie

 

[Richard Urban]

Really! Guess you don't DO anything!

My C:\Windows folder is 2.3 gig. C:\Program Files\Common Files is 686 meg..
And this is with the majority of my programs installed onto drive D:

--

Regards:

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Based on several recommendations online, I intend to reorganize the
XP
file structure in my machine; that is, place Windows XP in a small
(bootable) partition by itself, then distribute other apps and data
files on various larger partitions on my 80GB drive, with the page
file on a second drive. My questions are (and this sounds naive),
does all of Windows normally reside in the folder labelled
C:\Windows? And what other important files, if any, should also go
into this small partition with XP? None of what I've read so far
really addresses this aspect.

Placing data files on a partition or physical hard drive separate
from the operating system and applications can greatly simplify system
repairs/recoveries and data back-up. I'd use a slower drive only for
data storage.

There's very little point, however, in having a separate partition
for just applications and/or games. Should you have to reinstall the
OS, you'll also have to reinstall each and every application and game
anyway, in order to recreate the hundreds (possibly thousands) of
registry entries and to replace the dozens (possibly hundreds) of
essential system files back into the appropriate Windows folders and
sub-folders.

--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Trent©]

No such thing as a small partition for Windows XP. I typically use an 8-10
gig partition. Most every program you install, no matter where you install
it, is going to write files to the Windows drive.

Example: AutoCad, installed on drive D, still installed 37 meg of files in
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Autodesk Shared.

You can't prevent it from happening!

Sure you can.

For example...you can put your Common Files folder on another
partition.

Have a nice one...

Trent

Budweiser: Helping ugly people have sex since 1876!

 

[J. S. Pack]

Thanks for the thoughtful response. Your scheme is essentially what I
plan to do.

arnie

Why?

It's not much of a reason. If the system "gets unstable or blown away" it's
almost certain that you'd merely need to restore your latest registry
backup that you'd made with ERUNT. At most you might need to do an sfc or
repair reinstall. No extra partitions necessary.

When your hard drive fails, all the partitions will go with it, so having
an image and backups on another partition won't be in the least helpful and
probably just gives you false sense of security. You might as well just
backup data to different directories, not a partition.

The image and other backups are best kept on CDs or DVDs and on your 2nd
hard drive. In fact, if you're serious, this is what you MUST do.

Uh-huh. But why needlessly get into a situation where you'd have to waste
time in such a fashion?

Well, yes . . . .

It never is, actually. And so you end up with stuff all over the place,
some on D:, some not.

Sorry, but in this thread I still haven't heard a good reason for doing
that.

As for faster defrags, your system files stay defragged anyway.

"Backup drive" is the magic phrase here. And it only needs one partition,
too. So you end up with merely C: and D: drives--beautiful.

With one partition, you don't need to worry about that.

What is a "drive/partition"? If you have another drive, then the very
slight excuse (to hold an image) for having another partition on your main
drive goes away and life gets simpler.

See above.

If you have another drive, what's the point of having another partition on
your main drive?

Yes it is. I think you're making the case for not having extra partitions
pretty well.

Ending up much less organized. Now you do have some apps in C:\Program
Files and some in D:\Applications and pieces god knows where.

Keeping things in one directory is just that, whether you call it by a
different name or not. You can just map C:\Program Files to a virtual drive
if you need a shorter name . Now you have to backup stuff from multiple
partitions and extra directories, too. And for what reason?

If you want to organize, just create categories in your Start Menu, like
"Internet" "Games", "Media", "Utilities" and drag your shortcuts into them.
What you want is to be able to access them quickly, and how fast you can do
that is the measure of how organized you are. You'll never notice the apps
themselves are not in the cherished D:\Applications directory (except when
it comes to backup, installation, or restoration, of course, when things
are much easier).



It really is all about having fun playing around with the hard drive, isn't
it? I'm serious. I think people just like to feel like they're DOING
SOMETHING with their hard drives.

What a mess this presupposes. You've got a second drive, so you have no
need at all for any other partitions.


1. No. But Windows will take what it needs and put it on the C: drive as
needed automatically, if there's space. Otherwise it'll, well . . . crash.


2. See 1.

 

[Kelly]

Nicely said and pretty much the way I have things set up, in addition of
having a 'share drive' (a must via dual booting). Other than that, my
systems have two drives that clone specific partitions for me and will flip
into place if needed.