Benefits of having a seperate CD-R partition?

[Guest]

Hi,

Anyone have any feedback on whether it makes sense to create a seperate
partition for use solely by XP to create its image files etc that are used
when writing a CD-R/RW? For that matter, does it make sense to set aside the
15Gb for a similar DVD situation?

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Anyone have any feedback on whether it makes sense to create a
seperate partition for use solely by XP to create its image files etc
that are used when writing a CD-R/RW? For that matter, does it make
sense to set aside the 15Gb for a similar DVD situation?

It makes sense to have your "temporary" caching areas for various
applications (including CD/DVD burning) on a separate drive - but just a
separate partition..? Not really.

 

[Jim]

Hi,

Anyone have any feedback on whether it makes sense to create a seperate
partition for use solely by XP to create its image files etc that are used
when writing a CD-R/RW? For that matter, does it make sense to set aside
the
15Gb for a similar DVD situation?

A separate folder yes. A separate partition no.
Jim

 

[Guest]

Thanks guys,

I've been reading Windows XP Inside Out and it was recommended to create a
seperate partition so that the read/write of the temporary cache files would
be unfragmented, but it seems like an awful lot of space...

 

[Jim]

Thanks guys,

I've been reading Windows XP Inside Out and it was recommended to create a
seperate partition so that the read/write of the temporary cache files
would
be unfragmented, but it seems like an awful lot of space..

Perhaps it would not be as fragmented. However, fragmentation is not as
serious a problem as people would have you believe. Besides, how are you
supposed to determine the size of this partition?
If, for example, it is big enough to contain a DVD, it will surely waste a
lot of space when you are saving to a CD. Conversely, if you size it to
hold a CD, but later replace your CD with a DVD, you must remember to expand
the size of the partition. Frankly, I think this solution is more trouble
than it is worth.
Jim.

 

[Guest]

To be fair, I would use a seperate drive with a single partition
configuration (NTFS of course) and from there on a folder to contain the
cd/dvd image files etc - that way, as I see it, you gain a small performance
boost in read/write times by having the cd/dvd file cache on a seperate drive
(also having that drive on a seperate IDE channel will give extra
performance) from the actual system installation its self.

To add to that i'd also configure your User Shell Folders to be on a
seperate drive i.e. Temporary Internet Files, Cookies, Favorites and so on as
required - not only does this possibly eliminate the need to backup data from
the system drive (For the folders listed in the registry key location -
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders - Only change registry keys if you know and understand the
potential damage this can do to you windows installation), (If configured
properly the more important of these folders i.e. Favorites, My Documents and
its sub folders will be on a seperate drive, thus if your windows
installation fails to the extent a re-install is required, the data in those
folders is ready to be accessed from the new installation or from another
machine) although physical backups to cd/dvd or other media of choice is
always adviseable.

As a final addition i would also setup the pagefile for the windows
installation to be on another physical drive preferably again on a seperate
IDE channel from that of you windows installation.

 

[Guest]

To be fair, I would use a seperate drive with a single partition
configuration (NTFS of course) and from there on a folder to contain the
cd/dvd image files etc - that way, as I see it, you gain a small performance
boost in read/write times by having the cd/dvd file cache on a seperate drive
(also having that drive on a seperate IDE channel will give extra
performance) from the actual system installation its self.

To add to that i'd also configure your User Shell Folders to be on a
seperate drive i.e. Temporary Internet Files, Cookies, Favorites and so on as
required - not only does this possibly eliminate the need to backup data from
the system drive (For the folders listed in the registry key location -
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders - Only change registry keys if you know and understand the
potential damage this can do to you windows installation), (If configured
properly the more important of these folders i.e. Favorites, My Documents and
its sub folders will be on a seperate drive, thus if your windows
installation fails to the extent a re-install is required, the data in those
folders is ready to be accessed from the new installation or from another
machine) although physical backups to cd/dvd or other media of choice is
always adviseable.

As a final addition i would also setup the pagefile for the windows
installation to be on another physical drive preferably again on a seperate
IDE channel from that of you windows installation.