Is It Best To Partion A HD For XP Home?

[Pegleg]

TIA

Pegleg
U.S. Navy Retired
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All great things are simple, and many can be expressed in single words:
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[Mike Hall - MS MVP Windows Shell/User]

For me, the essence of partitioning a drive is like having a filing
cabinet.. each partition is allocated a particular use.. on an 80gb drive, I
split it into four equal parts.. partitions are for OS and applications,
games, installation files for stuff picked up from the internet for which no
original installation media is available (eg, drivers, free programs etc)
and lastly a data partition which I use for quick access.. this works well
for me.. it is not the easiest way to set up and work a system because there
is always an element of discipline and some knowledge in how to run and
organise it..

Regarding the data partition, it exists purely for quick access.. note that
one should ALWAYS have backup (saved) in a medium which can be removed from
the computer and stored safely.. as far as backing up is concerned, it is
easier to back up the contents of an entire exclusive data partition than it
is to sort through one giant partition..

For this reason alone, I would suggest that at least two partitions are
created.. allow at least 20gb for the operating system and applications,
more if you are in the habit of collecting applications.. on a large drive,
eg 160gb, allow at least 40gb for OS and programs..

 

[Pegleg]

Regarding the data partition, it exists purely for quick access.. note that
one should ALWAYS have backup (saved) in a medium which can be removed from
the computer and stored safely.. as far as backing up is concerned, it is
easier to back up the contents of an entire exclusive data partition than it
is to sort through one giant partition..

For this reason alone, I would suggest that at least two partitions are
created.. allow at least 20gb for the operating system and applications,
more if you are in the habit of collecting applications.. on a large drive,
eg 160gb, allow at least 40gb for OS and programs..

Thanks Mike...I am installing a new 80GB drivew in my laptop. so you are
suggesting 20-30gb for os & programs? What about 20gb for OS 30gb for
programs and the rest for data?

Is that a sensible breakdown? Is it worth seperating os and Programs?
TIA

Pegleg
U.S. Navy Retired
Support Our Troops,
Question The Policy!

All great things are simple, and many can be expressed in single words:
freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope.
Sir Winston Churchill

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Pegleg wrote:


First, please ask your question in the body of the message, not in the
subject line.

Second a word on the terminology: partitioning isn't optional. To partition
a drive is to create *one or more* partitions on it. You *must* partition a
drive to be able to use it.

So I assume that what you really mean to ask is whether it's best to have
more than one partition. People have widely differing views on this, with
recommendations ranging from a single partition to four, five, or more
partitions. My view is that most people's partitioning scheme should be
based on their backup scheme. If, for example, you backup by creating a
clone or image on the entire drive, then a single partition might be best.
If, on the other hand, you backup only your data, then the backup process is
facilitated by having all data in a separate partition.

 

[Pegleg]

Pegleg wrote:


First, please ask your question in the body of the message, not in the
subject line.

So what do you expect in the subject line? Thought by putting the
question there it is a specific for people to respond to.

Pegleg
U.S. Navy Retired
Support Our Troops,
Question The Policy!

All great things are simple, and many can be expressed in single words:
freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope.
Sir Winston Churchill

 

[Ayush]

Your subject line should be short and informative about your question, e.g
"Selecting Partition Size"

Partion Size : http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial115.html
Tips : http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-hard-drive-partition.htm
--

Ayush [ Be ''?'' Happy ]

| On Sat, 23 Sep 2006 08:21:44 -0700, "Ken Blake, MVP"
|
| >Pegleg wrote:
| >
| >
| >First, please ask your question in the body of the message, not in the
| >subject line.
|
| So what do you expect in the subject line? Thought by putting the
| question there it is a specific for people to respond to.
|
| Pegleg
| U.S. Navy Retired
| Support Our Troops,
| Question The Policy!
|
| All great things are simple, and many can be expressed in single words:
| freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope.
| Sir Winston Churchill

 

[Bruce Chambers]

On Sat, 23 Sep 2006 11:00:46 -0400, "Mike Hall - MS MVP Windows

Thanks Mike...I am installing a new 80GB drivew in my laptop. so you are
suggesting 20-30gb for os & programs? What about 20gb for OS 30gb for
programs and the rest for data?

Is that a sensible breakdown? Is it worth seperating os and Programs?
TIA

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.

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

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[Mike Hall - MS MVP Windows Shell/User]

Pegleg

Two partitions are fine.. keep OS and programs in the primary and everything
else in the second partition..

Depending upon how many applications you install or are likely to install
will depend upon how large that partition should be.. somewhere between 20
and 30gb will give you flexibility..

 

[Peter A. Stavrakoglou]

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.

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.

I always had set my systems up with a dedicated partition for Windows and a
separate partition for programs. I no longer do that since, as you noted, a
reinstall of Windows requires a reinstall of all programs anyway. I notice
no performance difference with either setup.