Optimum partitions

[Len Dolby]

Not quite a novice, still a lot to learn. Plus, I'm nervous !
Just seen a post which user says his "boot" partition for XP OS is "D". (
uses C: for data ).
This indicates that what I've been pondering is possible. I only use XP OS.

Want to optimise my 40Gb HDD and PC, via partitions. There's 25 GB free
space, and
it's unlikely I'll need more.
My thoughts (given I can't afford a second HDD)
Partition like this -
C: for swap-file. Size reported is 1.4 Gb. (I have 768 Mb RAM).
D: for page-file
E: for XP, Office, NAV and MS downloaded updates
F: for other apps and associated downloads
G for downloads - other
H for personal datafiles
J for backup - (done one, total C:drive backup file - everything - is
1.3Gb)
K for copy OS system disk and drivers (in case of trouble) - 0.6 Gb

My logic - C: partition size ~1.4 Gb (= current swapfile size, XP-managed),
D: size please advise (am assuming my understanding is correct, that Swap
file needs to be first on HDD, then page file, to
optimise speed)
E: essentially for MS applications, could you recommend a size? (XP.
XPoffice, Autoroute)
F: - I'll have to work this out !
G: about 1 Gb
J: about 3 Gb, K: 0.6 Gb, so H: will be what's left.

Benefits - speed up the PC (now unacceptably slow boot-up, and I can't see
why), and minimise maintenance (primarily, defrag)

Sorry this is so long! Would appreciate help as follows -
1/ Is my partition plan correct in structure and feasability ?
2/ How to get the Swap-file to C: and page file to D: (or would it be better
to consolidate both on C
3/ And - is it possible WITHOUT a full re-install of XP ? (transfer the
entire directory over from C: to E )
I have an OEM "recovery" OS disk and serial no, plus disks of all the
equipment drivers, most now out of date.

I believe many readers will benefit from comprehensive answers to this post,
as it encompasses so many issues. Apologise again for the length !
Sincerely, Len

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

When performing a clean install, Microsoft recommends that NTFS be used and
that the system be installed in a single partition on each disk. Under Windows XP,
big partitions are better managed than in previous versions of Windows. Forcing
installed software into several partitions on the disk necessitates longer seeks
when running the system and software.

Benchmarking on Windows XP
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hwdev/platform/performance/benchmark.mspx

NTFS Preinstallation and Windows XP
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hwdev/tech/storage/ntfs-preinstall.mspx

Clean Install Windows XP
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Michael Stevens]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

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


| Not quite a novice, still a lot to learn. Plus, I'm nervous !
| Just seen a post which user says his "boot" partition for XP OS is "D". (
| uses C: for data ).
| This indicates that what I've been pondering is possible. I only use XP OS.
|
| Want to optimise my 40Gb HDD and PC, via partitions. There's 25 GB free
| space, and
| it's unlikely I'll need more.
| My thoughts (given I can't afford a second HDD)
| Partition like this -
| C: for swap-file. Size reported is 1.4 Gb. (I have 768 Mb RAM).
| D: for page-file
| E: for XP, Office, NAV and MS downloaded updates
| F: for other apps and associated downloads
| G for downloads - other
| H for personal datafiles
| J for backup - (done one, total C:drive backup file - everything - is
| 1.3Gb)
| K for copy OS system disk and drivers (in case of trouble) - 0.6 Gb
|
| My logic - C: partition size ~1.4 Gb (= current swapfile size, XP-managed),
| D: size please advise (am assuming my understanding is correct, that Swap
| file needs to be first on HDD, then page file, to
| optimise speed)
| E: essentially for MS applications, could you recommend a size? (XP.
| XPoffice, Autoroute)
| F: - I'll have to work this out !
| G: about 1 Gb
| J: about 3 Gb, K: 0.6 Gb, so H: will be what's left.
|
| Benefits - speed up the PC (now unacceptably slow boot-up, and I can't see
| why), and minimise maintenance (primarily, defrag)
|
| Sorry this is so long! Would appreciate help as follows -
| 1/ Is my partition plan correct in structure and feasability ?
| 2/ How to get the Swap-file to C: and page file to D: (or would it be better
| to consolidate both on C
| 3/ And - is it possible WITHOUT a full re-install of XP ? (transfer the
| entire directory over from C: to E )
| I have an OEM "recovery" OS disk and serial no, plus disks of all the
| equipment drivers, most now out of date.
|
| I believe many readers will benefit from comprehensive answers to this post,
| as it encompasses so many issues. Apologise again for the length !
| Sincerely, Len

 

[Jim Macklin]

I have 80 GB in 4 partitions...
You are planning too many...

You want the OS and applications on one partition, with room
for expansion and at least 15% free to allow defrag to run.
You want a partition to keep data (My Documents) and other
stuff such as downloads to archive save if you have to
format the C: drive..
You may choose to have more partitions for multimedia files.

XP is going to look for the boot files on C:, if there is a
dual boot it will then use the selected boot OS, which may
be on another partition. I think that is what you saw.


| Not quite a novice, still a lot to learn. Plus, I'm
nervous !
| Just seen a post which user says his "boot" partition for
XP OS is "D". (
| uses C: for data ).
| This indicates that what I've been pondering is possible.
I only use XP OS.
|
| Want to optimise my 40Gb HDD and PC, via partitions.
There's 25 GB free
| space, and
| it's unlikely I'll need more.
| My thoughts (given I can't afford a second HDD)
| Partition like this -
| C: for swap-file. Size reported is 1.4 Gb. (I have 768 Mb
RAM).
| D: for page-file
| E: for XP, Office, NAV and MS downloaded updates
| F: for other apps and associated downloads
| G for downloads - other
| H for personal datafiles
| J for backup - (done one, total C:drive backup file -
everything - is
| 1.3Gb)
| K for copy OS system disk and drivers (in case of
trouble) - 0.6 Gb
|
| My logic - C: partition size ~1.4 Gb (= current swapfile
size, XP-managed),
| D: size please advise (am assuming my understanding is
correct, that Swap
| file needs to be first on HDD, then page file, to
| optimise speed)
| E: essentially for MS applications, could you recommend a
size? (XP.
| XPoffice, Autoroute)
| F: - I'll have to work this out !
| G: about 1 Gb
| J: about 3 Gb, K: 0.6 Gb, so H: will be what's left.
|
| Benefits - speed up the PC (now unacceptably slow boot-up,
and I can't see
| why), and minimise maintenance (primarily, defrag)
|
| Sorry this is so long! Would appreciate help as follows -
| 1/ Is my partition plan correct in structure and
feasability ?
| 2/ How to get the Swap-file to C: and page file to D: (or
would it be better
| to consolidate both on C
| 3/ And - is it possible WITHOUT a full re-install of XP ?
(transfer the
| entire directory over from C: to E )
| I have an OEM "recovery" OS disk and serial no, plus
disks of all the
| equipment drivers, most now out of date.
|
| I believe many readers will benefit from comprehensive
answers to this post,
| as it encompasses so many issues. Apologise again for the
length !
| Sincerely, Len
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