paritioning a 40GB drive on a laptop?

[Jeff Malka]

Does it make sense to partition a 40 GB NFTS drive on a laptop?
My only reason for partitioning is to put the data files and applications on
separate partitions from the system files. The laptop is new, so this would
be the time to do it.

If yes, what would be the recommended partition sizes?

Thanks.

 

[Norm]

I can't imagine why people partition their hard drive. Having the data and
apps on one partition and the OS on another makes no sense to me, what does
that buy you? My vote is for 1 partition the full size of the disk. I'm
sure others will disagree and you can listen to their arguments and make up
your own mind.

 

[Steve C. Ray]

I would set up a 40 gig NTFS as one partition.

 

[Kevin]

theoratically XP Pro requires 1.5 system drive space.

but I would use 4-6G instead.

It is totally up to ur personal choice if u r not picky
about the performance.

 

[Rob Schneider]

Does it make sense to partition a 40 GB NFTS drive on a laptop?
My only reason for partitioning is to put the data files and applications on
separate partitions from the system files. The laptop is new, so this would
be the time to do it.

If yes, what would be the recommended partition sizes?

Thanks.

For a laptop keep it simple. Leave it as one partition. Since it's the
same physical drive, you don't really gain benefits of data being on
separate drives in case of crash.

More important is to ensure you are using NTFS rather than FAT.

 

[Jeff Malka]

Thanks everybody.

 

[Voice of the Mysterons]

Thanks everybody.

I have several laptops. I tend to use one partition (primary) for the O/S
and installed programs and another for data (I also store copies of
installer files for some critical programs on the data partition in case I'm
on the road and have problems and need to re-install something). This also
allows me to reformat the primary partition from time-to-time and not worry
about the data partition.

You may be restricted in some cases though. For example, on IBM laptops,
there is a fast recovery utility, but this does not work if you have more
than one partition. In this case, the need for fast recovery might outweigh
the need to have a data partition.

HTH

 

[Fred S]

Jeff,

I've set my laptop up as follows:

C - WindowsXP (OS partition ~ 7 GB NTFS)
E - Data (partition ~ 10 GB (Fat32) )
F - Images (partition ~ remainder ~22 GB (Fat 32) )
***** Note: The D drive on my system is the DVD/CDRW drive.

This, in my opinion, works great. I can defrag my C drive in minutes, Same for
the Data drive too.

Having the F partition allows me to make multiple image files and they get done
fast because C is small and it is being written to the HDD. I only write a few
images to CD, sometimes copy the images to a CD for archival reasons. i create
images BEFORE Windows updates and/or any other "system" operation. Images take
about 10-15 minutes using PQ Drive Image.

Having the data and images on Fat32 partitions allows me to access them from
DOS if needed, using a Win98, or WinME boot disk.

I would NEVER set up one partition, maintenance really becomes a pain that way
- poor planning in my opinion.

Good luck, Fred

 

[Alex Nichol]

Does it make sense to partition a 40 GB NFTS drive on a laptop?
My only reason for partitioning is to put the data files and applications on
separate partitions from the system files. The laptop is new, so this would
be the time to do it.

My feeling is that is does make sense - I've split my smaller one. The
40 GB decimal, is 37.5 G in the binary base used in partitioning, and
I'd suggest around 8 to 10 for system and programs and the rest for
data. That presumes you will not want to pile every program under the
sun on a laptop and will direct My Documents, Temp Internet files and OE
store folder onto the data drive
..

 

[Jeff Malka]

Sounds right to me.

I assume by redirecting you mean via TweakUI, or do you mean something else?

Thanks.

--
Jeff Malka
(e-mail address removed)

Does it make sense to partition a 40 GB NFTS drive on a laptop?
My only reason for partitioning is to put the data files and applications on
separate partitions from the system files. The laptop is new, so this would
be the time to do it.

My feeling is that is does make sense - I've split my smaller one. The
40 GB decimal, is 37.5 G in the binary base used in partitioning, and
I'd suggest around 8 to 10 for system and programs and the rest for
data. That presumes you will not want to pile every program under the
sun on a laptop and will direct My Documents, Temp Internet files and OE
store folder onto the data drive
..

 

[Jeff Malka]

Precisely my thinking. How large a partition for the system?

Thanks.