Partition new HDD for XP Pro install?

[Gman]

OK, I'm going to bite the bullet and finally install XP, once the new
HDD gets here (it's been 3 weeks coming - Lenovo is not IBM), but with
all this Think time, I have several more questions.

This is a Thinkpad, the warranty replacement HDD is 40 GB (couldn't
talk them in to a bigger one), but I did buy a 160 GB External HDD (USB
2.0) which I intend to use to supplement the internal HDD to store the
system backups, app data and media files.

My questions:

What is the consensus regarding partitioning the internal HDD with a C:
partition for XP, a seperate D: partition for the paging file (I think
that's what it's called), and the remainder would be an E: partition
for frequently used applications, like Quicken, Office and some photo /
video utilities? (I am not an exotic user.)

If partitioning is recommended, what is the optimum size for the C: and
D: partitions? Since I will be using a CD set supplied by Lenovo to
install XP and all the original apps, I may not have any choices prior
to installation, but am hopeful I can go back and set things up a
little more efficiently than it was out of the box, just one big C:
partition.

Should I also consider partitioning the external HDD? If so, why and
what sizes?

I have read the websites suggested in other posts, but did not get the
specific answers I was looking for. Any other suggestions regarding my
setup would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

OK, I'm going to bite the bullet and finally install XP, once the new
HDD gets here (it's been 3 weeks coming - Lenovo is not IBM), but with
all this Think time, I have several more questions.

This is a Thinkpad, the warranty replacement HDD is 40 GB (couldn't
talk them in to a bigger one), but I did buy a 160 GB External HDD (USB
2.0) which I intend to use to supplement the internal HDD to store the
system backups, app data and media files.

My questions:

What is the consensus regarding partitioning the internal HDD with a C:
partition for XP, a seperate D: partition for the paging file (I think
that's what it's called), and the remainder would be an E: partition
for frequently used applications, like Quicken, Office and some photo /
video utilities? (I am not an exotic user.)

If partitioning is recommended, what is the optimum size for the C: and
D: partitions? Since I will be using a CD set supplied by Lenovo to
install XP and all the original apps, I may not have any choices prior
to installation, but am hopeful I can go back and set things up a
little more efficiently than it was out of the box, just one big C:
partition.

Should I also consider partitioning the external HDD? If so, why and
what sizes?

I have read the websites suggested in other posts, but did not get the
specific answers I was looking for. Any other suggestions regarding my
setup would be appreciated.

Thanks.

I'm using a Thinkpad (R31) with a 40 gig drive. I made one partition, and
it works well. My desktop has a pair of 250 gig drives, each with one
partition. That works equally well. Its external drives are single
partitions. I sometimes need to create and store large files and folder
structures, and sub-partitions would cause me problems.

I'm not sure that you would find any real benefits from multiple partitions.
In fact you may find the opposite on a drive that size, as you'll then have
three limited spaces to keep track of instead of one, and three partitions
to clean up and defragment.

If you choose to create multiple partitions, make sure that you allow space
on the WIndows partition for all possible updates. You'll have to keep an
eye on that partition as there will be temporary files created there; some
apps just don't pay attention to where you may or may not direct the temp
variable.

And, move the temporary files for any browsers to another partition -
speaking of which, reduce IE's cache size. I just reinstalled XP on a test
system (a P3/500, 40 gig drive) and IE claimed 1.2 gig for cache.

You might be thinking that the multiple partitions gives you some data
security. This often isn't the case, as if the drive fails, you lose
access to all partitions equally.

I replaced my thinkpad's original 20 gig drive with the current 40 gig,
but I chose a 7200rpm drive (the original was 4500). The speed difference
is noticeable - though it may partly be because this drive is not failing.
It was a bit more expensive, but easily worth it.

HTH
-pk

 

[Gman]

Thanks for your input Patrick, yeah, I tried to get Lenovo to upgrade
either the size or speed of the replacement HDD (to make up for the
tech's screwing up and not placing the order with Parts, 3 weeks ago),
but they resisted, so, being as it's 'free', I'll stick with the 40
gigs at 4500rpm.

My thoughts on creating the seperate partition for the page file was to
give it adequate space and then the isolation would keep it from
getting spread all over the HDD, which might speed up the paging
process. I assume it would still get fragemented and would benefit
from period defraging, if that's possible. I recall having to assign
it to a different drive in 98 to get that task done.

I also recall having the single HDD in a 98 machine partitioned to C:
and D:, with the OS only on the C: drive, and that made reinstalling
98, after a bad case of something, a whole lot easier.

I understand XP is a whole different animal from 98. That's why I
asked. Thanks again.

 

[Dave Cohen]

I'm using a Thinkpad (R31) with a 40 gig drive. I made one partition, and
it works well. My desktop has a pair of 250 gig drives, each with one
partition. That works equally well. Its external drives are single
partitions. I sometimes need to create and store large files and folder
structures, and sub-partitions would cause me problems.

I'm not sure that you would find any real benefits from multiple partitions.
In fact you may find the opposite on a drive that size, as you'll then have
three limited spaces to keep track of instead of one, and three partitions
to clean up and defragment.

If you choose to create multiple partitions, make sure that you allow space
on the WIndows partition for all possible updates. You'll have to keep an
eye on that partition as there will be temporary files created there; some
apps just don't pay attention to where you may or may not direct the temp
variable.

And, move the temporary files for any browsers to another partition -
speaking of which, reduce IE's cache size. I just reinstalled XP on a test
system (a P3/500, 40 gig drive) and IE claimed 1.2 gig for cache.

You might be thinking that the multiple partitions gives you some data
security. This often isn't the case, as if the drive fails, you lose
access to all partitions equally.

I replaced my thinkpad's original 20 gig drive with the current 40 gig,
but I chose a 7200rpm drive (the original was 4500). The speed difference
is noticeable - though it may partly be because this drive is not failing.
It was a bit more expensive, but easily worth it.

HTH
-pk

I would invest in a comprehensive partitioning, multi os and imaging
program. The only one I know is bootitng from terabyteunlimited.com, the
competition requires multiple packages. It works well and it won't much
matter what you do since you can change things later.
Personally, I maintain a boot partition of 16gb for winxp and installed
programs (those that install in program files and modify the registry).
That's the only partition I image. Data is stored in an extended
partition with volumes.
For me, imaging is a must.
Dave Cohen

 

[Gman]

I would invest in a comprehensive partitioning, multi os and imaging
program. The only one I know is bootitng from terabyteunlimited.com, the
competition requires multiple packages. It works well and it won't much
matter what you do since you can change things later.
Personally, I maintain a boot partition of 16gb for winxp and installed
programs (those that install in program files and modify the registry).
That's the only partition I image. Data is stored in an extended
partition with volumes.
For me, imaging is a must.
Dave Cohen

Thanks Dave. As a result of several of the 'Office' stores holiday
sales (i.e. 'FREE' after rebates) I have Symantec's SystemWorks (not
going to reinstall it nor NAV), which includes Ghost. I also have
Partition Magic via the same route. Never used either. Would those
work? I will look at the TeraByteUnlimited offering you suggested.

I like your boot partition / imaging strategy. I will plan to create
an image of the XP partition once I get XP with all the updates, etc.
installed (and running). How did you come up with 16GB? How often do
you create a new image? I assume you use some sort of father / son
heirarchy?

 

[Jonny]

OK, I'm going to bite the bullet and finally install XP, once the new
HDD gets here (it's been 3 weeks coming - Lenovo is not IBM), but with
all this Think time, I have several more questions.

This is a Thinkpad, the warranty replacement HDD is 40 GB (couldn't
talk them in to a bigger one), but I did buy a 160 GB External HDD (USB
2.0) which I intend to use to supplement the internal HDD to store the
system backups, app data and media files.

My questions:

What is the consensus regarding partitioning the internal HDD with a C:
partition for XP, a seperate D: partition for the paging file (I think
that's what it's called), and the remainder would be an E: partition
for frequently used applications, like Quicken, Office and some photo /
video utilities? (I am not an exotic user.)

If partitioning is recommended, what is the optimum size for the C: and
D: partitions? Since I will be using a CD set supplied by Lenovo to
install XP and all the original apps, I may not have any choices prior
to installation, but am hopeful I can go back and set things up a
little more efficiently than it was out of the box, just one big C:
partition.

Should I also consider partitioning the external HDD? If so, why and
what sizes?

I have read the websites suggested in other posts, but did not get the
specific answers I was looking for. Any other suggestions regarding my
setup would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Can't help you with consensus numbers/percentages regarding your questions.
Forget the specialized swapfile partition, and partition for apps. Leave it
all on C: partition. Some video specific applications use a conversion or
encoding technique where a separate hard drive using a different onboard bus
system for it may be beneficial, but not a partition on the same hard drive.
The external hard drive, consider dividing by folders and subfolders, saving
your data there. Also include an image or series of images of the single
partition on the 40GB hard drive. An image file is the partition
information, file system, all files with the exception of the swapfile and
in some cases the hiber.sys file all in compressed format; does not include
freespace. So, the image file won't be 40GB in size in any case. The
restore asset of the imaging program must recognize the external hard drive
to access the image file for restoration.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

OK, I'm going to bite the bullet and finally install XP, once the new
HDD gets here (it's been 3 weeks coming - Lenovo is not IBM), but with
all this Think time, I have several more questions.

This is a Thinkpad, the warranty replacement HDD is 40 GB (couldn't
talk them in to a bigger one), but I did buy a 160 GB External HDD (USB
2.0) which I intend to use to supplement the internal HDD to store the
system backups, app data and media files.

My questions:

What is the consensus regarding partitioning the internal HDD with a C:
partition for XP, a seperate D: partition for the paging file (I think
that's what it's called), and the remainder would be an E: partition
for frequently used applications, like Quicken, Office and some photo /
video utilities? (I am not an exotic user.)

There's really very little point in having a separate drive or
partition for just applications. Should you have to reinstall the OS,
you'll still 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. Installing applications to a separate partition is a
useful solution only if your system partition lacks sufficient space for
all of your applications, and cannot be resized.

Similarly, it can sometimes hurt the systems performance to have a
separate partition for the swap file, but there are also some
advantages. There are often advantages to placing the swap file on a
separate physical hard drive (in its own partition), but creating a
"swap partition" on the same physical hard drive as the OS only
increases the amount of "travel time" the hard drives heads must spend
seeking files and data.

However, 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.

If partitioning is recommended, what is the optimum size for the C: and
D: partitions?

This depends almost entirely upon how you use the computer and on how
much data you plan to deal with. The OS itself requires @ 2 Gb, plus
you'll want room for the swap file and applications. I wouldn't go any
smaller than 10 to 12 Gb for the system partition, leaving @ 28 Gb for
data storage. If, at some later date, this arrangement proves less than
ideal, you can always resize the partitions using a non-destructive 3rd
party utility, such as BootItNG.

Should I also consider partitioning the external HDD? If so, why and
what sizes?

This comes down to your own personnel preferences and organizational
decisions.

I have read the websites suggested in other posts, but did not get the
specific answers I was looking for. Any other suggestions regarding my
setup would be appreciated.

You might find this site helpful:

Planning Your Partitions
http://www.aumha.org/a/parts.htm


--

Bruce Chambers

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[Plato]

What is the consensus regarding partitioning the internal HDD with a C:
partition for XP, a seperate D: partition for the paging file (I think

If both are on the same physical HDD then it will slow you down.

 

[Nevermind]

If both are on the same physical HDD then it will slow you down.

I found it much better to have an unfragmented page file on drive D
rather than a fragmented page file on drive C. (This was on the same
physical hard drive.)

 

[Gman]

I found it much better to have an unfragmented page file on drive D
rather than a fragmented page file on drive C. (This was on the same
physical hard drive.)

Thanks to you all for your helpful suggestions and expertise.