Partitioning the Os for better performance.

[Guest]

Can anyone tell me how to partition my hard drive and install ‘just my OS (XP
Pro / SP2) on the other side? I am told that it would increase my performance
and run more smoothly. Also, how difficult would that task be? The following
is my PC’s info:

Hard drive: 200G
OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name
System Manufacturer Dell Computer Corporation
System Model Dimension 8300
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 9 GenuineIntel ~2992 Mhz
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 9 GenuineIntel ~2992 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date Dell Computer Corporation A03, 9/19/2003
SMBIOS Version 2.3
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.2180
(xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158)"
User Name

Total Physical Memory 2,048.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 1.65 GB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 3.85 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys

 

[Rich Barry]

You can get a third party App like Partition Magic that will do the job
for you.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Can anyone tell me how to partition my hard drive and install 'just my OS (XP
Pro / SP2) on the other side? I am told that it would increase my performance
and run more smoothly. Also, how difficult would that task be? The following
is my PC's info:

Hard drive: 200G
OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name
System Manufacturer Dell Computer Corporation
System Model Dimension 8300
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 9 GenuineIntel ~2992 Mhz
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 9 GenuineIntel ~2992 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date Dell Computer Corporation A03, 9/19/2003
SMBIOS Version 2.3
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.2180
(xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158)"
User Name

Total Physical Memory 2,048.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 1.65 GB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 3.85 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys

Partitioning a disk is an advantage with respect to having a clear
boundary between applications and user data. However, it
does not speed up your disk, nor does it make your PC run
"smoother".

 

[Test User]

Can anyone tell me how to partition my hard drive and install 'just my OS (XP
Pro / SP2) on the other side? I am told that it would increase my performance
and run more smoothly.

Unfortunately, this information is not correct. It won't increase
performance; in fact it can degrade it.

This is because Windows will (eventually) try to arrange data and
applications so that seek times are minimized. If you add a partition to a
single drive you *force* longer seek times, because on one physical disk
there is one set of read/write heads that now have to go further to find the
rest of the data.

Dual partitions can *only* increase performance when they exist on
physically separate disks. In that case, there are multiple sets of
read/write heads and they can act both concurrently and independently.

Also, how difficult would that task be?

It's easy, assuming you are either starting from a bare drive (using
diskpart) or use a 3rd part app like Partition Magic. Be sure to back up
your data first and verify the backups.

HTH
-pk
<snippage>

 

[Guest]

OK, would it be then be appropriate to go out and purchase a second HD 40G or
so, to keep my OS on that one?

Your information is greatly appreciated.

 

[Test User]

OK, would it be then be appropriate to go out and purchase a second HD 40G or
so, to keep my OS on that one?

Your information is greatly appreciated.

It's not a bad plan, if you are comfortable with this. And such drives are
not expensive these days.

Given the speed of drives and systems these days, you may or may not notice
a large difference in performance.

You might note that some drives are significantly *quieter* than others.

HTH
-pk

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I suggest you ask "Test User" for some actual performance figures,
measured in a tightly controlled test environment, or for links to sites
where such tests are published. Without any such hard figures, you
might fall victim to wishful thinking. Just because you add spoilers
and chrome-plated grease nipples to your car does not make it
go any faster - it only feels so!