several logical partitions or several mounted logical partitions

[Guest]

I am building a new small office system and after much research have decided
to format my hdd with separate partitions for OS, Documents and Settings,
Program Files, Temp files.

It seems that the traditional way to do this is to reset paths for each of
these items to the new location (in the registry, or environment variables).
However, it seems that doing this via mounted logical partitions (logical
drives) is a very easy way to do this. For example; I could mount a partition
as C:\Documents and Settings, and another as C:\Program Files. In this manner
all Documents and Settings activity and all programs installed would
automatically be on these partitions. The operation would be transparent to
the user.

Am I full of BS or is this a viable way to do this? What's the downside if
any?

Also, I think the Windows Temp folders are moved to a different partition by
setting the system environmental variables to the new path. Please correct me
if I am wrong. Since the users temp folders are contained in Documents and
Settings I suppose they don't have to be redirected unless I wanted them on a
partition different than the Documents and Settings partition.

I have found virtually no posts in the XP forums relating to Mounted Logical
Partitions. Whats up with that?

 

[Uncle John]

2dogs

The reason you are not finding posts about your idea in Windows XP news
groups is because you are mixing up with Linux ideas.

In Windows the path to an application is set in the Registry when you
install it. If you install Office into a separate partition, which has its
own unique drive letter, it will be found when Office is opened from the
Start Menu or a shortcut. No need for any partition mounting paraphernalia!

Temp is a folder on any drive it is not a special folder that has to be
changed in the system registry. Each user has a temp folder, the default is
a subfolder of %system%windows. If you create a Temp folder anywhere else
you have to change the path to it in environmental settings for each user or
if for all users the same folder then in the system environment.

I don't understand what you are attempting to achieve it looks weird it will
make intelligent backing up difficult: if your objective was defined I could
perhaps be more helpful.

 

[Guest]

Please see parsed comments below.
--
2dogs in Oregon USA

2dogs

The reason you are not finding posts about your idea in Windows XP news
groups is because you are mixing up with Linux ideas.

What I am talking about has nothing to do with linux. I am talking about
Windows XP NTFS mounted logical drives on a basic drive (not a dynamic
volumn). These are created in the MMC using the Disk Management snap in. Have
you never heard of this?

In Windows the path to an application is set in the Registry when you
install it. If you install Office into a separate partition, which has its
own unique drive letter, it will be found when Office is opened from the
Start Menu or a shortcut. No need for any partition mounting paraphernalia!

In Windows the default path for an app install is tet to the C:\Program
Files folder. If it is to be installed elsewhere you must specify the
partition at the time the app is installed. This leaves the possibility of
someone installing an application to the C: drive Program Files folder if
they don't remember to change the drive letter to the partition where you
want programs installed at the time of install. Also, some programs won't run
if they are installed to any partition other than the C: because they make
absolute reference to the C: drive in the program itself (yes, some
developers are that dumb). The Default location of the Program Files folder
can be permanently changed by setting the Registry Variable "PrograFilesDir"
to a new location but then these programs still wont work. Mounting allows
you to install these programs anywhere and they will still work. This is
because, when you mount a partition as C:\Program Files it becomes the
C:\Program Files folder even though it is on a separate protected partition.
No registry variables are changed and all programs installed will
automatically install to this new location. It is totally transparent to the
user.

Temp is a folder on any drive it is not a special folder that has to be
changed in the system registry. Each user has a temp folder, the default is
a subfolder of %system%windows. If you create a Temp folder anywhere else
you have to change the path to it in environmental settings for each user or
if for all users the same folder then in the system environment.

I never said anything about setting registry variables for the temp folders.
I said, "I think the Windows Temp folders are moved to a different partition
by
setting the system environmental variables to the new path. Please correct me
if I am wrong."

I don't understand what you are attempting to achieve it looks weird it will
make intelligent backing up difficult: if your objective was defined I could
perhaps be more helpful.

What I am trying to do is exactly as described. Create 4 partitions on my
hard disk, one is a primary partition for the OS, another logical partition
for documents, another for Programs, and another for temp files. This is a
very common and highly recommend partitioning scheme That improves the
ability to do "intelligent backup", increases system stability, and in many
case improves performance.

Mounted drives are very common on networked windows systems running both
Windows XP and Windows Server.

 

[Uncle John]

If you are so sure it will all work perfectly why do you ask about it.?

You will not stop users installing where they want with anything except a
restriction of their privileges. In that case, why let them install at all.

I would like to see a link that confirms your idea of backing up from mount
points

Cheers!

 

[Guest]

You seem to be reading something that I didn't write. I never said anything
about "backing up from mount points". Where did you read that? I'm talking
about partitioning a drive using MOUNTED PARTITIONS.

I have not stated that it will work perfectly, that's why I am trying to
solicit feedback. I have never stated it will work at all. Where did you read
that? Simply put "will mounted partitions work for implementing a basic
partion scheme or not. Why yes or no. Give me some specific reasons why yes
or no.

I clearly stated that I could not find info on mounted partitions in the
forum. If I had a link somewhere on this subject I wouldn't be here trying to
find information. So why are you asking for a link?

I am not trying to stop anyone from installing anything where they want. If
the program files are put on a different partition don't you think it would
be a good idea to set up the system so that the programs will be installed in
the right place automatically rather than the operator always having to
specify where to put things?

 

[Uncle John]

2dogs said
"I could mount a partition as C:\Documents and
Settings,............................"
"Am I full of BS or is this a viable way to do this? "
" I never said anything about ""backing up from mount points"".

We do not seem to understand one another and no one else seems interested so
lets leave it at that?