Using C, D, and E partitions wisely

[fkissam]

In many of the Windows user groups, I have heard that experts recommend
installing just your WindowsOS on the C partition. Then, use the D
partition for installing other programs that you enjoy. Then, add an "E"
partition that is used exclusively for your data.

For years, I had been installing my operating system and all programs on C.
Then, I would use my D partition for all my data.
Now, I started using C for the Windows Operating System. I use D for all
new programs and for all my data.

I think I am beginnning to understand the reason why people are now using an
E partition for all their data ... but I'm not sure. I constantly use
NortonGhost or Acronis to clone. Then, when there is a problem
installation I rolllback. I usually clone my D partition once daily while I
sleep. I think I now see that if I install a bad application, then when I
rollback 1 day, I would lose 1 full day's worth of data. Is that why
people put the data on the E partition so that they never really lose any
data?

Can somebody educate me a little bit on why they use the 3rd E partition?
Any info would be helpful.

Thank you.

 

[Walter Hawn]

You have it pretty well figured out. Data should *always* be kept separate
from applications and applications should *always* be kept separate from the
OS (especially the windows OS) to avoid losing data and settings when the OS
goes belly-up, which windows has been known to do.

It is impossible to keep all parts of apps away from windows, but it's good
to try.

Windows makes you work hard to keep data separate, as well. Email, for
example, is by default kept on the C: drive. and so forth. here's a couple
of good sites to help with the issue: http://www.aumha.org and
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/

 

[TIMA]

I think you mean "Here are a couple of good sites" rather than "Here's a
couple of good sites"
Man that drives me nuts. Hello second grade!

 

[Tom Swift]

Partitioning is something you do for convenience and also for security.
There aren't any 'rules' and different people have different ideas on how to
partition a hard disk. Some don't partition their hard disk at all. It's not
up to the 'experts' - it's up to you. But it's often interesting - and
instructive, to find out what other people do.

So, FWIW, here's what I do: I have Windows and all my applications on C.
This is my 'system partition' and it's what I image regularly (with Norton
Ghost.) If my system partition becomes unstable, I can restore it in
minutes. I don't use a separate partition for programs because the OS and
applications are too closely intertwined.

A second partition - D - is for all my data files (documents, spreadsheets,
etc.) and a third partition - E - is for my media files (music, video and
pictures). I divided things this way because the contents of these
partitions have different backup schedules.

A fourth partition - F - is strictly for backup (including the images I make
of my system partition.) It's easier to backup to your hard drive first and
then burn CDs or DVDs. And it's convenient to have your backup stored on
both your hard drive and CDs or DVDs. You only require the CDs/DVDs if your
hard disk becomes damaged.

There are more details, but that's it in a nutshell and it's what works for
me. Over the years I've changed my partitioning scheme several times, and
you'll probably do that too. I plan to add a second hard disk, and that will
open up even more options.

Tom Swift

 

[JAX]

Who in the Hell invited you to grade anybody on this NG on their grammar?

JAX

 

[fkissam]

I am looking for a suggestion on partitioning that will probably affect
millions of users.

BTW, Walter Hawn you provided 2 great links. I have spent hours going those
web sites and they are great!

Right now, everything is working fine. I have trimmed my system down.
My current config is:

C partition: contains WinXP SP1 and lots of programs that all work
D parition: contains a few installed programs and ALL my data.

I am thinking of leaving all of my current installations and data just as
they have been for years. Now, I am thinking of creating a separate E
partition. That new E partition will contain all new applications that can
be installed outside of C.

Since everything works now and I have clones/ghosts of everything, is that a
plausible solution?

Or ..... is it worthwhile to tear apart my current D partition and separate
the installed programs AWAY from data. I know that is normally a good idea.
However, since the installed programs and data all work well, I was going to
save myself a lot of time by leaving them as is.

Any thoughts? Any resources?

 

[Richard Urban]

Absolutely! That's my job (-:

--
Regards:

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

 

[JAX]

YOU'RE FIRED!!

That sounded like a female who called herself Cassandra, switched her name
to something else and then disappeared. She haunted the XP groups about two
years ago correcting everyone and never had anything constructive to say
about the problems people were having with their computers.

JAX

 

[GK]

I think you mean "Here are a couple of good sites" rather than "Here's a
couple of good sites"
Man that drives me nuts. Hello second grade!

Shouldn't there be a period after "sites"?

Man, that drives me nuts. Oh, you could use a comma after "man", too.

 

[JAX]

Shouldn't there also be a comma after "Man"?

JAX

 

[Michael Stevens]

YOU'RE FIRED!!

That sounded like a female who called herself Cassandra, switched her name
to something else and then disappeared. She haunted the XP groups about two
years ago correcting everyone and never had anything constructive to say
about the problems people were having with their computers.

JAX

Your investigative skills need work, Crusty and Cassandra posted at the same
time. Don't know about Cassies current status, but Crusty AKA Richard Urban
seems consistent in style with Richard Urban's recent postings.
--

Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

 

[JAX]

The one I have in mind switched her name to Amethyst, as best I recall. I'm
getting old, you know.....Should I have put that comma in there?
JAX

 

[JAX]

BTW Michael, I have used a link to your web-site many times to posts. I hope
that's cool with you.

JAX

 

[Michael Stevens]

BTW Michael, I have used a link to your web-site many times to posts.
I hope that's cool with you.

JAX

Totally cool when it's appropriate. Thanks for the support.
Didn't mean to offend, but I really doubt Crusty and Athena, Cassandra, etc.
are the same.
I try to supply information that can help anyone accessing the newsgroups to
recover from a situation where important information can be retrieved
regardless of their current licensing compliance.
--

Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

 

[JAX]

I have very little patience with people who want to criticize others on such
insignificant matters as whether it should be a ":' or a ";". etc.

The only time I use your link is when someone asks how to perform a clean
install or something of that nature and, I try to remember to add a "Thanks
to Michael Stevens" when I do....Oop's, I think I used too many to's, hope
TIMA don't read this!

JAX

 

[johnf]

Try - "Man, that drives me nuts." [Hello first grade!]

 

[jones]

Partitioning is something you do for convenience and also for security.
There aren't any 'rules' and different people have different ideas on how to
partition a hard disk. Some don't partition their hard disk at all. It's not
up to the 'experts' - it's up to you. But it's often interesting - and
instructive, to find out what other people do.

So, FWIW, here's what I do: I have Windows and all my applications on C.
This is my 'system partition' and it's what I image regularly (with Norton
Ghost.) If my system partition becomes unstable, I can restore it in
minutes. I don't use a separate partition for programs because the OS and
applications are too closely intertwined.

A second partition - D - is for all my data files (documents, spreadsheets,
etc.) and a third partition - E - is for my media files (music, video and
pictures). I divided things this way because the contents of these
partitions have different backup schedules.

A fourth partition - F - is strictly for backup (including the images I make
of my system partition.) It's easier to backup to your hard drive first and
then burn CDs or DVDs. And it's convenient to have your backup stored on
both your hard drive and CDs or DVDs. You only require the CDs/DVDs if your
hard disk becomes damaged.

There are more details, but that's it in a nutshell and it's what works for
me. Over the years I've changed my partitioning scheme several times, and
you'll probably do that too. I plan to add a second hard disk, and that will
open up even more options.

Tom Swift

Adding the second or even a third third hard drive up front may be the
best option. Instead of buying the largest drive you can find, buy two
or more smaller drives. With the raid boards on the market now, and
add-on IDE cards, there is plenty of room for extra drives and the cd
rom/writers and dvd rom/writers too. A raid board lets you have 8 IDE
devices connected. When that one large drive goes, you lose
everything. And sooner or later, they will go. The raid controller
will let you connect hard drives only, no cd/dvd drives. At least on
my board.

My option was to put all my data files on two 47gb SCSI server drives.
Both drives hold the same data. Nothing like redundancy! Cheap now at
27 buck with shipping. And they are tough as nails. SCSI cards for
these 40mbps drives are easy to find on ebay and elsewhere.
Check Pricewatch,com for these drives.

Not so cheap is the enclosure for the drives, but someone that is
innovative at all can make a drive enclosure out of an old 200w AT
tower to house one or more drives. They are large, being full height,
or twice what your cd drive is, and just as wide and long.
SCSI cards will let you connect up to 15 drives. Takes a bit of
education to make SCSI work, but well worth the effort. I have $145
into the drive enclosure and two drives, for 94GB of storage, and
already had the SCSI card, an adaptec 29160 with a pair of Fujitsu
drives, an 18 gig for temp data storage, and a 36gig enterprize drive
for operating system and apps. They are both 10,000 rpm ultra 160
drives.

I do not partition any of the drives.

While this is not the answer for many, it has works for me, having to
change the operating system a few times, losing a hard drive once, the
Fujitsu 36, but not losing any of my data, mp3's and such, which was
on the 18gb drive at the time. It may seem expensive, however, on does
not need to buy the ultra 160 card and 10,000rpm drives, as the
adaptec 2940UW card on ebay goes for ~$20 and is a real performer. It
matches up to the Seagate ST446452w drives perfectly. Two Seagate
ST446452w drives @ 27 each, and you can easily modify that old case,
and you have a simple, reliable storage solution separate from your
operating dirve for under $100. Less if you have room in your tower
for one of these drives. The only drawback to these drives, as I
mentioned, is, they are LARGE!!!!!!!! and at 40mbps transfer, a bit
slow, but still faster than the transfer rate of most cd drives

I hope you have found this interesting, and instructive.
I know I find others configurations interesting

 

[Tom Swift]

That's fine if it works for you. For myself, RAID arrays and SCSI drives are
overkill.

Tom Swift

 

[Durand]

While it is true that you would have to reinstall every app, but
consider this: if the apps were on a separate partition/drive, then upon
reinstallation of the operating system and the apps into the same
location, can help save some of the settings/customizations that were
made in the original install. Example: firewalls with rulesets. The
rulesets are easily reused once the firewall app is reinstalled to the
same location. I'm sure there are more benefits than what I've just came
up with, but I'd prefer installing my apps to a separate partition
anyway. Besides, it helps to know what apps I'd had installed so I know
which ones to reinstall. I've made mistakes before when I'd blow away
the windows partition along with the apps and then when I'd want to
reinstall it to get it back to the elusive "perfect" setting I'd had,
I'd find that I lost a shareware app or two and it's unlock code
forever. I hate that kind of "gotcha". You can bet my hide's much
thicker now.

Greetings --

Placing data file on a partition separate from the operating
system and applications can simplify system repairs/recoveries and
data back-up. For better guidance than I can easily provide:

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

There's little point, however, in having a separate partition of
just applications. Should you have to reinstall the OS, you'll also
have to reinstall each and every application anyways, 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.


Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH




an "E"


programs on C.


for all


using an


while I


when I


lose any

--
Regards,

Durand

Post queries and replies to the newsgroup so all may be enlightened thru
shared knowledge. Experience is a cruel but effective teacher.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Placing data file on a partition separate from the operating
system and applications can simplify system repairs/recoveries and
data back-up. For better guidance than I can easily provide:

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

There's little point, however, in having a separate partition of
just applications. Should you have to reinstall the OS, you'll also
have to reinstall each and every application anyways, 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.


Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH