XP partition size

[petert]

Hi,

I am about to replace my current HD with one with more space and this
will give me the opportunity to create a partition exclusively for the
OS.

My question is this - what size partition do I need to create to
comforably accommodate XP?

 

[Big Al]

Hi,

I am about to replace my current HD with one with more space and this
will give me the opportunity to create a partition exclusively for the
OS.

My question is this - what size partition do I need to create to
comforably accommodate XP?

Why? Leave it as one. If the OS craps and you reload, the apps on
the other partition have to be reloaded anyway.
Other than maybe data, and backups should handle that, is it worth it?

 

[Unknown]

Is there a specific reason you want a separate partition for the OS?

 

[JS]

If you install your applications to a second partition then
25GB should be fine for the average user.

JS

 

[Bill in Co.]

Why? Leave it as one. If the OS craps and you reload, the apps on
the other partition have to be reloaded anyway.
Other than maybe data, and backups should handle that, is it worth it?

I concur with Al. Leave it alone and do NOT just put it on its own
partition (not a good choice).

 

[Bill in Co.]

He probably thinks if anything goes wrong with his system, he can just
reload his op system to that partition again and be home free (and
everything else is protected on a different partition), but what he's
missing is that it doesn't work that way!

Is there a specific reason you want a separate partition for the OS?

 

[JS]

It works that way for me.
Windows on C: and most Applications on D:
Image backup of C: prior to any Windows Updates (Custom Option)
Image backup of D: prior to and after application updates from MS or others.
Once D: is defragmented it rarely needs defragging again.
C: on the other hand fragments much quicker.
Have restored C: many times without the need to restore D:

JS

He probably thinks if anything goes wrong with his system, he can just
reload his op system to that partition again and be home free (and
everything else is protected on a different partition), but what he's
missing is that it doesn't work that way!

Is there a specific reason you want a separate partition for the OS?

 

[Bill in Co.]

Since the Program Files (and App Data and Windows) folder is all on C:, and
is inextricably linked to all the user program installations, what's the
point of trying to "separate" them, when you really can't? After the user
programs are installed, they are all tightly linked to the operating system
there, so if you're going to restore it, it makes sense to restore the whole
ball of wax. About the ONLY thing I can see you really separating out
is - the user's data.

It works that way for me.
Windows on C: and most Applications on D:
Image backup of C: prior to any Windows Updates (Custom Option)
Image backup of D: prior to and after application updates from MS or
others.
Once D: is defragmented it rarely needs defragging again.
C: on the other hand fragments much quicker.
Have restored C: many times without the need to restore D:

JS

 

[db.·.. >]

i wouldn't replace it.

instead add the new
drive to your current
system as a slave drive.

this will keep you from
reinstalling windows
and everything else.

further, since you
have added more space
to your system, you
can move all your personal
files to the new drive,
thus making room on
the other disk.

also, the new drive can
be used to hold back
ups too.

if you do utilize the
methodology above and
add the new drive, right
click on my documents
and use the option to move
the entire section to the
new drive (automatically).

 

[petert]

Hi,

I am about to replace my current HD with one with more space and this
will give me the opportunity to create a partition exclusively for the
OS.

My question is this - what size partition do I need to create to
comforably accommodate XP?

OK, thanks for all your replies - a little more research is needed
before I go ahead

 

[JS]

Image backups of the C: partition go a heck of lot faster since most
but not all of an applications files are on the D: partition.

The image backup of C: (with compression enabled) also fits on a single DVD.

JS

Since the Program Files (and App Data and Windows) folder is all on C:,
and is inextricably linked to all the user program installations, what's
the point of trying to "separate" them, when you really can't? After
the user programs are installed, they are all tightly linked to the
operating system there, so if you're going to restore it, it makes sense
to restore the whole ball of wax. About the ONLY thing I can see you
really separating out is - the user's data.

It works that way for me.
Windows on C: and most Applications on D:
Image backup of C: prior to any Windows Updates (Custom Option)
Image backup of D: prior to and after application updates from MS or
others.
Once D: is defragmented it rarely needs defragging again.
C: on the other hand fragments much quicker.
Have restored C: many times without the need to restore D:

JS

 

[Bill in Co.]

Well, that's probably true, but when I do a restoration, I want everything
back as it was - not a halfway job.

But I don't rely on DVDs for the backup, as the external USB drive enclosure
works great for that (and is ONLY turned on when I make the backup image).

Image backups of the C: partition go a heck of lot faster since most
but not all of an applications files are on the D: partition.

The image backup of C: (with compression enabled) also fits on a single
DVD.

JS

 

[JS]

If nothing changed on the D: partition
(typical Windows security updates and not Office updates)
then the restore of C: is not a halfway result.

JS

Well, that's probably true, but when I do a restoration, I want everything
back as it was - not a halfway job.

But I don't rely on DVDs for the backup, as the external USB drive
enclosure works great for that (and is ONLY turned on when I make the
backup image).

Image backups of the C: partition go a heck of lot faster since most
but not all of an applications files are on the D: partition.

The image backup of C: (with compression enabled) also fits on a single
DVD.

JS

 

[Bill in Co.]

But I change a lot of things, and I want to be covered in ALL cases, not
just a select "some" (including Office, or whatever).

Besides which, it only takes me 20 minutes to backup the ENTIRE C: partition
(about 20 GB worth of system, programs, and data). I can *certainly* wait
15-20 minutes to make this COMPLETE system backup, for the complete peace of
mind it offers. It covers ALL bases that way (and trust me, that's come
in handy, on occasion

If nothing changed on the D: partition
(typical Windows security updates and not Office updates)
then the restore of C: is not a halfway result.

JS

 

[JS]

Can't argue as it does cover all bases.

But all on C: or split across 2 partitions like I do,
I would still do the Office updates as part of a second
pass at the Windows Update site.

JS (Two drive heads are better than one :-

But I change a lot of things, and I want to be covered in ALL cases, not
just a select "some" (including Office, or whatever).

Besides which, it only takes me 20 minutes to backup the ENTIRE C:
partition (about 20 GB worth of system, programs, and data). I can
*certainly* wait 15-20 minutes to make this COMPLETE system backup, for
the complete peace of mind it offers. It covers ALL bases that way (and
trust me, that's come in handy, on occasion

If nothing changed on the D: partition
(typical Windows security updates and not Office updates)
then the restore of C: is not a halfway result.

JS

 

[nesredep egrob]

Is there a specific reason you want a separate partition for the OS?

Hi,

I am about to replace my current HD with one with more space and this
will give me the opportunity to create a partition exclusively for the
OS.

My question is this - what size partition do I need to create to
comforably accommodate XP?

You will get heaps of bad advice here but generally that is from people who are
not keen on backing up or using Acronis for making Images. I am of course just a
youngster at the game as I only stared computing in 1982.

I have always partitioned my disks and have not to often got into trouble.
Generally I prefer to have 12-15 GB of space for the OS but at the moment I am
coping nicely with 10GB. For that reason I have shifted my Paging files to
another disk - more of that later. I still have 2 GB left out of the 10GB.
Here is how my system is working.

For your information, my stats are:
Win XP PRO 2, Pentium 4 3 Ghz
2 Gb memory,ADSL
200+200 GB of disc(0),(1), 750GB Raid0
C:10GB, D:and E; 88GB each
F: and G: 93 GB each
Raid0 H: I: J: 143 GB, K: 269GB.
2 Burners 2xDVD (Pioneer make)
320 GB USB2 external
I: is used as Acronis backup storage for the first 200
GB disk

For the purpose of recovering space on your C: Drive, you should change the
Location of the Paging File. I can take as much as 2 GB on the partition where
you should only have the Operating System.

To change Paging File Location. As the Administrator, right click My Computer.
In System Properties click Advanced. Click Performance Settings. In Performance
Options click Advanced/Change

Now you can change C:to 500Mb and you must then allow a partition preferably on
another disk to carry a Paging file of about 2GB ie 2000MB.
In my case I recovered the 2GB on C: drive which made the machine run a lot
faster.

B|rge in sunny Perth, Australia

PS can you imagine the mess I should get into if a disk stops working. AS it is
now I have backup of all but the RAid which of course keep itself backed up
Some of the backup atr in the raid and some in the External 320 GB disk

 

[Bill in Co.]

Just for the record, I have all my audio and video data files on separate
partitions (because either the library is quite large, or the file sizes are
quite large, there). So it's not that I'm against partitioning - not by a
long shot.

Can't argue as it does cover all bases.

But all on C: or split across 2 partitions like I do,
I would still do the Office updates as part of a second
pass at the Windows Update site.

JS (Two drive heads are better than one :-

 

[JS]

No problem, that's why they call them Personal Computers,
You configure them to your liking, well almost. This particular
PC has three drives (added over time) and multiple partitions.

JS

Just for the record, I have all my audio and video data files on separate
partitions (because either the library is quite large, or the file sizes
are quite large, there). So it's not that I'm against partitioning - not
by a long shot.

Can't argue as it does cover all bases.

But all on C: or split across 2 partitions like I do,
I would still do the Office updates as part of a second
pass at the Windows Update site.

JS (Two drive heads are better than one :-

 

[Twayne]

Why? Leave it as one. If the OS craps and you reload, the apps on
the other partition have to be reloaded anyway.
Other than maybe data, and backups should handle that, is it worth it?

Because it makes data backups easy and faster. A separate system drive
is always good.

 

[Twayne]

Hi,

I am about to replace my current HD with one with more space and this
will give me the opportunity to create a partition exclusively for the
OS.

My question is this - what size partition do I need to create to
comforably accommodate XP?

It depends. On what you want for software. Standard systems are often
fine with 10 Gig. I have 17 Gig of system files on this machine and a
40 Gig system partition, but I have a LOT of huge applications. 20 Gig
would likely be a good figure IMO if space is a concern.
If you start to calculate space, don't forget the hidden things like
Restore Points, temp files, page file, log files, etc etc etc. They
all need room to grow. In general you want about 2 1/2 to 3 times the
amount of space you think you need.

HTH