How do I split my HD?

[hyg71886]

Im buying a 120GB Western Digtal HD with 8MB cache, I want to split it as follows, 20GB for school and business and programs, 50GB for my games, and 50GB for my music.

[doctorgonzo]

With an axe. :D

Is this going to be your primary drive or just a secondary one for data? What OS are you using?

[hyg71886]

With an axe. :D

Is this going to be your primary drive or just a secondary one for data? What OS are you using?

Primary, XP Professional

[doctorgonzo]

If you are going to install XP on the drive, then you can partition during the installation process. You can set up whatever partitions you want easily.

[hyg71886]

I never installed an OS b4, there going to ask me something? What do they ask?

[WhatsThisBoxFor?]

You put in the install disk, when it asks to format you say how much, but the 120 is not going to be that size formatted. I reccomend a 20 gig for programs and windows. Then after that when you install windows you right click on my computer, manage, and then disk management and format the rest. You should make a partition for the page file, I normally do that and make it 1.5-3X the ram size. Then set a page file of that size on that partition. Then I leave the rest for other stuff. But you could format that other amount for you business, and then music, and games.

Warning - Formatting will erase all data, do not try this on a drive that you use, and do not have backed up.

[hyg71886]

You should make a partition for the page file, I normally do that and make it 1.5-3X the ram size.

You lost me right there, please elaborate.

[WhatsThisBoxFor?]

When your system runs out of ram it use the hard-drive, that is the page file. Giving it is own partition avoids fragmentation and makes it easier.

[Panama Red]

You should make a partition for the page file, I normally do that and make it 1.5-3X the ram size.

You lost me right there, please elaborate.

here's a good read about page file and partitioning.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314482&Product=winxp

[Confused]

I wouldn't bother trying to set up a page file partition if you have 512K of RAM or more.

You say 20G for school/business, 50G for games and 50G for music. Which partition contains the OS?

Personally I would set up a 10G partition for XP and then divide up the rest.

Chas

[hyg71886]

Thanks, is there any program I'll need to manage it like that?

[hyg71886]

I wouldn't bother trying to set up a page file partition if you have 512K of RAM or more.

You say 20G for school/business, 50G for games and 50G for music. Which partition contains the OS?

Personally I would set up a 10G partition for XP and then divide up the rest.

Chas

Will I only need 10GB for all my OS and system stuff?

[WhatsThisBoxFor?]

You only need windows to format and partition the empty space.

10Gig partition would depend on what you want, if you are putting programs on it then you have to consider how many. Windows does not need much, and 10gig should be plenty.

[Cricket]

How to partition and format a hard disk in Windows XP (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;313348&Product=winxp).

:) Cricket

[Confused]

Will I only need 10GB for all my OS and system stuff?

Depending on how you want to use the partitions. Partitioning is a personal use thing.

I have a 10G partition that is for XP, SP's, updates and drivers, in other words system related goes on the 10G.

I have a 20G partition that I load all application programs and data to.

Then two other partitions. One for video recording and other for internet downloads, temporay files, ect.

Chas