New System and Partitioning

[04nmr85]

Hi everyone! I just had a question about partitioning on a new system. I'm going to install Windows XP Home and i was just wondering how should i partition the hard drive? I've always wanted to know the answer to this but i haven't gotten around to asking it. I figured now would be a good time since i'm building a new rig. Thanks for your help everyone!

[Panama Red]

I tend to follow the same configuration for all my customer and personal builds. Most are based on an 80Gb hard drive. The C: partition is 10Gb and dedicated to the XP operating system and hardware drivers/software. Second partition is used exclusively for the Page File (virtual memory). With 512Mb of memory installed, I make the PF partition 2Gb. Next is an 8Gb partition dedicated to programs. That totals 20Gb. The remaining approximately 60Gb I divide into 20Gb partitions. They can be called Games, Pictures, Music, Files. Whatever you want to do with them. I also redirect the My Documents, My Music and My Pictures folders using Windows explorer to insure that saved documents go to the desired partiton.

I set the Page File to 1536 max and 784 min on the Page File partition and 128 max and 32 min on the C: parititon. My page file configuration is based on this article.

http://support.microsoft.com/default...&Product=winxp

[04nmr85]

Does making all those partitions increase system performance? I've always wondered why it's a good idea to partition.

[04nmr85]

Oh and i'm making a new system for a friend. He doesn't know to much about computers except how to do simple tasks and the like. I'm going to be using a 120 gb Seagate hard drive.

[Panama Red]

No great performance increase, just a more controlled environment. Less fragmentation, Page file not scattered throughout the hard drive, XP easier to repair by being on it's own partition. I guess all these things would contribute to better performance compared to a system that has been run for a while with everything on one partition. Defragging takes a lot less time too.

[glc]

I do all my builds with a single partition across the whole drive unless the customer specifies otherwise. Multiple partitions are more of a hobbyist thing in my opinion - heck, I don't even use them.

[04nmr85]

Lol, i do the same thing glc. It seems like it would be easier to find stuff but i dunno. If u had to do a fresh install of ur OS and u had it on a seperate partion would that mean u would only have to format the partition with the os on it?

[glc]

Yes, but any programs you have installed on another partition will still have to be reinstalled because of the required registry entries for Windows to find them - and the system files that programs install in the Windows folder. There is something to be said about putting your *data* files on a separate partition, but if you have a decent backup strategy (CD-R, external hard drive, etc.), this is also quite adequate.