should I partition

[mroosa]

I just finished a new build and want to know what to do with my disk. I already installed windows xp but now I'm thinking I should have created a smaller partition. I used a 320GB hard drive and just partitioned it as 1 drive. I'm a software developer and need office / visual studio mostly. Should I create more partitions or leave it alone.

[EzyStvy]

You'd either have to reinstall XP or spend $75 on Partition Magic...

Partitions are basically used to help you the user keep track/organize your files. If you're good at keeping track of them, it doesn't really matter what partition they're on.

[TwoRails]

I like to break up large drives into smaller chunks for several reasons. One is, as mentioned above, for organization and segregation. Not only does it make backing up data a lot easier but disaster recovery can also be easier. For example I do all my downloads and installs on a separate logical drive and have been "bitten" in the past and lost that drive. I don't have to redo my whole system to recover, just that one drive. Also, defrag takes only a small fraction of the time compared to everything stuffed on one disc.

[XenaWP]

Originally Posted by EzyStvy You'd either have to reinstall XP or spend $75 on Partition Magic... Partitions are basically used to help you the user keep track/organize your files. If you're good at keeping track of them, it doesn't really matter what partition they're on.

Partititon Magic often comes bundled with other software and folks don't need it (or already have it). I got a fresh copy that way from a guy on Ebay for about $25. Shrink-wrapped and unregistered.

[mroosa]

I have no problem re-installing Windows. If I were to do that, what size partition do you recommend for the OS. Also, should I use an OS only drive and a programs/data drive or OS/programs drive and data drive. How do you guys organize?

[XenaWP]

Just the OS? Doesn't need to be very big. 5 GB is plenty.

Personally, I know some software wants to be on the boot drive (particularly older stuff), so I install everything but games there. My C: is big enough (hopefully) for OS + applications. I did ... heck ... 20 or 25 GB.

[TwoRails]

5 GB was plenty for Windows 98 but is a little tight for Windows XP. There are lots of variables that could take up the space such as how many System Restore points you want to make, if you want to index the drive, or even use sleep or hibernate modes. Currently I'm running a 21 GB logical drive and stay right around 13 GB used and 8 GB free.

[XenaWP]

Just going based on my recent install. XP installed in 500 MB. Just the OS. I figured 10x that was safe, but of course we all have valid perspectives. I never index the drive since it's a slowdown. Don't search for files much, prefer to be organized up front.

[TwoRails]

I don't index, either, and have never had it turned on on my OS drive. Also, once I discovered a while ago that the sleep/hibernation file was 2 GB in size I turned it off also.

It also depends on what you call "OS." I install each and every program that is not a "OS" on a different drive, naturally. I used to install OS related programs on a different drive but have stopped that practice years ago.

The stuff I do install on my OS drive are items such as: motherboard and other low-level drivers, antivirus, firewall, video and sound card drivers and utilities. Everything else, ranging from system utilities, spyware programs, through video and photo editing are all installed on different drives.

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by XenaWP Just going based on my recent install. XP installed in 500 MB.

500MB?! What version of WinXP was that? All the WinXP Home installs I've done over the years show about 1.7GB used space on the HDDs right after the WinXP installation is done.

I used to make the first partition 20GB but now prefer to not partition a HDD smaller than 80GB...from what I've seen many computer users just let everything get filed into My Documents and rarely bother to move them over to another partition. I worked on two computer recently that were getting low disk space error messages and when I checked them the C: drives were down to less than 10% free space while the other partitions I set up were completely empty! These two computers only had 80 GB HDDs that were broken up into 4 equal sized partitions but the owners just let everything get piled up in the 20GB C: drive. Changed this so that the 80GB HDD only has one partition and added a 320GB HDD for file storage. Had to actually show the owners how to manually move their personal files from the My Documents folder on the C: drive to their own folders on the D: drive. Had to show them how to create new folders too . One guy (my brother-in-law) didn't even know where all his files were kept on the computer.

Cricket

[XenaWP]

XP Pro with SP2. Academic version.

Blew my mind too. I'll grab a screen shot and post it.

[XenaWP]

I was wrong ... it was 640 MB. The memory is not quite as good as it used to be ....

[TwoRails]

Not trying to be too picky, but the size of the Windows directory is not a true representation of a Windows install and how much space is used. The Windows directory does not contain All Users, User account information and Administrator. Nor does it cover Windows installed programs such as Outlook express, uninstall information, and other items. And so on...

[Statica]

Originally Posted by XenaWP I was wrong ... it was 640 MB. The memory is not quite as good as it used to be ....

Hmm you seem to be removing all hotfix uninstallations! Since SP2 most systems take on another gig or so worth of security fixes and updates. And unless you're running out of space I wouldn't recommend that the uninstall information from them. 5GB is a ridiculously low amount for a partition for Windows and you probably will never feel the pinch, given the size of your drive. I would recommend something at least 20GB if you are to make it through to the next SP without a resize.
By the way, Acronis Disk Director is a really good option at about 49.

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by TwoRails Not trying to be too picky, but the size of the Windows directory is not a true representation of a Windows install and how much space is used. The Windows directory does not contain All Users, User account information and Administrator. Nor does it cover Windows installed programs such as Outlook express, uninstall information, and other items. And so on...

Yeah, I've never seen a WinXP installation like that before...how come there is only the Windows folder? And why is it the F: drive? And what's above the INTUOS E: drive? The scroll bar indicates there are more directories above. Something seems fishy.

Cricket

[Vaillant]

Ok, I've been using partitions for 2 years now. I have 7 partitions in my standard build, although I've got 8 right now because I needed more room.

I've got them spread accross 2 320gb harddrives

20 gig C: (XP Pro Corporate edition)
50 gig D: (programs)
50 gig E: (games)

ok, yes, both those partitions can easily become just one, programs, for regular folk like me who doesnt use VB use up like 2,3gigs tops

20gig F: (files)

I'd put this one up to 50, on a whim

20gig G: (downloads)

again, as TwoRails mentionned, its for protection against disaster. Anything and everything entering my computer, no matter the program, I have it go there first

100gig H: (storage) (because ya never know)

50gig I: (media)

for all that music and videos you love to watch



in the end, its up to the user to decide. but for windowsXP, I wouldnt go lower than 15gig

I found that 20gig is a perfect size. and with today's drive capacities, why bother going smaller?

Good luck.

[XenaWP]

Originally Posted by Cricket Yeah, I've never seen a WinXP installation like that before...how come there is only the Windows folder? And why is it the F: drive? And what's above the INTUOS E: drive? The scroll bar indicates there are more directories above. Something seems fishy. Cricket

Geez guys. I'm not trying to pull something over on you. You seem shocked about the 500 MB install, so I posted the screenshot.

You want the whole story? It's not that interesting. But here goes.

Did my build. I didn't notice the SATA drive was set to IDE mode in BIOS, and didn't know about the F6-Install RAID/SCSI drivers step, so when I installed XP on it, it was forever doomed to run in IDE mode at like UDMA-5 (maybe UDMA-4) speed. I didn't like that, so I decided to reinstall XP with the SATA drive configured as RAID so that it would run as a SATA drive. Well, I did not remove my legacy IDE drive, so when I tried to reinstall XP, it made the IDE drive Drive 0. It didn't even see the SATA drive. I didn't realize what was happening. I think I may have had a flash drive in which took the C: letter -- something like that is why it did not install on C:. The IDE drive was originally partitioned and named N: and O:. That's not what showed up in XP install.

Onward I went, removing the existing partitions and installing XP. I did not "remove" any options during the install, I just went with the default installation. I made the F: partition about 25 MB for XP plus programs. I was going to use the rest for data, photos, etc. Fortunately, I did not reformat that partition ... when I realized my error that's what enabled me to recover most of the data that was still on the legacy IDE drive ... except what the XP install overwrote.

Instead of accusing, why not just ask?

Intuos E: is what happened to be in the CD when I took the screen shot. I was TRYING TO MAKE THE CAPTURE SMALLER. What's "cut off" is my new C: and D:. For god's sake, if you want me to recapture it so you can see it I will.

You acted like I was being untruthful when I said it installed in 500 MB, so I give you a screen shot. Now you act like I'm still being untruthful. What is it you want?

[XenaWP]

Originally Posted by TwoRails Not trying to be too picky, but the size of the Windows directory is not a true representation of a Windows install and how much space is used. The Windows directory does not contain All Users, User account information and Administrator. Nor does it cover Windows installed programs such as Outlook express, uninstall information, and other items. And so on...

I'm sure you're trying to be helpful ... but the screen shot shows everything that was installed during the Win XP install.

Here's why I say that: when I realized my error (see previous post) I immediately removed/disconnected that drive so as not to do any more damage. There was stuff on the legacy IDE drive that I needed. I was not going to add, delete, rename, or touch anything to avoid doing any more damage to the directory structure.

If that answer doesn't cut it, sorry. It's the truth though.

[TwoRails]

Hi XenaWP,

Okay, you had an install go bad; that has happened to all of us (in fact I'm not even going to mention how many I've had them go bad ). What probably happened is that you did not get a full install on the F drive. In fact, the more I look at the screenshot, the more I'm convinced that if that was the only drive in a computer, it would not boot. I say that only because there is just too much missing, such as any User Accounts and other Windows components. I have seen botched installs actually boot as Windows seems to find all the necessary components, but they have to be there somewhere. So, that is why I say if that was the only drive in the system I do not think it would boot. I say all this in a friendly manner and I am not pointing fingers; it is just a batched install and not a true representation of a normal install.

TwoRails