Partition sizes with XP?

I know it would be impossible to advise completely about the size of partitions on a 2 HD set up 1.160GB 2.120 GB

At the moment I know I have too many partitions but when the computer was set up I thought it was the 'correct' thing to do
I have read about running discs without any partitions but somehow I would prefer to have my OS partitioned from my data and downloads.

I am going to be getting my computer modded a little in August with a new fan system and also taking my 60GB 2nd drive out and installing a 160GB drive. I will also be installing XP Pro this time round.

Hopefully I will have the 160GB as my first drive with XP Pro and my second drive will be 120GB - would anyone be able to advise on how many partitions I should be thinking about for this setup?

 

Thanks Pete I will read the info on the link now but you have certainly helped with the Page File as I have a dedicated partition for this as my computer is at the moment but was wondering if I should maintain this. I know one thing it does stop any fragmenting


Edit: a great link and one to spend time reading before August; thank you.

 

Hi Christer

I was just back reading the information on the link and note the suggestion to have a small FAT32 partition on 'C' and install the OS to the next drive letter - I do remember that this is suggested on security based forums plus on my install notes with TDS they state that it is best not to install the OS on 'C' - I think this is because of rootkits etc but the little FAT32 is a point of interest to me now as a friend had suggested this to me the last time (I think this was because of the DOS bit in case of a failure )

I agree with keeping a large amount for backups which I hope to have on my second physical HD - I will use this for Ghost backups and also use my external drive for true Image backups (I am going to make sure and do a clean backup as soon as the system is running!!)

I aim to keep my data separate and also downloads and pictures so will have to judge carefully for this. I was re-assured from the link that partitioning is actually a good thing to do as recently I have read a few posts about allowing the drive to run as it is - I do not think I would like to scramble through a lot of folders!

I have 1GB of RAM which should maintain an 'un-fragmented' section if I allocate it a set amount of drive and will not let windows manage this.

Thanks for your input as I am really hoping to have things worked out now that I know a little bit more of how I actually use my computer. When XP was first installed I wasn't quite sure of the way I would store and run various applications!

 

At least you are giving me something to laugh about instead of getting myself into all sorts of dilemmas about the 'correct' thing to do. I have been running along here on my present setup with partitions that suited me. I guess a little less reading and more to the practicalities would be the best for someone like me who worries (too much!!)

Thankfully the final install will not be left to me (one worry less) but I have learned quite a few things about the way XP links things on drives even when we think it is clean. Once again someone else will take this worry away and hopefully have my computer ready for me to enjoy and maintain backups.

I do like the fact that if one partition gets corrupted or something at least I have not lost my whole drive exactly plus defragmenting does not take all day and all night

I will hopefully keep any of the difficult things for my friend and I will keep things simple

 

I have to agree with Christer- a false "C" partition isn't going to fool many of the "nasties" on the 'net. A better strategy is up to date firewall and AV protection, and partition(s) for data storage. FWIW, I have never lost my second partition "accidentally ", even when I killed XP on "C ".

The false "C" reminds me of that email that goes around telling people to make 000 the first entry in their address book, on the theory that the virus will not be able to use it because it's not valid, and then quit. That may have been true 5 years ago- (I don't know!) but it sure isn't good advice today!

Johanna

 

I would most likely confuse myself as to where my copy of XP is

The link Pete gave is really good for information but I do realise that it would be best for me to have things as simple as possible. I know a lot of security forums and software warn about having XP on C but I have a router firewall plus Sygate Pro plus many other guards and have never let anything in I would not want - maybe sometimes blocked myself from doing things!

I really do think the link provides a lot of information as others have told me partitions are not needed. I think the guy who wrote the article has ended up with too many drives but at least his explanations are good. I also need to allow for the fact he has Linux etc

 

i can tell you what i would do,real capacity in giga is around152 and 114,
-152
8 primary
64
16
32
32

-114
8 primary
10
32
32
32

Windows has problems over 20 partitions....
if you do multimedia, format some of the larger partitions with a cluster size larger than 4k,es. 16k,

i dont like to have a dedicated part for swap cuz could damage the disk due to more activity, move the swap on the 2nd drive 4/5 times every year.
leave 2-16mb of page on C drive.

about the size of swap is not a good idea to multiply your ram size, because the more the ram you have, the less you need to swap,
i suggest if you have less of 512m to set the pagefile so that ram+page=500m
with min=max,

if you have more than 512, a minimum around 100.