Partitioning strategy ...... again

I LOVE the idea of Partitioning.

But I myself would cut the C: drive to 5gig and added it to D: making it now 19gig. I like to keep the C: drive as small as possible. I could get away with a 2gig but it is 3.2 and only 1.2 used.

I would then put Office on the D: drive. My idea being to preserve most of the Office data if the C: drive goes sour.

The idea being that I believe Office stores most of its data in the folder(s) where Office is actually located. Or you can tell it to go there. ( if in turn it does not tell you where to go )

Or. Cut the C: to 4gig and divide the rest between the other two ( or what ever your little heart desires ) and put EVERTHING other then the actual OS and associated stuff on C:

I refer to things Av, Firewall, Norton Products ( if used ) etc.

BillyBob

 

I know it is and should be to each his own. But I do not agree with putting programs on the C: drive at all . Only what may be related to the OS.

But that is me.

I myself like to ( as much as I can ) work with " WHAT IF " in mind.

I personally believe that my programs and all of ( or as much as possible ) their data are much safer when on a partition other then the C: drive.

How often do we have problems with any drive other than C: ?

I know that XP is quite different than 98 SE so I won't get into that. But with SE none of my partitions are larger than 7.9gig for obvious reasons.

BillyBob

 

Christer - you mentioned "E: = 16 GB for downloaded Service Packs and downloaded Updates, Norton Ghost Images and BackUps of critical Documents and other critical Data. "

If the data is really critical, putting it on the same hard drive as the originals is fine unless your drive dies. But for really important stuff, another location is best.

 

Sounds like a good plan. As long as you do have some fairly recent removable storage/non volatile copy of the biggies.

 

Office & Partition ?

Hi

Looks like partitions are very much in vogue. I am going to partition a 30GB drive. Windows XP (HE) I plan to make 'C' 8GB.
After reading this thread I would like to ask advice.

I was considering making a partition for Office + data files. Am I right in assuming that it would be best to leave Office in 'C' with the OS and use the partition for storing the files I have created away from the actual program ? I realise even if ' C ' needed reformatted that Office even if in another partition would have to be re-installed also thusleave it in 'C' but keep all data separately ?????

Considering I have only one hard drive - is it still wise to move the page file to the first partition ? If so do I move all of it or do I have to keep a bit with the OS ?


Any advice would be very much appreciated. I will allocate another partition for downloads & testing programs. I hope to keep Norton Ghost & Internet Security etc with my OS.

I was going to start today as I thought I had worked it out but issues raised here have made me re-think. My drive is NTFS + I will use Partition Magic 8 to partition.

Thanks in advance - I am new to XP

 

Partitioning is not an OS specific item. The idea is preservation of Data in case of an OS crash.

An even better idea is to have the OS and other software on SEPARATE Hard drives completely. Up untill these later and faster machines and my older HDs being too slow I had the OS on a 2.5gig HD. And everything else on another HD on the 2nd controller.

Very very seldom do we have HD problems on a partiton other than C:

But no matter whether all on one or separated most prgrams will need to be re-installed after a format in order for them to work correctly.

I have found ( much to my surprise ) a lot of softwar that will run without reinstalling. Some of them do have .INI files which I have saved on another partiton AND floppys and just copy them back if needed.

I have also found that some of the newer MS software ( Links 2003 Golf for one ) uses My Documents to store stuff in. So now I keep that on a partiton other than C: Also some of my Photo handling sofware use it also. So by it being on other than C: all of the stuff it is not lost if a format is required. Just have to do a little reg editing after a format reinstall.

But please note that I am using Win98 SE which is VERY USER CONTROLABLE.

Windows ME fought me every step of the way. And I expect XP to be somewhat reluctant to except this type of user change also.

Even though it may have been due to improper setup by me, I do not like being told by the stupid OS that I do not have permission to do this or that. To that I just says WE WILL SEE. And back to 98 SE I go where I can and do Do it my way.

Speaking of a format/ reinstall I personally will do all I can to use an overtop reinstall before even thinking format. And SO FAR I have not lost a battle. ( after I learned to do it right anyway )

BillyBob

 

Thanks for the Advice

Hi

Thank you for all the advice ......

I have actually just finished doing the partitioning bit ! I too used 98se & will still use it on my desktop but this is a new laptop which inevitably came with XP pre-installed. I am still trying to get used to Administrator things. Thankfully I am not running several accounts !

I really want the partitions for storing Data - as you say all would not be lost if I had to re-install the OS. I have all the disks for software & although boring it can be re-installed if necessary !

I would like to be able to store my Internet settings & OE things but will also make separate disks for them.

I think running a desktop with ( not tested yet ) 98se + XP & a laptop with XP is more than enough ...... I wouldn't know how to install another hard disk

In one way I would like to install my OS again as I would do it in advanced mode & choose not to install the preinstalled Word & Money. I removed them by Add / Remove but have just found folders existing in the registry !! I would love all trce of them to be gone. I have problems with Word as part of Office because of the pre-installed one. Admin. disabled Detect & Repair thus I do not have this feature because of some key left in the Reg. form the one I unistalled. I have D&R in Excel / Outlook etc but not in Word which does make me very frustrated with XP & adminstartor things.

I will use my partitions for backups & keeping data safe. I presume if I did have to re-install the OS my partitions would remain intact ??? ( Hope so - it has taken me long enought to find the confidence to do it ! ) I think I read to disable System restore from monitoring things you don't want te get messed up if the feature is used ........ I would depend more on Ghost !



As fore editing the registry - scares me

 

With 98 & 98 SE it is a BREEZE. Just run regedt and do a search for say My Doc. And depending on the situation either delete or modify the key.

BUT one thing to check on FIRST.

Check the C:\Windows\Sysbckup folder and make sure Windows is making the RB00X.CAB files once per say.

If not. Find out why not before going any further and messing with the reg.

If something does go wrong just boot to the menu at boot up, type scanreg /restore, hit enter and choose a backup just prior to editing.

Or booting to the Startup disk works also.

OOPS !!! Only if you have scanreg on the Startup disk the way I do.

As far as removing software that is a BREEZE with SE. I just make sure the program is not running, delete the folder, Run Norton WinDoctor let it do its thing and then do a manual regedit to check for leftovers. Then restart Windows.

Of course if the uninstall works then I may not have to do this.

Again Win98 SE is VERY easy to handle. Just need to make sure you have a way to recover if you mess up.

That is what REALLY ticked me off with XP. Why in Sam hello should I need permission to do something on MY computer ?

I know there may be away around it but I see it as not being necessary on a home computer.

BillyBob

 

BB - the admin controls can be very helpful if you have several folks using the PC and want to make sure they can't trash it. Very possible to set things up so they can use the PC to their hearts content but can't change your settings or do accidental damage.

Granted - in a "one adult home user" situation, not needed. But for other households, it can be a lifesaver. Or at least a hair saver and ulcer preventer.