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partition and backup for dummies questions

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by gn85, 2004/01/02.

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  1. 2004/01/02
    gn85

    gn85 Inactive Thread Starter

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    OK, I will try to explain, but I'm not sure if I'll get all the info right.

    First, what I have...

    2 hard drives

    80 gig & 8 gig (from old computer)
    CD burner
    WinXP Pro
    Two users (myself and g/f)

    OK, I've been tinkering around with XP and I'm starting to understand more and more (thanks to a lot of reading this board.)

    I've decided that a clean install was in order. Long story why. Thanks to reading, I found out that when I partitioned my HD the last time I didn't format the other part of the hard drive that I'm not using so it's been sitting there doing nothing. But now I know better. I've been running everything off of one partition.

    Now that everyone's up to speed. I need to know. Suggestions for partition. How much should I allocate for the OS and programs? Also, I've read about splitting the data from this... more info please? Lastly, I will admit; I know very little about backup. Could someone please explain in laymens terms how this works and how I do this?

    I've been very lucky with things running smoothly so far. But I don't like gambling on that. Thanks in advanced.
     
    gn85,
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  2. 2004/01/03
    noahdfear

    noahdfear Inactive

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    There is alot of debate on partition size and whether it's really even necessary. Backups of important documents, pictures, etc. can simply be copied to CD's and put on a shelf for safekeeping.
     
    noahdfear,
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  4. 2004/01/03
    Paul

    Paul Inactive

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    A lot a different suggestion may materialise, so here's mine FWIW ;)

    I would stick with 1 partition on the 80G drive for simplicity. and 1 partition on the 8G drive. Then I would backup files as noahdfear suggests, as well as driver updates and programme file install packages to the 8G drive. Much the same as I use a couple of CDRW's and mirror one to the other. If you're really paranoid It may also be a good idea to backup said proggys/files to CDRW as well as to the 8G drive.
    There are valid arguments for creating a couple (or more) partitions to an 80G drive, and doing so MAY increase system speed and can as you suggest keep the system (XP) separate from other files. But remember that installed programmes on the other partition(s) will still need to write to the registry on the drive containing XP. So you can easily get bogged down with similar issues like which Defragmenting software is better. It doesn't make THAT much difference to the average user!

    Providing you keep your system clean, like always using ONE download folder for programmes so they don't become lost and scattered across the disk and you regularly use a couple of registry cleaners and defragment the drive(s) then you should be laughing?

    If you want to "Ghost" your whole system so you can reinstall it from a backup, then Norton Ghost 2003 or similar programmes such as Drive Image are easy to use and work well. I personally use Ghost 2003 and backup the whole sustem to 1 DVDRW (or around 5-6 CDRW's) The bigger your image becomes the more disks you will need, so a separate partition for XP can help in this sutuation.

    If you REALLY want to create a separate partition for XP then I would suggest 10-20 Gigs as the C drive for XP, the remainder (60-70 Gigs) as D drive, and partition the 8G drive as your E drive and CDRW as the F drive. Which ever way you go, make sure there is at least 20% free space on the system (XP) drive. I run well above this at about 40-50% free space so XP can "breathe" and I don't have to defrag every second day as you would with not much free space.
     
    Last edited: 2004/01/03
    Paul,
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  5. 2004/01/03
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    IMO - The greatest advantage of partitioning a drive is to enable the installation of the OS on one partition and data storage on the other(s). If you need to reformat the OS partition your data is safe - barring disk failure. Needless to say there is no substitute for backing up data to a separate hard drive or external storage device/medium - external HD, CD, DVD, etc.
     
    PeteC,
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  6. 2004/01/03
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    Hi gn85!

    There are many opinions on, if and how to partition a harddrive.

    Some say that the operating system should be on a separate partition as should programs and data. Some even say that different types of data, e.g. documents and pictures/films, should be on separate partitions.

    Others say that partitions do no more for backing up than separate folders on the same single partition. That depends however, on what is used for backing up.

    I have chosen a "middle way" with three partitions on my 40 GB harddrive. The setup is to make the use of Norton Ghost simple.

    C: => 8 GB NTFS for Windows XP and programs.
    When using Ghost, there is no reason to separate the programs from the operating system. It would actually require that You create two Images instead of one to cover the system backup.
    Currently my C: has 60% free space but the size of Your C: will be Your decision based on the size of Your programs and that C: should not be utilized to more than 70-80% for performance reasons.

    D: => 24 GB NTFS for data.
    The size is based on that I want C: and E: to be of equal size, for E: to hold two Images of C: using moderate compression.
    To this partition, have I moved the My Documents folder, the Favorites folder, the Address Book and the E-mail storage. The reason for this is to not have to bother about rolling these data back and consequently loose information if I should have to restore an Image of C:.

    E: => 8 GB FAT32 dedicated to Ghost Images of C:.
    The reason for FAT32 and not NTFS is that I have had trouble on NTFS with one Image not passing the integrity check and that has never happened on FAT32. Reason enough for me.
    Having the Images on the same harddrive as the system, requires that I burn the Images to CDs for "total" backup.
    (Before someone makes the comment, I know that nothing is 100%!)

    I am currently awaiting delivery of a new 120 GB harddrive, not due to space requirements but for the convenience of having two separate ones. This will make the burning of Images to CDs superfluous, if I put them on the second harddrive.

    I have demonstrated my thoughts behind my partitioning strategy and will dwell no longer on my system but give my "how would I do" with Your harddrives:

    I would partition the 80 GB harddrive in two:
    C: => 10-15 GB NTFS for Windows XP and programs
    D: => 65-70 GB NTFS for data

    I would leave the 8 GB harddrive in one single partition ( E: ), which will hold at least one Image of C: if it is utilized to 75% and the Image is moderately compressed.
    (15 GB utilized to 75% with 75% compression = 8.345 GB.)

    Now, consider Your options and make a decision based on Your needs and thoughts and I hope that my input and the input of others will guide You!

    Christer

    Edited:

    You will still have to backup Your important data on D:, maybe burn to CDs, to cover a harddrive failure.

    Edited again:

    See also RADIFIED Partitioning Strategies and RADIFIED Guide to Norton Ghost . The latter includes directions on how to move the mentioned folders from their default locations on C:.
     
    Last edited: 2004/01/03
    Christer,
    #5
  7. 2004/01/04
    gn85

    gn85 Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hi everyone,

    Wow my eyes hurt from all this reading. I must say this site is a gold mine of information. I'm very new to this computer thing and I'm getting flooded with information. Thank you.

    Let me start out by saying that everything worked out well. As everyone has been saying, this is a personal decision and no real wrong answers. So let me start out by saying thank you...

    noahdfear -- You are absolutely right. There is plenty of interesting debate and theories about this topic. It's seems I've opened a Pandora's Box with this question. However, I must thank you for the link you gave me. I must have read that about 5 times last night. I'm taking your advice tomorrow and burning some CD-RWs of pictures and things that don't change but need to be kept.


    Paul -- Thanks for the tips on keeping my system clean and backed up. Between reading the link and your advice about 'ghost' images, I have a better understanding of what I'm doing and looking for. I will be 'on the market' for a back up program.

    PeteC -- After all my reading, I agree with you that having partitions is good in case something goes south with the OS. Most of your stuff is still safe on another partition. And you're absolutely right.. there's still nothing safer then saving your data to a seperate media. Many thanks for chiming in.

    Chister -- Wow, long reply. Thanks for giving me actual numbers to look at as suggestions. Actually, what I ended up doing is very close to what you suggested. The only thing I different was add on another partition for another version of WinXP Home (German Edition).

    Thanks also for your descriptions of which system to use (FAT32 or NTFS). I wasn't very comfortable with this as it's very new to me so your suggestions and explainations really made me feel more comfortable.

    All told, I've reinstalled everything. All my applications, games, files, WinXp Pro, etc. I was already using my 8 gig HD a drive for music, video and such. So I just left it that way. But I may consider using it also for additional back up.

    I'm very pleased with how it turned out and I wanted to make sure I expressed my appreciation for all the generous help you all have given.

    :)
     
    gn85,
    #6
  8. 2004/01/04
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    gn85,
    You´re welcome ...... :) ...... and thanks for the feedback!

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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