Best setup

[badguy106]

I have 2 hd's, a WD1600JB 7200rpm 8mb cache, and a WD400BB 7200rpm 2mb cache. I am currently using the wd400 for my os, xp pro sp1, and the wd1600 as an external for storage. I am wanting to add the wd1600 to my system as an internal drive along with my wd400.

My question is, which would be the best setup, performance wise? Leave the os on the wd400, or move it to the wd1600? And what about the swap file? I have read where it's best to have it on seperate drive, but dont know alot about this, much less how to do it.

The only other device I have is a dvd burner and would like to know the best way to set this up also. Do I setup both hd's on the same ide and put the dvd burner on the other ide by itself, or a hd on each ide and the burner on as slave to one of the hd's?

TIA for any help.

 

[JSSheridan]

Welcome to the forums. I would set it up like this:

The 40GB drive and the DVD burner on one channel. The swap file will be on the 40GB drive as well as whatever media you want.
The 160GB alone on one channel. It will contain the OS, programs and the rest of the media. It is probably best to burn any DVD's from this drive.

It's good to note that the chipset can only access one device at a time on an IDE channel. To move the swap file, right-click on My Computer and select properties. Go to the advanced tab and choose performance settings. Click the advanced tab and change the virtual memory settings. You want the no paging file on your OS drive, probably C and a system managed drive on your 40GB drive. I think that's all. Peace.

 

[badguy106]

Hi JS,

Thanks for the advice. But am confused a little on moving the page file. Bare with me on this, have never done it...

So, my os will be on the 160gb, and I need to place the swap file on the 40gb, from what I gather. In order to do this, from the virtual memory screen, I would highlight the 40gb drive, and select ok, and then reboot for changes to take affect, and it should be done. Correct? Will I need to change my "initial and maximum" size for my pagefie, or will they stay the same? I am running 512mb ram, and they are both presently set at 766mb. I have read where it is best to set them both the same? you agree?

Thanks again for the help.

 

[badguy106]

BTW, would it be a good idea to partition a portion of the 40gb, to place the PF on. and if so, how big? or does it even matter?

 

[JSSheridan]

I edited my previous post, I omitted a 'no'. You want to choose 'no paging file' for your os drive and hit set, then choose 'system managed size' or 'custom size' and enter a size for the 40GB drive and hit set again. Click on 'OK' until you're back at the desktop, then reset. The PF doesn't need it's own partition. The initial and max size fields will be greyed out for system managed. You can set them to whatever you'd like if you select custom, and I guess they should be the same size in that case. You ought to download this utility and have it run every time you start your system up.

 

[badguy106]

Ok thanks Js.