Dose installing windows on a partition affect performance in any way at all?

[garkon]

Basicaly, asking if windows being on a separate partition (but on same drive) has any benifit, besides being able to format it and not lose data. Stuid question? if so just let me know and i'll let it die, any benifit, lemme know too!

edit:
Guess i should throw in what i left out. I just bought a new 160 gb sata segate (current windows 2000 install on 60gb ata 100 seagate)., and wanted to install the new install on the 160 drive(on a partition, as i got enough) in case the 60 ever goes. Its my form of a backup plan.

 

[stars]

Most software is dependent upon the registry. If you do reinstall Windows and try to save current software installations the majority of them will not work correctly (depending on the software) if at all. I have never seen a major difference in performance regardless where Windows is installed. It would be best to backup important data before reinstalling.

 

[HomicidalSloth]

Yeah, most programs aren't going to work if you format the Windows drive.

However, I do keep my Windows installation on its own partition, it's just cleaner and easier, IMHO.