Help me partition my 73GB Raptor

[imported_rexian]

I am planning to partition my new 74GB Raptor like this.

C: 2GB for DOS(FAT32)
D: 6GB for OS(NTFS) -- Per sonoma1993 suggestions
F: 30GB for Apps(Photoshop, Flash MX etc.) (NTFS)
G: Rest Games and Data (NTFS)

Planning to use max of 60GB on this Raptor.

Image

This is how I have come up with this idea:

1. I have checked Internet and found out that I should not fill an NTFS partition more than 85% or the Master File Table [MFT] can become badly fragmented.
2. Having OS installed on a drive other than C: sometimes prevent n00biehackers from affecting it.
3. Having OS loaded near the outer edge of the HDD helps in seek time.
4. Having a FAT32 partition loaded with DOS utilities may come handy on a rainy day.

Q1. Is this a good idea?
Q2. If it is then what is the best way to achieve this? WinXP Partitioning while Installing the OS for the first time? **n00biealert
Q3. Or should I have to use FDISK? If I use FDISK then I believe, I need to install DOS and partition the drive first before installing WinXP. Am I right? Where can I find latest DOS OS and utilities?
Q4. Can anyone give me a walkthrough on this?

Thanks a bunch for all the help..

- Rex

 

[sonoma1993]

i would make the 2gb for os more like 4 or 5gb. windows folder on my computer, alone comes to 1.95gb

 

[Crusty]

Yeah, you don't really need the DOS partition. Just combine the two of them into your OS drive for Windows

 

[imported_rexian]

Alright...got my partitions sorted out...now need answers to questions 2, 3 & 4. Help!

 

[silverpig]

That partitioning scheme is nuts. Is this your only drive?

25 GB NTFS for OS, games, programs
48 GB NTFS for data

anything else is overkill. Programs and games should be installed to C:. You will probably say: "But if I reformat, I don't want to have to reinstall all my programs" right? Well when you install them, they write certain registry keys to c: that some programs require in order to work. I've had my system partitioned that way before, reformatted c: and had half my stuff not work anymore. And let me tell you that going through partition magic's crapshoot with resizing and merging partitions to fix this is a royal PITA. It hung, and I lost everything on my main drive (this was a few years ago mind you).

4 is not necessary as there is XP recovery console and linux live CDs that will let you do pretty much anything you need. XP recovery for fixing windows so you can use your computer again, and the linux live cds so you can throw files on the net, over the network, possibly onto dvd-r (not sure but maybe)...

So let's see:

A1: no
A2: use fdisk from the xp install cd, or use a linux cd will work too.
A3: You don't have to install DOS. Just use a boot floppy or linux live cd.
A4: Boot from xp cd, create 2 partitions, format both ntfs, install on c:, follow directions.

 

[Nocturnal]

I asked this before. Leave your entire drive to your OS. Get another drive for storage.

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: Nocturnal
I asked this before. Leave your entire drive to your OS. Get another drive for storage.

That is ideal yes. But if he doesn't have another drive, then 2 partitions will work nicely. Anything more is overkill, unless you are running linux.

 

[imported_rexian]

So, will it be prudent to get a 37GB Raptor for my OS and use this one for programs, apps and games? I don't do video editing currently.

 

[casper114]

Originally posted by: rexian
So, will it be prudent to get a 37GB Raptor for my OS and use this one for programs, apps and games? I don't do video editing currently.

Yea that would be a great idea!

 

[Phoenix86]

Whoa, deva vu.

 

[The Pentium Guy]

Originally posted by: Nocturnal
I asked this before. Leave your entire drive to your OS. Get another drive for storage.

ALL 73 GB?

 

[wexsmith]

Originally posted by: The Pentium Guy

Originally posted by: Nocturnal
I asked this before. Leave your entire drive to your OS. Get another drive for storage.

ALL 73 GB?

A two drive setup is ideal for a Raptor, imo. My partitions are like this:

WD Raptor:

• C:\ - 73GB (OS, programs, games, etc...)

WD 160GB:

• E:\ - 120GB (documents, mp3s, movies, etc...)

• F:\ - 36GB (downloads, temp, irc, torrent, etc...)

• K:\ - 4GB (swap - hidden from explorer)

The K swap partition is hidden from Explorer. There's no reason for me to see my swap partition since I'll never put anything on it. Seperating my downloads into it's own partition has helped greatly in keeping everything defragmented. At the rate I download it was needed.

If I only had the Raptor to work with I'd just split the partitions 40/60 for OS/Documents. Maybe even go 30/70 if I wasn't going to load it down with games. Before doing that I'd definitely consider a second drive for storage though...

Hope that helps.

 

[JBT]

There is no reason to get a 37GB Raptor. They a bit slower than the 74GB ones and this makes them just as fast as any current generation 7200 RPM drive. IE 37 GB raptors are a waste.