I Have Some General Win2k Pro Questions....

[Playmaker]

I have some general win2k pro questions that I couldn't find concise answers to via a search. I am building a new computer and will go from using win98fe on my old comp to win2k on my new comp, so I have a questions on the differences. First, does win2k benefit from being reinstalled regularly like win98fe does for me? (I find even monthly reinstalls quite beneficial to my current comp, and I do use regclean and am very picky about my system, it still helps tho) Second, what do you or would you use for partitions on a win2k only computer? Do you make a seperate partition for just win2k files? If so, how large do you make it? Thanks.

 

[AndyHui]

Win2K is generally far more stable than Win98. In that sense, it doesn't seem to need reinstalls as nearly as often as Win98 does. The only time I had to reinstall was when I hosed the installation completely.

Put it this way: you won't need to do a monthly reinstall.

Win2K's minimum required size for a partition (just for Win2K's OS files) requires about 1GB. I suggest that you set up your partitions the same as a normal Win98 system....a partition for the OS itself and then one or more for the rest.

 

[Playmaker]

I've only run win98 2 ways. Once I made a partition that I put all the win98 files on w/ all my "standard" files I always will have on my comp like word, outlook, etc. Right now I just have one c: drive, only partition. I don't notice any performance difference. 2 questions. First, does it affect performance at all to put the OS on one partition and rest of stuff on others? or is it more for organizational purposes? Second, do you put strictly the win2k files on the win2k partition? or other vital programs also? Just wondering. Thanks.

 

[cnhoff]

It is for cosmetic reasons also, but by just having Win2K and the Swapfile on the first partition, you are guaranteed, that the swapfile is always in the fastest (=first sectors) area of the disc.

 

[loosbrew]

also, if you install all of your apps and games on different partitions you increase the access time in your system partition greatly. which would theoretically equal out to a faster boot up and faster system file seek time.

loosbrew

 

[sabrownfl]

Check out the following site and it will give you plenty of info re: install, tweaking, dual booting, etc. of Win2k.

I just finished tweaking out a dual boot 98se/2kpro system and it helped tremendously.

"here it is"

Hope it helps...

sabrownfl

 

[igiveup]

The reason why Windows 2000 doesn't need to be reinstalled more often like 98 is because it has a process that protects system files when you install another program. In 98 a dll can be overridden by a new one that an install routine throws in. In Windows 2000 these install routines are monitored and when something like this happens the new file is thrown out and the old system file is restored. Another reason why it doesn't need reinstalling as much is because it uses a Journaling file system. This basically means that Windows 2000 is keeping track of the stuff that is going on with your system all of the time. In event of a power loss things don't get messed up like they do with any other kind of file system.

 

[Shadow07]

Journaling has nothing to do with how the OS operates. It is how NTFS stores the location of every file on that partition. System File Checker is what keeps the OS clean and protected. Also, with the addition of MSI, and as long as the application you want to install is an MSI package, you would run into the DLL hell that is normally associated with Windows 9x/NT 4 without MSI installed.

As far as the partitions go, if you have an ATA66 or ATA100 drive, don't worry about creating multiple partitions, as this will only increase Read/Write Access time.

Don't install any of the OS Protection software, like Symantec SystemWorks on your Windows 2000 machine. I have found that it only hurts the OS rather than help.

 

[Playmaker]

I will be using a 40gig IBM 60GXP. I'm am almost completely sure win2k will be the only OS on the HD. (CS and EQ are the only current games I play, and I think they work, all future games should work, correct?) What size should I make the first partition for the win2k files and the swap file? Is it ok if I make the rest of the drive one large patition? Or should I split that up too for best performance? I'm checking out that link now, hope the questions aren't answered there.