Need Advice on How to Distribute Space on New Rig With 2 HDDs

Caveman

Platinum Member
Nov 18, 1999
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I'm building a new rig for my Dad and have 2 HDDs: 200 GB (8MB cache) and 80GB (2 MB cache)

I'm planning to use the large, 200GB disk for OS, Programs, and Data backup...

200GB:
1, 5GB partition for the Win 2K OS
1, 60 GB partition for programs
1, 135 GB partition for data

80GB
Use this drive for backups of data from the 200GB drive

Are these numbers about right or would you do something different, and why?
 

Czar

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
28,510
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use a larger partition for the os, and use xp with sp2 :p
no need to partition the program and data part into two partition

here is how I would do this

30gb for os and programs
rest for data and backups of the programs he installed, the installation files

use a program like second copy to keep backups of the data folders on the 80gb disks

uuu, and if you really want to do this nicely, make a ghost copy of the os and store the copy on the 80gb disk, create a floppy or a usb stick that automaticly ghosts the c partition with the backup you have
 

Caveman

Platinum Member
Nov 18, 1999
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Hmmm... I thought it was good to divide up the files OS, Programs, Data so each can be backed up more easily and allow the OS to be fully reinstalled more easily... Perhaps these are misconceptions?

I thought an OS would perform a bit better (cleaner) when it has it's own "space" but maybe that's another misconception...
 

BernardP

Golden Member
Jan 10, 2006
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Originally posted by: Caveman
Hmmm... I thought it was good to divide up the files OS, Programs, Data so each can be backed up more easily and allow the OS to be fully reinstalled more easily... Perhaps these are misconceptions?

I thought an OS would perform a bit better (cleaner) when it has it's own "space" but maybe that's another misconception...

When you install a program, some info is often also written to the Registry which is part of the OS files. Even if you try to segregate the OS from the programs, they will in fact be linked, even if 2 partitions are used. AFAIK, there is nothing to be gained in installing programs in a different partition. It may create the false impression that the OS can be restored independently of the programs.

It seems simpler and better to have only one partition for the OS and all programs.

 

corkyg

Elite Member | Peripherals
Super Moderator
Mar 4, 2000
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Originally posted by: BernardP
It seems simpler and better to have only one partition for the OS and all programs.

Agree! And then use the second drive just for data and docs.

 

Spike

Diamond Member
Aug 27, 2001
6,770
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Normally I have two drives with three total partitions. On the larger drive I but a 20-30gb OS/normal programs partition with the rest of the space used for file storage. On the second drive I install all games and 'power' applications (like photoshop). That setup seems to work very well for me.

-spike
 

Jorakal

Member
Jan 21, 2006
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Usually the only reason I have more than one partition on a drive, is if I am installing multiple operating systems. For example I have one 160gb sata 3gb drive. I made 2 60gb partitions and the rest for the third. I have Windows 2000 on the first, 2003 server on the second, and am going to put Linux on the third. Vista will most likely replace Win2k on the first partition.

Otherwise I'd make one partition per drive and put the operating system on the fastest drive.
 

Mavrick007

Diamond Member
Dec 19, 2001
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I usually partition the boot drive with the OS because if I want to reinstall the OS, I don't have to back up all the other programs and data, which is because it's on my other partitions.

I would probably use the 80Gig as your OS (even partition it like 30Gigs/50Gigs) and then leave the 200Gigs as just one big drive. It works fine if you are using NTFS. I haven't formatted in such a long time but I still partition my OS drive.