Partition/HD Layout

[Laogeodritt]

I want to buy a second HD, and partition both, to organize my files and protect them in the event I would need to reformat and reinstall the OS. Here's what I plan to do. I would like to know how this would affect the performance if I were to do this, and if it is worth doing.

80 GB HD 1:
1st partition: OS & everything included with it
2nd partition: Storage of unneeded/unused files & backup of important files on 2nd HD (in case of failure)

80 GB HD 2: Program Files and Documents


How large should the OS partition be? What HD brand should I buy?


Also, I would like to know if it is possible to partition an HD during the installation of a WinXP OS using a Cicero CD (containing the Windows install files) to make partitions? It came with my Cicero CA112A-5 system. If not, could I use FDISK from an old Win98SE boot disk to do this, then format using said Cicero disk to format the drive with NTSF and install Windows on it?

I heard somewhere that it was a good idea to disconnect the Hard Drives connected to your system other than the one you are installing the OS when installing it. Why is this? Is it easy to connect and disconnect it? (obviously, I've never touched, moved or changed any of the hadware inside a computer case)

 

[Steven the Leech]

I think you should make the partition 1-OS 20-40 gigs, depending on how much software you intend to install on it. The hard drive manufacturers typically provide disk tools either as software provided with disk or downloadable from their web site, you could use that. I never disconnect drives, I have in the past accidentally formatted the wrong drive during an installation [i would guess that is the rationale for disconnecting them].

 

[Laogeodritt]

Originally posted by: StevenTheLeech
I think you should make the partition 1-OS 20-40 gigs, depending on how much software you intend to install on it. The hard drive manufacturers typically provide disk tools either as software provided with disk or downloadable from their web site, you could use that. I never disconnect drives, I have in the past accidentally formatted the wrong drive during an installation [i would guess that is the rationale for disconnecting them].

Thanks. By disk tools, you mean to format or partition HD's? They should work on any drive, right? (I want to partition both my drives)

I would still like to know what HD brand I should buy. I need one that is reliable and long-lasting yet isn't too expensive (maximum $150-175 CAD).

Also, is it difficult to disconnect IDE devices (specifically HDs, optical drives)? And are there any other reasons for disconnecting extra HDs when installing an OS? And what about the above layout for my partitions?

 

[capricorn]

I always have at least three partitions, and often four or more, but typically it's a physical C partition for the OS, a logical (extended) D partiion for the everyday applications, another logical E drive for user data. With Windows XP, I like that C partition to be about 10-12 GB. The OS itself doesn't need that much room, but some applications will put some portion of their files on C even if you tell them to install on D (e.g., Microsoft Office). Also, hotfixes from Windows Update and service packs back up a lot of files, so there needs to be room for them. Windows XP Pro also saves restore points periodically. I generally also have the virtual paging file on C, which I ususally set at 1.5 times the size of the installed RAM. I also often have an F drive or more for Games, which is usually my largest partition. I use PartitionMagic to do the partitioning myself, but I have enough computers to warrant the cost. The CD that comes with the drive will almost always have some form of partitioning and setup software. Seagate's CD-ROM is even bootable, so you can set up a system that you haven't even put an OS on yet. Seagate's also asks how you want to use the new drive: as a replacement for the old disk (and the old disk is not used afterward), as just a second disk for more storage, or as your new boot drive. In the latter case, the Seagate tool even transfers your old OS from the first disk to the second.

Hard drives - well, I was a big Maxtor fan, but I'm still irked at one that recently died on me after only a couple months of use. I've heard some other rumblings on the net and in magazines along the lines that their quality has fallen off. I'm now using Seagates, and they are very, very quiet. Seagate also just annouced a 5 year warranty on all their drives. I think a 200 MB Seagate is about $125 on newegg.com.

Connecting a 2nd drive is pretty easy assuming your computer manufacturer didn't cut corners. I had a Compaq desktop that had drive cables with only one connector on the drive end instead of the normal two, so I had to buy another one before I could connect a second drive. They also onlly had just enough power connections for the devices installed, so I had to buy a Y-splitter for the drive power. Most likely you'll find your drive cable has a spare connector and their are spare power connectors as well. The drive manufacturers (Seagate and Maxtor at least), include a pictorial on how to install the drive.

I like to have my hard drives installed and already partitioned the way I intend for them to be in the final system before I even start the install. However, if you have any physical partitions on the second drive, those will be allocated drive letters before the logical paritions on your first drive. (This only refers to a fresh OS install. In Windows XP, if you have a single drive (with more than one partition) and then add a second drive later, XP will not re-letter the drive letters of the partitions on the first disk and any optical drives even if the second disk has one or more physical partions. This is because that would break shortcuts and registry entries that the installed applications may be depending on. Windows 2000/Me/98 don't preserve the drive lettering, so things can get hairy. I generally put only logical (extended) partitions on the second drive, which helps avoid the whole problem.)

 

[Laogeodritt]

Thank you. Unfortunately, I can't use newegg.com because I live in Canada, and IIRC, they only ship to the US.

 

[augiem]

I like to have at least 3 partitions...

C: 10-15 GB -- ONLY for WinXP, and anti-virus software (because of a nightmarish problem I had deleting McAfee off D: without uninstalling it -- caused lots of data corruption all over the partition -- I think it did some low-level hard disk access for security purposes)...I think you need at least 10GB since Windows has historically had a nasty habit of EXPANDING over time. By default, a SP2 slipstream install of XP Pro takes about 1.3GB (not including swap file). But it'll get bigger as they patch it, or you install other programs that hide junk on C... at 2.6GB on mine so far.

D: -- remainder of hard drive minus 4-5 GB -- All user data and programs installed on this drive. Use tweakUI or edit the registry to change all the Windows data folders like Desktop, My Computer, Favorites, etc. to drive D. This makes sure you'll never forget your desktop or my computer files if you format C, plus if you need to restore a Ghost or Drive Image of C, all your data will remain on D and you'll still have access to it.

E: 4-5 GB -- This drive is for the SWAP FILE and ALL the little files that change often -- Temporary internet files, Cookies, Recent folder, History folder, windows Temp folder, local user Temp folder, windows CD Burning temp folder.

You can change the temp folders by editing the environment variables TMP and TEMP in System Properties -> Advanced -> User variables and System variables

To change all those lovely windows system folders, the easiest way is to run regedit and go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders, change the locations, and also at HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders.

Why do all this? Well, C and D will no longer be used for any temporary file thrashing, so NO MORE fragmentation problems. All those pesky files are on E. Plus, if you do an image of your disk, you don't waste space on junk like temporary internet files and the swap file. Plus, if you ever restore an old drive C image, all your current stuff temporary stuff will still be available.

I recommend you leave Start Menu on C though. That way your start menu will be in sync with the programs installed on each image.

One more thing... I wouldn't change the "Program Files" entry in regedit to D by default. Windows stores some of its own stuff in program files, so just leave that one alone. Just make sure when you install programs to change the install directory to D:\Program Files when you're installing and you'll be ok.

I probably would advise against installing your programs on a second physical disk, just because of ugly registry muddles if you don't keep the two disks together.

I used to make partitions for OS, apps, data, and games like Capricorn, but it just got to be too much of a pain when your estimates of future size needs don't measure up. And as to partitioning when windows installs, yes, that's the best way to do it. And as to backing up your data from one drive to another -- it helps in the event of a drive failure, but it won't really help you in case of a destructive virus, fire, theft, etc. It's best to have it seperate -- DVDs or an external FW/USB HD would suffice.

Just my way of doing things. Hope it helps someone.

Augie