Setting up my new computer

[adrunkgerbil]

I just built my new computer: Asus P5b Deluxe, E6300 and 2 GB of Patriot ddr2 800 ram, I also have a 250GB sata hard drive. I think I want to use Partition magic to partition my drive most effectlively, how would you guys recommend I do it?

 

[Markbnj]

I'd suggest making one system partition, about 20-30 gigs for the O/S and program installation. Get this set up the way you want it then image it or back it up. The rest of the drive can be left as one big block of the remaining space to be used for storage.

 

[adrunkgerbil]

Originally posted by: Markbnj
I'd suggest making one system partition, about 20-30 gigs for the O/S and program installation. Get this set up the way you want it then image it or back it up. The rest of the drive can be left as one big block of the remaining space to be used for storage.

Should I have any partiton dedicated for a pagefile?

 

[Markbnj]

No, I wouldn't dedicate a partition for a page file. Just let Windows decide where to put it and how big to make it.

 

[Slugbait]

I agree with Markbnj, for the most part. The difference for me is that the system partition would only contain the system...the programs would install to the other partitions. Otherwise, at least one of two things would happen: 1) your image file is huge 2) you run out of space after installing all the apps and games you want. And having just the system imaged means the image is small enough to allow you to archive to DVD.

 

[corkyg]

I would, as I have done for the past 21 years, use a separate partition dedicated to the page file. Then I let Windows decide the size. The Page file is dynamic, and is constantly changing every time you do something. It then acts like the big bully on the block and shoves everything else around - and that results in constant fragmentation.

It costs nothing at all to dedicate a partition to the pagefile - and it really cuts down on fragmentation in your OS partition.

 

[TBSN]

What is the difference between having a partitioned drive and multiple drives?

 

[MegaVovaN]

Originally posted by: TBSN
What is the difference between having a partitioned drive and multiple drives?

multiple drives are better. if one fails you don't lose others (unless raid 0)
single but partitioned is just a way to organize stuff on one drive

 

[TBSN]

..but it's not the same as simply using folders, right? I.E., partitions cannot be fragmented across each other?

 

[Markbnj]

Correct, but note that you don't get any redundancy from multiple partitions on the same physical disk, well not much anyway. You do get some more resiliency in the file system, I guess. If you crap out the file structure on one partition it won't necessarily hit the other. In any event, I don't think you can go too far wrong here. Just make enough parts to do what you need to do, and I would still say don't worry about the pagefile. You're not going to notice any difference.