Partitions....

Wildkard · 1 Mar 2006 at 11:14

Putting a fresh HD into a pc today (250Gig). Is it worthwhile partitioning it to run windows on its own partition? If so what sort of size would you suggest?

semi-pro waster · 1 Mar 2006 at 11:29

I don't partition my hard drives as I don't really see the point for my uses but it certainly can make it easier if you need a re-install of Windows etc.

I'd probably suggest somewhere around 15-20gb, this is assuming that you will only be installing Windows and a few applications onto the partition, games to go on a separate partition.

Jeff Crawly · 1 Mar 2006 at 13:38

Yep, create a 6-10Gb C: partition for windows and a 10-50Gb D: partition for programs games (Size depends on how many games you have). Then use what’s left over as E: for storage

Then I would suggest you create a nLite install CD/DVD from your XP disc as you can then change the default install directory from: C:/Program Files ---> D:/Program Files. This makes life easier as it then means everything you install will automatically install onto D:\Program Files instead of C:\Program Files so their is no need to keep changing the install directory! This will keep C: running nice and fast.

Phunky · 1 Mar 2006 at 13:40

Im just thinking about how to sort out my partitions once i get my new raptor was thinking of the below

- Raptor ----------
C:24gb - Windows + Apps
D:50gb - Game Installs + Steam

- SATAs ----------
E:120gb - Downloads / Application Installers / Swap File (3072)
F:250gb - Movies/ Tv Eps / DVDs / Swap File (3072)

Jeff Crawly · 1 Mar 2006 at 13:45

Phunky said:
Im just thinking about how to sort out my partitions once i get my new raptor was thinking of the below

- Raptor ----------
C:24gb - Windows + Apps
D:50gb - Game Installs + Steam

- SATAs ----------
E:120gb - Downloads / Application Installers / Swap File (3072)
F:250gb - Movies/ Tv Eps / DVDs / Swap File (3072)

Windows works best having it's own (small) partition. You would be better having your Apps on the same partition as your game installs and having a much smaller (10Gb<) C: partition imho.

Phunky · 1 Mar 2006 at 14:12

Right well i think im going to use the following after reading some articles about XP and its Paging Files.

74gb Raptor 10,000RPM
C:10gb - Windows Only
D:50gb - Application and Game Installs
E:14gb - Steam

Sata I Drives 7,200RPM
F:250gb - Storage
G:115gb - Incomimg and Storage
H:5gb - Pagefile / Swapfile (not sure if its bad to share pagefile and swapfile)

Wildkard · 1 Mar 2006 at 14:13

Jeff Crawly said:
Then I would suggest you create a nLite install CD/DVD from your XP disc as you can then change the default install directory from: C:/Program Files ---> D:/Program Files. This makes life easier as it then means everything you install will automatically install onto D:\Program Files instead of C:\Program Files so their is no need to keep changing the install directory! This will keep C: running nice and fast.

Not sounding stupid here...but how do you do that?

Phunky · 1 Mar 2006 at 14:23

Its part of nLite

http://www.nliteos.com/

Wildkard · 1 Mar 2006 at 14:45

Phunky said:
Its part of nLite

http://www.nliteos.com/

Is that worth getting?

Jeff Crawly · 1 Mar 2006 at 15:36

Phunky said:
Right well i think im going to use the following after reading some articles about XP and its Paging Files.

74gb Raptor 10,000RPM
C:10gb - Windows Only
D:50gb - Application and Game Installs
E:14gb - Steam

Sata I Drives 7,200RPM
F:250gb - Storage
G:115gb - Incomimg and Storage
H:5gb - Pagefile / Swapfile (not sure if its bad to share pagefile and swapfile)

You would get better performance keeping the Pagefile on the 10K raptor (C: drive for best performance as the C: drive is the fastest partition because it's on the outer rim of the platter ie the fastest part)
Swapfile is a different beast Swapfiles were used by Microsoft prior to Windows 95. From Windows 95 onwards, all Windows versions use only paging files. The correct term for the file used to create virtual memory in current operating systems is paging file, not swapfile.

Wildkard said:
Is that worth getting?

Absolutely, it's a fantastic program for creating slipstreamed and auto-running XP install CD/DVD's! And as already stated you can alter the default install directory

gizmo1990 · 3 Mar 2006 at 11:09

Jeff Crawly said:
And as already stated you can alter the default install directory

Does this REALLY work though?

By that I mean does it work for EVERY subsequent program you install after reinstalling XP?

I've had experience in the past of changing the registry to achieve this and some programs still deciding to install automatically to c:\Program Files.

This becomes a real problem if, as others have stated above, you have a relatively small c:\ partition...

Phunky · 3 Mar 2006 at 11:11

It works for 95% of programs, some still just go to C: sadly which is one of the reasons i dont like to take program files out of C:

gizmo1990 · 3 Mar 2006 at 11:23

Aha! See now thats why I'm not going to be doing this 'have a small c drive malarky' when I reinstall soon.

I've had 10 gig C drive for a while now and I totally regret it. If the moving of Program Files was 100% water tight then fine but sooner or later you're going to find yourself running out of room having such small primary partitions.