Re: Benefits of partitioning?
From: J. S. Pack (me_at_privacy.net)
Date: 11/29/04
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Date: Tue, 30 Nov 2004 00:10:34 +0700
On Fri, 26 Nov 2004 18:02:48 -0700, "Ken Blake"
<kblake@this.is.an.invalid.domain> wrote:
>In news:8368DC6C-FBF6-492C-A25C-1F55C29E5548@microsoft.com,
>Jim <Jim@discussions.microsoft.com> typed:
>
>> Hi, I'm considering doing a reinstall of XP Pro. My primary
>> drive is
>> 80 Gigs, second one (filled with MP3's) is 40 Gigs. Would it
>> make
>> sense to partition my primary drive?
>
>
>First, a clarification on the terminology. Partitioning of any
>drive is required, not optional. You can't use a drive unless you
>first partition it, creating at least *one* partition on it.
>
>What I assume you meant to ask is whether you should have
>*multiple* partitions on the drive.
>
>
>> Is the general idea to get the
>> OS alone on one partition, and leave the rest of the drive for
>> data
>> and other programs?
>
>
>Although it's not *the* general idea, it's a partitioning
>strategy that many people recommend. It is by no means a
>requirement, however.
>
>
>> Does that allow one to reformat and reinstall
>> the operating system on its own partition without affecting the
>> other
>> partition?
>
>
>Yes, but bear three things in mind:
>
>1. If you reformat and reinstall Windows on the first partition,
>the programs on the second portion will not be usable. They will
>have had many entries in the registry (and other related files)
>that will be wiped out when you reinstall and reformat. If you do
>this, you will have to reinstall all your applications (except
>for a rare trivial app).
>
>2. Despite the number of people (mostly tech support people at
>large OEMs) who so often recommend reformatting and reinstalling
>for every problem they can't quickly solve, it is very rare that
>this is an appropriate reaction to a problem. Reformatting and
>reinstalling is *very* rarely necessary. I've run every version
>of Windows since 3.0, except for Me, and I've never needed to do
>this.
>
>3. If you do reformat and reinstall, all your data (again, just
>data, not programs) is saved and doesn't disappear with the
>reformat. But although this may seem like it makes a strong case
>for two partitions, I don't agree. If your data is valuable, you
>need to always have a backup of it anyway. And if you have a
>backup, the value of keeping the data in a separate partition
>vanishes.
>
>For some people, there is sometimes value in having multiple
>partitions. But this isn't it.
Excellent observations and advice here.
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