Re: Partition new HDD for XP Pro install?

Thanks for your input Patrick, yeah, I tried to get Lenovo to upgrade
either the size or speed of the replacement HDD (to make up for the
tech's screwing up and not placing the order with Parts, 3 weeks ago),
but they resisted, so, being as it's 'free', I'll stick with the 40
gigs at 4500rpm.

My thoughts on creating the seperate partition for the page file was to
give it adequate space and then the isolation would keep it from
getting spread all over the HDD, which might speed up the paging
process. I assume it would still get fragemented and would benefit
from period defraging, if that's possible. I recall having to assign
it to a different drive in 98 to get that task done.

I also recall having the single HDD in a 98 machine partitioned to C:
and D:, with the OS only on the C: drive, and that made reinstalling
98, after a bad case of something, a whole lot easier.

I understand XP is a whole different animal from 98. That's why I
asked. Thanks again.


Patrick Keenan wrote:
"Gman" <mbient@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1152044974.030717.189960@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
OK, I'm going to bite the bullet and finally install XP, once the new
HDD gets here (it's been 3 weeks coming - Lenovo is not IBM), but with
all this Think time, I have several more questions.

This is a Thinkpad, the warranty replacement HDD is 40 GB (couldn't
talk them in to a bigger one), but I did buy a 160 GB External HDD (USB
2.0) which I intend to use to supplement the internal HDD to store the
system backups, app data and media files.

My questions:

What is the consensus regarding partitioning the internal HDD with a C:
partition for XP, a seperate D: partition for the paging file (I think
that's what it's called), and the remainder would be an E: partition
for frequently used applications, like Quicken, Office and some photo /
video utilities? (I am not an exotic user.)

If partitioning is recommended, what is the optimum size for the C: and
D: partitions? Since I will be using a CD set supplied by Lenovo to
install XP and all the original apps, I may not have any choices prior
to installation, but am hopeful I can go back and set things up a
little more efficiently than it was out of the box, just one big C:
partition.

Should I also consider partitioning the external HDD? If so, why and
what sizes?

I have read the websites suggested in other posts, but did not get the
specific answers I was looking for. Any other suggestions regarding my
setup would be appreciated.

Thanks.

I'm using a Thinkpad (R31) with a 40 gig drive. I made one partition, and
it works well. My desktop has a pair of 250 gig drives, each with one
partition. That works equally well. Its external drives are single
partitions. I sometimes need to create and store large files and folder
structures, and sub-partitions would cause me problems.

I'm not sure that you would find any real benefits from multiple partitions.
In fact you may find the opposite on a drive that size, as you'll then have
three limited spaces to keep track of instead of one, and three partitions
to clean up and defragment.

If you choose to create multiple partitions, make sure that you allow space
on the WIndows partition for all possible updates. You'll have to keep an
eye on that partition as there will be temporary files created there; some
apps just don't pay attention to where you may or may not direct the temp
variable.

And, move the temporary files for any browsers to another partition -
speaking of which, reduce IE's cache size. I just reinstalled XP on a test
system (a P3/500, 40 gig drive) and IE claimed 1.2 gig for cache.

You might be thinking that the multiple partitions gives you some data
security. This often isn't the case, as if the drive fails, you lose
access to all partitions equally.

I replaced my thinkpad's original 20 gig drive with the current 40 gig,
but I chose a 7200rpm drive (the original was 4500). The speed difference
is noticeable - though it may partly be because this drive is not failing.
It was a bit more expensive, but easily worth it.

HTH
-pk

.

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