Noob question here.

I'm getting a new PC, the HDD is a 200gig samsung spinpoint. I'm only getting the 1 HDD.

I'll be running WIndows XP.

Should I partition it so windows is on one section, and all my other stuff i save to the other section? If so, how much should I allocate for the windows install?

Lastly, should I use a NTSC (or whatever it is) partition option?

Thanks.

Just paritition about 20Gb for your Windows, and the rest for data.

Yes you should use NTFS file system.

agreed^

edit:if you really wanna do it right;
before doing anything to the hdd(while the whole thing is empty unpartitioned space)
format one 1-2gig partition first,
then your windows partition(20gig)
then the rest for your porn etc

the first partition use for your swapfile.
so once windows is installed allocate the 1-2gig partition as virtual page memory.
if you have 2gig of ram tho wont make any difference unless you do photoshop work or other such shizzal

last edited by Fuknukle at 12:51:11 24/Mar/06

Why partition a single drive? I don't get it, there's no improvement in performance or redundancy and it's just messy imo. The only benifit I can see is if you where going to backup via disk imaging software. I guess it's a matter of preference but for me I like on big drive. 2c

Thanks guys.

I'll only have 1024 ram so i guess ill do the 2gig swap file thing u suggested fuknukle.

CrackerJack: I find it actually makes things much less messy by partitioning etc.

umm.. since he only has a single drive in his system the seperate partiion allows for quick, easy, painless and non data loss of the important stuff for when he needs to format and reinstall windows.

drivers at his finger tips,
programs, games, music and movies all there ready and waiting.

edit:if you do make sure its the first partion you create otherwise it wont be much use.

last edited by Fuknukle at 15:26:34 24/Mar/06

I even go as far as making a small partition for my swap file (being twice the size of ram), I suck.

who uses multiple partitions these days?!@#

Multiple hard drives in raid-5 thus giving you one HUGE partition is where it's at.

Til it all comes crumbling down.. or your favourite brand of raid card decides its had enough...

the seperate partiion allows for quick, easy, painless and non data loss of the important stuff for when he needs to format and reinstall windows

ok you got a point there, I have not reinstalled XP for 3 years now :-/ So I just take my OS for granted. Just don't delude yourself into thinking your data is any safer on a different partition. I'll shutup now.

Just don't delude yourself into thinking your data is any safer on a different partition.

o its not about that in anyway shape or form, if the hdd dies it takes the whole lot with it.

wow, 3 years windows install. i dont know if thats a good thing or a bad thing :D

LOL yeah, I take pretty good care of the file system and registry, computer tech by trade so I'm anal.

i bet you love anal

I have a 200gb WD partitioned as follows
C: (System) = 10Gb
D: (Software) = 40Gb
E: (Files) = 140Gb
its actually 186Gb total coz of stupid marketing bs

Til it all comes crumbling down.. or your favourite brand of raid card decides its had enough...

its raid5.. it can handle 1 drive failing

Til it all comes crumbling down.. or your favourite brand of raid card decides its had enough...

1) It's RAID 5.. one can die :)

2) some RAID cards hold the HDD info on the card itself ( ie IBM servraid ) so even if you lose the card, you can flash it back to a new one to put it simply -bit more to it, but it's not a total loss :D

i bet you love anal

Only with your mum!

i really, really dont get why anyone would partion? sure if you had two disk, run the os off one.. games off another.

its like reverse spanning.

So you can ghost your bootdrive when its in the state you want... and ghost it locally off another partition if you need a quick reinstall at a lan :p

i do the special swap partition,
the rest doesn't really matter,
since i've got two drives though, i try to put the 'program files' folder on a seperate drive to the system disk... i wish i knew why

speaking of disks, i want to play with a ramsan

Multiple hard drives in raid-5 thus giving you one HUGE partition is where it's at.

SIF!! raid 10 is where it's at.

Neg, Raid 0+1 x 8

w3rd

partitions for the win
http://users.bigpond.net.au/ritsuko/drives.jpg

if i have more than one drive then i dont bother partioning as mentioned no point.
if the system only has one drive then i partion, one for os and installed programs, one for data, installs and shizzal

simple, just makes it way easier/less hassle to reinstall windows if something goes wrong or its due

whoop, what happens when u get more than 20gig of media? why not use folders?

i dont partition
if i need to format, i back up to my slave/mp3 drive

whoop, what happens when u get more than 20gig of media? why not use folders?

ever hear of these magical new devices that can write to dvd's? I hear they're amazing.