Partition Layout Comments/Suggestions?

[Makaze]

I am getting ready to reformat my main drive this weekend, this is what I'm thinking of doing for partitions, and am looking for some opinions/suggestions.

I have a 80GB HDD as my main drive and am using WinXP pro (the rest of the PC specs are listed at the end)

There are two layouts I'm looking at using.

Layout One:

Partition 1 - Windows XP Pro = 10GB
Partition 2 - Apps/Data = 60GB
Partition 3 - Page swap file = 2GB

||OR||

Layout Two:

Partition 1 - Windows XP Pro = 10GB
Partition 2 - Apps = 30GB
Partition 3 - Data = 30GB
Partition 4 - Page swap file = 2GB

I'm concerned that I don't need to split the Apps & Data b/c most of my important data is already saved on a second HDD that I have. (of which I'm currently not willing to reformat and partition to put the page swap file partition over there)

Lemme know what ya think

::PC SPECS::

OS: WinXP Pro
CPU: AMD Athlon XP 2100
MOBO: Foxconn 600A01-6LRS Socket A VIA KT600
RAM: 1GB DDR
HDD 1: 80GB
HDD 2: 30GB
VGA: Geforce FX5500 256MB 128-bit DDR AGP 4X/8X

[EXreaction]

If you use your second harddrive as a data drive, I would onlt use that(if it is big enough)...I would make a 20-30Gb Partion for XP Pro...and leave the rest for other OS's I would install later(ya, I am a multiple booter).

Why do you want a seperate page file partion? I would just put it in the OS partion.

EDIT: Or mabey, transfer all your data files to the 80Gb drive if the 30 Gb one is too small, and use the 30Gb one for your OS. That is what I would do...

[Makaze]

Quote:

Originally Posted by EXreaction

If you use your second harddrive as a data drive, I would onlt use that(if it is big enough)...I would make a 20-30Gb Partion for XP Pro...and leave the rest for other OS's I would install later(ya, I am a multiple booter).

Why do you want a seperate page file partion? I would just put it in the OS partion.

EDIT: Or mabey, transfer all your data files to the 80Gb drive if the 30 Gb one is too small, and use the 30Gb one for your OS. That is what I would do...

I end up reformatting my system every 6 to 8 months (I can't stand clutter and really require optimal performance out of my PC at all times since I'm a gamer too) and thought that perhaps having windows setup on a separate partition would be to my advantage so that I would not necessarily need to reinstall all my programs/games over and over again.

My second drive only has a hanful of programs on it, it is mostly Data, and has almost filled the 30 GB. For reasons of hoping to not have to reformat that drive and move everything to portable media temporarily until that can be done... I was looking for an alternative (ie. the partitions on the main drive)

[EXreaction]

I don't think that will work. When you install a program, it does much more than make a folder, and put run files in it...there are registry settings, and many other things that it may need. So if you would reformat over the windows install files, you wouldn't be able to use those apps anymore.

[Makaze]

Thank you for your input.

I'm thinking of swaping my HDD drives, making my 30GB my main drive and the 80GB my data drive. Partition wise I'm thinking of a layout like this:

HardDrive One
-entire drive dedicated to OS/Programs

HardDrive Two
-partition one - general data
-partition two - music


comments?/suggestions?

[EXreaction]

Well, I would probably have the 80Gb drive as one partion...you can always put the music in a folder...but you can't really change the partion size(easily) if you would need to later...