Windows XP Partitions: 2 Hard Disks

[Stef Nado]

I have just assembled a Windows XP system using a Pentium 4 2.0A Ghz processor sitting on an ASUS P4T-E motherboard, with 2 x 256 MB RIMMs.

I have 2 hard disks attached to the Primary IDE Port: a Maxtor 7200 60GB as Master and a Maxtor 7200 20GB as Slave (both Ultra DMA/133).

I need your expert opinion on how I should structure my partitions, given the following information:

* On the Secondary IDE Port, I have a Plextor PlexWriter 24/10/40A
CD-RW installed as Master and a Pioneer DVD-ROM installed as Slave.
* Video Card: All-In-Wonder Radeon 8500 DV => To watch TV, play games
* Sound Card: Sound Blaster Audigy Gamer => Music, Games, DVD
* This system will be used by my family, i.e. myself (as the
administrator), my wife and children (7 and 9). I would qualify their level of PC knowledge as low.
* I plan on using XP's encryption and file protection features that come with NTFS.
* Software I want to use: Office XP Professional, Multimedia (TV, DVD, Games), Edutainment (For kids: Math, French,...), Utilities
* I am planning to take advantage of the ATI Video Card by recording TV Programs on hard disk when required.
* I can also foresee the kids wanting to download games and music from the Internet.

[Dinosaur]

Assuming that XP & 98SE are not drastically different, I would suggest the following.

Try to put as much of your data as possible on the second physical disk. You will minimize head movement if your OS & most used applications are on a different physical disk from your data. Head movement is time consuming, although you are unlikely to notice the increase in efficiency. More important it is mechanical activity, which is the most likely cause of Disk problems. Your drives will tend to last longer if you minimize head movement.

I run a system with three physical disks and have my OS Swap file on the third Disk. I am not sure where to put it on a 2-Disk system. It should be in a small partition by itself (you do not want it to get fragmented). My guess it that it should be on the Disk with the OS applications software, not with the data files.

To minimize fragmentation and head movement, try to visualize what how the heads are likely to be moved with the mix of applications you expect. If you expect any large data files or applications to be used infrequently, put them in a partition by themselves. If you expect to download a lot of large files which tend to get deleted often to make space for the current fad, you should probably have a partition for this activity.

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Gouverneur, the Dinosaur from pre-compter era.
Eschew Obfuscation!
If one hundred million people believe a foolish idea, it is still a foolish idea.

[bassman]

Hi Stef and welcome,
My suggestion would be this,
C: OS, all main programs, if you manage it-Swapfile. 10-20 Gig.
D: All general storage/secondary programs. remainder of whats left after C:
E: Critical storage, things you can't do without, back it up often. 20 Gig.

Another thought would be to move the 20 to prime/master, use it for OS/progs, then break up the 60 to two 30s (or whatever you need for critical/general) and use one half for general and half for critical.

Hope that helps http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/cool.gif

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Waiting patiently for the future to arrive. Frank's Place (http://dreamwater.net/tech/frankscomp/)