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#1
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Setting up a new computer
I need some advice on the best way to set up XP on a new machine.
I intend to split the 750GB HDD into 3 partitions, one consisting of 20GB for the OS, one of about 100GB for programs and the remaining 680GB for data - does that sound reasonable? Having done that, is there an easy way of taking regular backups of the OS partition and either storing them in data partition or on external storage? Later on I will probably add another HDD for the purpose. Anything else I should consider? Dirk |
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#2
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Setting up a new computer
Dirk Bruere at NeoPax wrote:
I need some advice on the best way to set up XP on a new machine. I intend to split the 750GB HDD into 3 partitions, one consisting of 20GB for the OS, one of about 100GB for programs and the remaining 680GB for data - does that sound reasonable? I'd set aside more for the OS. 40GB or more. No reason to limit it so much - you aren't gaining much of anything out of this partitioning other than backup/recovery capability anyway. Having done that, is there an easy way of taking regular backups of the OS partition and either storing them in data partition or on external storage? Later on I will probably add another HDD for the purpose. Anything else I should consider? Backing up to the same hard disk drive really serves little purpose other than correcting user mistakes on files. For a system - if you have messed it up to a point you are considering a restore of the system - you probably cannot boot. ;-) External storage should always be your backup solution. Internal storage - only ifg you are desperate and it is short term (even another hard disk drive.) The built in backup utility and/or some third party imaging utility would work. -- Shenan Stanley MS-MVP -- How To Ask Questions The Smart Way http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html |
#3
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Setting up a new computer
On Tue, 9 Sep 2008 08:14:58 -0700 (PDT), Dirk Bruere at NeoPax
wrote: I need some advice on the best way to set up XP on a new machine. I intend to split the 750GB HDD into 3 partitions, one consisting of 20GB for the OS, one of about 100GB for programs and the remaining 680GB for data - does that sound reasonable? No, it doesn't. There's normally no advantage to separating programs on a separate partition from the operating system. There can be a good plan to separate data, if your backup practice is to backup just data. I recommend that you read this article I wrote, "Understanding Disk Partitioning" at http://www.computorcompanion.com/LPMArticle.asp?ID=326 Having done that, is there an easy way of taking regular backups of the OS partition and either storing them in data partition or on external storage? Later on I will probably add another HDD for the purpose. Anything else I should consider? Storing a backup on a local partition is looking for trouble. Backup should always be kept on an external device. -- Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience Please Reply to the Newsgroup |
#4
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Setting up a new computer
20GB is way too small for the Windows OS.
If you are going to format as FAT32 then create a 32GB partition. If you are going to format as NTFS then create a 32GB or larger partition. Even though you will be installing your programs on the D: partition in most cases applications still end up placing some files on the C: partition so you would run out of space quickly on a 20GB C: partition if you plan to install a lot of applications. A 100GB partition for applications is fine. Since applications don't get updated nearly as often a the Windows partition you will find that you will rarely need to defragment the D: partition. As for Backups, they are best created on a second internal drive or an external drive. Why, because if your primary hard drive should fail you have lost all your backups. Backup Softwa Norton Ghost - has a 30 day trial available (Trial does not allow you to create a Bootable Restore CD AFAK) http://www.symantec.com/norton/produ...r&pvid=ghost14 Product Review "Symantec's 14th Ghost": http://www.softpedia.com/reviews/win...ew-78775.shtml True Image - has a 15 day trial version available, (Trial version can create a Restore CD, but I have not verified this yet) http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing...cts/trueimage/ JS www.pagestart.com "Dirk Bruere at NeoPax" wrote in message ... I need some advice on the best way to set up XP on a new machine. I intend to split the 750GB HDD into 3 partitions, one consisting of 20GB for the OS, one of about 100GB for programs and the remaining 680GB for data - does that sound reasonable? Having done that, is there an easy way of taking regular backups of the OS partition and either storing them in data partition or on external storage? Later on I will probably add another HDD for the purpose. Anything else I should consider? Dirk |
#5
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Setting up a new computer
Thanks. Having read the replies I will modify my plans.
c: XP + programs - 200G d: Linux partition - 100G e: Data - 450G I've added the Linux partition because I'd like to play around with Ubuntu at some point, though not necessarily now. Can I add in dual boot stuff at a later date with this scheme? Anything else? Dirk |
#6
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Setting up a new computer
snipped
To see the conversation in its entirety: http://groups.google.com/group/micro...29d7b6c403ff6a Dirk Bruere at NeoPax wrote: Thanks. Having read the replies I will modify my plans. c: XP + programs - 200G d: Linux partition - 100G e: Data - 450G I've added the Linux partition because I'd like to play around with Ubuntu at some point, though not necessarily now. Can I add in dual boot stuff at a later date with this scheme? Anything else? You are about to be disappointed if you think that 750GB drive you are speaking of is going to actually provide you with 750GB usable space. ;-) Marketing... Advertised --- Actual Capacity 10GB --- ~9.31 GB 20GB --- ~18.63 GB 30GB --- ~27.94 GB 40GB --- ~37.25 GB 60GB --- ~55.88 GB 80GB --- ~74.51 GB 100GB --- ~93.13 GB 120GB --- ~111.76 GB 160GB --- ~149.01 GB 180GB --- ~167.64 GB 200GB --- ~186.26 GB 250GB --- ~232.83 GB 320GB --- ~298.02 GB 400GB --- ~372.53 GB 500GB --- ~465.66 GB 750GB --- ~698.49 GB 1TB --- ~931.32GB -- Shenan Stanley MS-MVP -- How To Ask Questions The Smart Way http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html |
#7
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Setting up a new computer
On 9 Sep, 17:18, "Shenan Stanley" wrote:
snipped To see the conversation in its entirety:http://groups.google.com/group/micro...xp.basics/brow... Dirk Bruere at NeoPax wrote: Thanks. Having read the replies I will modify my plans. c: XP + programs - 200G d: Linux partition - 100G e: Data - 450G I've added the Linux partition because I'd like to play around with Ubuntu at some point, though not necessarily now. Can I add in dual boot stuff at a later date with this scheme? Anything else? You are about to be disappointed if you think that 750GB drive you are speaking of is going to actually provide you with 750GB usable space. ;-) Marketing... Advertised --- Actual Capacity 10GB --- ~9.31 GB 20GB --- ~18.63 GB 30GB --- ~27.94 GB 40GB --- ~37.25 GB 60GB --- ~55.88 GB 80GB --- ~74.51 GB 100GB --- ~93.13 GB 120GB --- ~111.76 GB 160GB --- ~149.01 GB 180GB --- ~167.64 GB 200GB --- ~186.26 GB 250GB --- ~232.83 GB 320GB --- ~298.02 GB 400GB --- ~372.53 GB 500GB --- ~465.66 GB 750GB --- ~698.49 GB 1TB *--- ~931.32GB -- Shenan Stanley * * *MS-MVP -- How To Ask Questions The Smart Wayhttp://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html Well, considering my actual requirements at present are around 100GB total I don't see that being a problem, esp as the total programs size is under 20GB Dirk |
#8
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Setting up a new computer
"Ken Blake, MVP" wrote in message ... On Tue, 9 Sep 2008 08:14:58 -0700 (PDT), Dirk Bruere at NeoPax wrote: I need some advice on the best way to set up XP on a new machine. I intend to split the 750GB HDD into 3 partitions, one consisting of 20GB for the OS, one of about 100GB for programs and the remaining 680GB for data - does that sound reasonable? No, it doesn't. There's normally no advantage to separating programs on a separate partition from the operating system. There can be a good plan to separate data, if your backup practice is to backup just data. ... I agree, and I've elected a "virtual partitioning" by keeping all my data in My Documents and backing up that folder much more frequently than my True Image backup of the whole C: partition. To make this effective, you need to move your mail and address book files to My Documents. And, of course, to save from your applications to folders in My Documents. All my downloads are to places in My Documents, too. |
#9
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Setting up a new computer
Dirk Bruere at NeoPax wrote:
I need some advice on the best way to set up XP on a new machine. I intend to split the 750GB HDD into 3 partitions, one consisting of 20GB for the OS, one of about 100GB for programs and the remaining 680GB for data - does that sound reasonable? Reasonable? No, not really. I'm not sure I'd even call it particularly sensible, to be blunt - and without meaning to give offense. Granted, placing data files on a partition or physical hard drive separate from the operating system and applications can greatly simplify system repairs/recoveries and data back-up. There's virtually no point, however, in having a separate partition for just applications. Should you ever have to reinstall the OS, you'll still also have to reinstall each and every application anyway, in order to recreate the hundreds (possibly thousands) of registry entries and to replace the dozens (possibly hundreds) of essential system files back into the appropriate Windows folders and sub-folders. I'd suggest that you use no more than 2 partitions; one for the OS and applications, and the second for data. Set the size of your System/Applications partition to somewhere in the neighborhood of 100 Gb, to allow for future growth and the virtual memory. Set the rest aside for the data. Having done that, is there an easy way of taking regular backups of the OS partition and either storing them in data partition or on external storage? If you're not going to back up to an entirely separate physical drive (preferably external), there's only a limited point in bothering, at all. Besides, it's the data the you most especially want to back up; the OS and applications can always be re-installed from the original media. However, even being able to restore just the OS/application partition can sometimes save time, so any backup is better than none. -- Bruce Chambers Help us help you: http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375 They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has killed a great many philosophers. ~ Denis Diderot |
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