New XP install & partitions

[radiogram]

I would like to install XP on a new machine. It will have one big hard disc of about 180 Gb. I would like to have just two partitions - C: for programs and data and
Z: XP

I want C: because it is easy to install programs which insist on C: etc

I want XP out of the way. So my question is - is there any reason why I should not (or would not be able) to install XP on Z: (ie at the end of the alphabet rather than at the beginning) ?

I should also mention that I will run a small LAN - this machine and one other - files synchronised between the two with this new one being the master.

I would also like to use Paragon DriveBackup to take a backup to enable me to restore from DVD if ever I needed to.

Does all this sound reasonable ?

 

[Marcs41]

is there any reason why I should not (or would not be able) to install XP on Z:

Is there any reason why you would do that? NO!

If you want to split your apps from the OS, install the OS on C: as it is supposed to, on a smaller partition. Put the apps on D: and data on E: if you even want to split that.

Some apps are badly written and will expect to find Winows on C:, so you will face more problems with your unconventional way of working. Please stick to the way it was meant to run for your own sake.

Marc
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[radiogram]

Thanks for the speedy reply marcs41.

I was not expecting anyone to say that XP had to be on C: - especially as the machine I am currently working on has XP on D: and has been fine (there is some sort of Ghost on C: that came pre-installed).

I have only ever had a problem with programs insisting on installing on C: - never had a problem with programs expecting the operating system to be on C:.

 

[Marcs41]

Oh, I am not saying it HAS to be, but out of experience, I do know some (crappy build) applications that falsely assume Windows is on C: instead of looking for the real path.
If you don't have a problem with any apps. good, leave it then.


Marc
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[bcastner]

I am curious as to how you are going to get XP's Mount Manager to enumerate a drive Z for the installation.

You are not going to be able to use Disk Manager to change the drive letter to Z after the installation on a different drive letter.

 

[radiogram]

bcastner

Thank you - I have not tried installing XP yet, but from your response it seems it will not let me select Z:

Does this mean XP has to be installed on C: ?

 

[Marcs41]

Again, it does not HAVE to be, but you can only select a drive that is recognized during boot, or during creation of partitions.

LOL, bcastner, if you really want, you could create 2 small partitions and one big one (Z ...

Marc
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[Marcs41]

It had to be: "
you could create [bold]22[/bold] small partitions and one big one (Z ...

Marc
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Free Tip: The F1 Key does NOT destroy your PC!
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[bcastner]

radiogram,

No, you will not be able to "pick" a drive letter during installation; unless you create 3 regular partitions, and 1 "extended" partition, with 22 extended partition definitions. (A Volume is restricted to four formal partitions).

Given all the possible issues, in my experience it is flat out easier to install the boot and system partition as the same partition on what XP can enumerate as Drive C when possible.

I personally always pay extra for a fast drive of around 40 gb. and install the OS and boot requirements to that drive. On a secondary IDE channel as Master, or using other options such as RAID or SATA, I would plunk down the 180gb drive. On that drive I would create a small partition to hold the pagefile.sys for the entire system, say 5 gb. The rest of the drive would be a flat partiton of the remaining drive capacity for data.

If you did it this way, you can assign drive letter Z to the data partition without issue by using Disk Management. You would have an optimal pagefile placement by having it on different buss than the system drive. And your backup is simplified.

 

[radiogram]

bcastner

That tells me everything I need to know (at this stage).

Thank you very much.

 

[Snabelsven]

Why bother?? why separate the op with installed progs??? any prog installed leave a dir in your sys(reg)and there it is anyway at least as physical as it was in a unique dir on the xp drive(or partition) if you need to uninstall the prog the process iss the same and if you need to reinstall the xp all (most of) the progs need to do the same,,,, the only thing who is needed to be separated is saves and probably my doc dir ,,,,fact

 

[Snug]

I would only go through this "hassel" if a backup was intended. I would put the programs and os on c:, and data on d:. I would then backup the c: seperate from d:. This way, you can do a system restore if you have problems.

Do increase your blood pressure if you dont have a reason.

 

[Binnit]

I have found that having my Primary partition dedicated to the XP install is best (allocated 10gb), I have then assigned the rest of the HDD to a single extended partition which can then be divided in to many logical partitions.

I have thus created the following directory structure which greatly assist's backup and clean O/S installs:-

C: XP
Primary 10gb
D: DVD drive
E: CDRW drive

Extended with Logicals 110gb
F: Data (including all downloaded apps)
G: Music
H: Photos

Hope this helps in some way



If IT ain’t working Binnit and Reboot

 

[bcastner]

Binnit,

I think 10gb is too small anymore for the XP partition. 20 minimum.