Pros/Cons of Separate Partition for XP-Pro

[P220ST]

I'm building a new computer (with considerable help). Its function will be dual-purpose. Inside a single chassis will be a Standard Workstation and a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). For reasons beyond the scope of this question, these two separate functions will exist on two separate, new SATA HDDs. Each HDD will have its own virgin installation of a sliptreamed XP-Pro/SP2 layed down clean in a parallel-boot configuration (gear list is below).

My question is as follows.

What are the advantages or disadvantages of installing XP-Pro into its own partition on each HDD?

Thanks for taking the time to read this far.

-P220ST

GEAR ON A WORKBENCH IN JERSEY
CoolerMaster WaveMaster TAC-T01 Mid-Tower, Zalman ZM-F3 120mm Case Fans, Intel D975XBX2KR Mobo, Thermaltake Toughpower 750W W0117RU Power, Intel® Core™2 Duo 2.4GHz E6600 Desktop Processor, Zalman CNPS9700 NT CPU Cooler, Corsair 4GB [2(2 x 1GB kit)] 5300 DDR2 SDRAM, NVIDIA 8600GT Video Card, Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro External sound card, PreSonus Firebox Firewire audio interface/sound card recording system, 4 Seagate 320GB 7200.10 16MB cache HDDs, Motorola SBG900 Wireless Surfboard Gateway Router.

 

[sggaunt]

My own opinion is that it is always a good idea to run the operating system on a separate partition.

Heres why.

1. Bad stuff goes for your operating system, so if they do get into your computer and the worst happens, then you have a good chance of retrieving your data.

2. Data clogging can be reduced, everyone accumulates stuff, and Windows (any version) needs plenty of space. If you stick data elsewhere then the windows space gets used more slowly and it easier for you to keep track of it.

3. Operating system failure. Windows can go down for no good reason and wipe out data on the same partition, same as before if it is on a separate partition you should be able to recover it.

All this is rare these days and its just my own opinion, and there are drawbacks. (see my post on uninstall files)
Make sure you assign plenty of space for a Windows partition. I made mine 5Gb and it isn't enough, as there are some things that Windows puts where it wants it e.g the registry and uninstall files and Application data (You might be able to move this one).





Steve [The sane]: Delphi a feersum engin indeed.

 

[P220ST]

sggaunt - thank's for taking the time to respond.

As a follow up queston, do you advocate the use of 3rd party disk management stuff, e.g. Acronis Disk Director, or do you prefer to let XP-Pro handle it?

Again, thank you.
-P220ST

 

[DrD123]

HI P220ST,

I have similar systems. Just an FYI, for DAW I use SawStudio, SoundForge, plus a multitude of VST and DX plugins.

I'd recommend installing an XP on each drive then booting into each when needed (1 for DAW the other for "other work"), the booting would be done through the BIOS on startup and NOT any extra software (the less SW on a system the better and less chance for conflicts).

With the DAW, install/activate the MINIMUM of XP services/processes, updates, and unless your DAW software needs it, stay on XP-SP1.

For DAW if you can have a seperate HDD for the OS & Programs then another for your audio files. Depending on program and how many tracks, length of audio, you want to format using NTFS with a Larger Block size than the default of 512.

You doing recoding or mixing? What kind of monitors you using?

Good luck,
DrD

 

[P220ST]

DrD123

Howdy! I'm an Ableton Live 6.0.x w/ the personalized slew of VSTi and VSTfx trinkets bankrupting me. I like Sonalksis for true DSP help. For effects, heck who knows. I stick to commercial stuff out of fear but theres this Dutch guy by the name of Jeroen Breebaart who cranks out these brilliant freeware effects that are stone-cold stable. And they fly out of his head every month or so. Google his name and check out OmniVerb for a warm reverb Camel Audio makes hair grow on my palms. Just got Cameleon at the end of May before the price doubled.

I use KVR V4 Series 2 and a PreSonus Firebox. I do most of my own stuff (bass guitar, percussion (Roland HandSonic), keys, novation 37SL ReMOTE midi controller. But hell, I love a good sample as much as the next guy. Sometimes I can't think of a darn thing and I just scan up and down my samples folder-menu and some beat, whatever will grab me, give me and idea, and before you know it it's cable city.

Anyway, yea I'm set up like you. My DAW is on a dedicated HDD w/ OS/Apps only. I even split my samples from my working tracks by plopping them on two NTFS formatted drives sans OS. That's overkill to be honest. Noone needs to move that fast, but what's done is done and if I have three HDDs doing I/O simultaneously, thats the price we pay.

So, I didn't get from your post: is your OS tucked into its own partition or no? Long story - my hardware came to a tragic end and I'm thinking through some setup revisions, first whether to keep the OS on the peripheral aspect of the physical platter where things move faster. Or not. What's your vote?

 

[DrD123]

Hi P220ST,

It appears you're well above the hobby stage in DAW, so that's good.

You seem to have a lot of good toys to play with. also just in case you're not aware, a good site to keep up with VST/DX/AU is

http://www.kvraudio.com/

they list all of the latest and lots of reviews. Another with some DAW specific tips:

http://www.musicxp.net/hardware_tips.php

My OS & applications are on a separate HD away from the WAV's. That keeps fragmentation away, also if for whatever reason you need to re-install the OS (like your HD dies), your audio is safe, and the drive can be taken out and moved to a different DAW server/workstation if needed, while keeping the current PC intact.

Once the OS is loaded, there's not going to be a lot of disc access, although if you are a SWAP file you want that on the faster part of the disk, (with Corsair 4GB [2(2 x 1GB kit)] 5300 DDR2 SDRAM I see no reason to enable SWAP)

Good luck,
DrD

 

[DrD123]

Also one other thing about my OS/Programs HD.

I do split the Drive up a bit depending on size. This will also keep things tidy for formatting, setting up, install, any maintenance, etc...

The OS partition is ~20gb-30gb, then either one or two more partitions for programs. This will help in case of HW disaster and recovery. IF/when defragmenting, it's quicker to defrag a 30gb than a 300gb. PLus any fragmentation will only occur within the smaller partition.

Another partition on the "OS" drive will have the programs and all plugins installed on it. Since once you turn them on they'll load into RAM.

Good luck
DrD