What's a good Windows partition scheme?

[IronLionZion]

I'm thinking about doing a clean install of XP SP2 on a 120 GB drive. I figure keeping 20GB for OS and programs, and 100GB for data would be good. That way I can reinstall win-blows without losing the data. And I would have to do a clean install of the programs which would avoid registry issues.

What do you think?

Or should I keep a partition just for windows and keep programs on the data partition, with the possibility of registry issues. Or should I have 3 partitions: Windows, programs, and data? Or something else?

What do you all suggest?

I like programs. When some new open source software comes out I like to try it. And some games too. I'm always installing and uninstalling stuff.

Do you think it's worthwhile to have a swap area too?

[democracyindanger]

1. 4 partitions

OS, apps, data and swapfile works well for me--although I ran out of data space fast and ended up using part of my app partition.

[IronLionZion]

3. how big should a windows swap partition be?

I've got 512 MB RAM so should the swap area be the same size?

[unhappycamper]

4. The rule of thumb 5 or 6 years ago was

swapfile = 2xRAM. I always setup swapfiles as 4xRAM and never had a problem, but that may be overkill.

[FormerDittoHead]

5. 2 swap file tips

1) where you have the option, make the minimum and maximum size THE SAME. This will stop Windows from 'actively managing' its size and save some CPU cycles.

2) If you can, put the swap file on a different physical drive than your O/S & major apps.

[hobbit709]

2. A 20 Gb is plenty for C:

I've got more apps loaded than you can shake a stick at since I do all sorts of things-audio + video editing, troubleshooting, playing around with things just to mess with it and I still don't use more that 4Gb of my C; partition. My D: is also 20-where I keep most of my data and saved emails, DU stuff, etc. My E:\Audio partition is 30 Gb and what's left is the F: where I do my video. Then I put everything I'm done with either on my 200 Gb backup drive or burn data DVDs. I've parttioned my drives ever since I got one bigger than 40 Megs.

[bvar22]

6. I've used this scheme for years. I like it.

C:/...OS and must have to operate (video etc.) ONLY

D:/ 3rd PartyApplications

E:/ Dedicated Swapfile partition

F:/ Data and Downloaded INSTALL programs. All of the Apps on D:/ are configured to "Save" to folders on F:/. When backing up data, I only need to Back Up F:/

skipped G: so that my system automaticaly assigns G: to "Removable Storage" (Digital Camera, Ipod)

H:/ I now have incorporated a H:/ on a second HardDrive for digital pictures and MP3s

X:/ and Z:/ Reassign Burners and Readers to X: and Z: so that the partition scheme is not messed up when adding or removing burners and readers, and XP remembers where they are if I add or delete partitions.


I highly recommend Partition Magic 8 for all partitioning duties, especially if you dual boot to Linux Systems. Let PartitionMagic do the partitioning and formatting for Linux, and put these at the end of your HD.
It is available for download on the Net for between $35 - $ 50.

I've been using the above scheme for a number of years, and am happy with it.

[alcibiades_mystery]

7. I have Partition Magic 8

But I've been a bit hesitant to use it as you describe.

Could you tell me a little bit more about how to set it up?

I'm running XP Pro SP2. I'm just scared about losing my stuff, even though I have it backed up to a second hard drive. I have a 120 GB HD with everything on the one partition. Do you just split the drive and move things around that way? Or do you create new partitions and move the stuff manually? What goes in the swapfile partition (how do you set that up?). I also plan to save space to run Ubuntu, mainly just for experimentation. Sorry for the thousand and one questions. I got the Partition Magic a while ago, but I've been to hesitant to use it that much (I partitioned the second hard drive for back ups), mainly cuz I feel I'm going to screw things up and I really don't wanna do a clean install.

[IronLionZion]

15. partition the free space

Then move your data manually into the new partitions.

Ubuntu is great. To install that you need a Linux partition, a swap partition, and an optional Fat32 partition that you can share with Windows if you want files to be accessed by both operating systems.

[bvar22]

8. Ubuntu a great choice!!!

I posted this about a year ago. It has some of the info you are looking for.

(this post is almost 1 year old. Newer versions of Linux are available for download. The procedures I used are still current.)


So many flavors to choose from.
Last month, I installed 11 different flavors of Linux, looking for the best fit.

You can go here and download ISO's of all these versions and try them out FOR FREE!!

http://www.linuxiso.org /


For my rather generic box, only three versions recognized almost all my hardware, and installed without hassles.

SuSE 9.1
Knoppix...Kanotix
Ubuntu

The sole hardware exception common to all versions was my scanner (HPScanjet 4470C on USB). Most versions correctly identified the scanner, but the software interface failed to initialize. In Linux defense, my scanner is NOT on the hardware compatibility lists.

I really like Mandrake, and worked hard to get it installed, but was unable to get my Net Card working. I even bought and installed a NetCard that was on the Mandrake Hardware Compatibility list and no luck. During BOOT always the same error message {NET CARD eth0....FAILED}. I spent several late nights trying to "build a kernel with a tarball"..lots of fun, but no success yet. Someone with more Linux experience could get this working.



I also downloaded and installed :

Mandrake 10,,,10.1...10.2(peek)

Debian 3r4 (install options confusing for me)

Fedora Core 3 (would like to try again)

Slackware 10.0 (over my head)

Lycoris (almost a disaster...maybe a bad disk)

Knoppix...cool and easy

Kanotix Bug Hunter(a Knoppix knock off update)

SuSE 9.1 (smooth and easy)

Ubuntu 4.1 (Warty) (elegant, my favorite)

Many of these have released a "LIVE" disk that you can run from the CD. Simply boot your box from the CD and get a look at the fully functional distro. Of course, it is slow, but you can get an idea if your hardware is compatible.

Distros known to have a "LIVE disk:
Knoppix
Kanotix
SuSE
Ubuntu


My suggestions for playing with Linux without trashing WinDoze.
I am migrating from WinXP, and will be using WinXP as my primary OS until I am comfortable with Linux.

Partition Magic 8.0 has a tool to partition the HardDrive for Linux installations.
Partition Magic 8.0 is available for download over the Net for about $32.00. I used it without problems.
AVOID LETTING THE LINUX INSTALL PROGRAM PARTITION YOUR HARD DRIVE.
Windows utilities or Partition Magic may not be able to undo partitioning performed by Linux install programs.

PartitionMagic doesn't run well from within WinXP, so you will probably have to boot from the PMagic floppy to create the Linux Partitions. To avoid any confusion with Drive Letters, put the experimental Linux partitions at the end of your HardDrive (or at the end of a 2nd HardDrive). I am using about 7 Gigs for the Linux partitions and that is way more than enough.

(I have a small hidden partition with a bare bones WinME. I can boot to WinME and use PartitionMagic8.0 to set up the Linux Partitions without ANY problems)


Almost all of the Linux Installs recognized the pre-partitioned Linux Partitions and asked if this is where I wanted to Install. Say YES.
(Note: Fedora Core was vague at this point in the install, so I backed out, not willing to risk my Windows partitions).

Linux will automatically install a boot loader (Grub or Lilo) that will let you choose either Windows or Linux at boot.
Both worked on my system without problems.
You can edit the boot loader to make Windows the default boot until you are confident to default to Linux.



Removing Linux from your Box without trashing Windows
Easy.

Step 1)
Use the already installed LILO (or Grub) to boot to your Windoze System and use PartitionMagic to delete the Linux Partitions.

*If you are using XP, you will probably need to boot from the PMagic floppy instead of using the Linux loader to boot to Windows (since XP seems to hate PartitionMagic).


Step 2)
Boot from a floppy that contains the Dos partition utility FDISK, and type "FDISK /MBR" (without the quotes). This will remove the Linux boot loader (Lilo or Grub).
My system was ALWAYS restored to the regular Windows configuration after these two steps.

Caution Note: My DOS boot floppy is from WinME and contains the latest preXP FDISK command. I don't believe XP comes with an FDISK utility, so make sure you have a BOOT Floppy that has a functional FDISK utility that can work with large Hard Drives. I KNOW the FDISK in ME will work. I believe that Win98se DOS Floppy will work, but cannot vouch for it. FDISK was able to remove the Linux boot loader (Grub or Lilo)("FDISK/MBR"), but was unable to read or delete the Linux Partitions. PMagic was necessary to delete these partitions from the HardDrive.

I have read online that you can use the XP BOOT CONSOLE to restore the MBR (master boot record), but I have never used that method.


Summary: After looking at the versions listed above, I preferred UBUNTU. UBUNTU diverges a little from traditional Linux in the methods of logging on as SU, but is conceptually consistent. SuSE was equally as functional, my choice was subjective. I currently use Ubuntu to browse the Internet and play with the Linux system. I am still using XP for my Graphics Software and Games.


Linux has a HUGE online community that is very helpful.
I have bought a “How To” book on the nuts and bolts of Linux (Inside Linux, Tobler) and am working my way through, learning to work from the command line. The Learning Curve is steep and a little frustrating at times , but overall, it is fun. I am learning the system of the future and can always boot to WinXP when necessary.

Good Luck.
Remember to have FUN!

Partition Magic has some problems with XP. IIRC, XP won't let PMagic mess with the partition containing the OS or the SwapFile. Everything else is simple and effortless.
To make changes to C, boot from the PMagic floppy.
I have never had a problem with corrupted data or other problems using PMagic.
ALWAYS back up anything you don't want to lose.

I use only 7 - 8 gigs for C: (OS). Since nothing gets put there besides Service packs or Video and Virus upgrades you can keep this partition small and comfortable. I also put Partition Magic in C:
XP does automatically put some stuff in C: in the "Programs" and "Documents and Setting" folders, but you can keep this stuff to a minimum. You do need to leave a little room to grow. I have 2Gigs Free Space in a 7 GIG partition, and I haven't had to fuck with C: for a while. The other partitions I change more often.

The swapfile partition E: on my current system is 5Gigs, and I have 1 gig of ram. I could make this partition smaller, but I don't need the space right now.

Go to Control Panel
Click on "System"
"Advanced" tab
Click the button labeled "Settings" in the box labeled "Performance"
Click the tab labeled "Advanced"
The bottom box is labeled "Virtual Memory", press "Change"

You can select "No Paging File" for C:,
and then put your page file on E: (or whatever partition you decide).
There are different ideas on how large this file should be. I have the room, so I use a bigger pagefile than most.
You will need to make this partition several megs (20?, 50? don't remember) bigger than your page file so that you don't get warnings from XP that you are running out of room on E: (I believe this warning can be turned off for specific drives, I just haven't needed to do it).
Never put anything else in your swapfile partition.
Set your "Initial Size" the same as your "Maximum Size".
You can adjust this as you go.


I have never had a problem (aside from having to boot with the PMagic floppy) with Partition Magic. You don't need to get your scheme exactly right the first time. It is easy to adjust as you go.

I generally don't like fucking with C:, but the very worst that can happen is that you have to reinstall the OS. All the other stuff is in other partitions. If you keep all your personal saved data (E-Mail files and stuff like Word Docs, pics or whatever) along with any important stuff downloaded from the INet in a special partition F:, and Back Up F: to a DVD or other HardDrive, you won't permanently lose anything important.

I have heard horror stories of trashing the entire HD while partitioning. It never hurts to be prepared for the very worst, but this has never happened to me while using Partition Magic. I do have two desktop PCs and a notebook with redundant BackUps, so trashing an entire system is not a nightmare. If you are playing with your ONLY system, be careful.

Other than that...Have Fun, and expect to spend some entire nights figuring things out.
Never Panic if something unexpected happens. Its usually not as bad as you first think. :)


Disclaimer:
I am not an expert on Windows, Linux, or computers. There are many in this forum who are more knowlegable...some professionals who make their livings on computers. I am merely an enthusiast who enjoys playing with things. Everything listed above are things I have done (more than once on different systems), and know they will work. They may not be the very best way to do things, but they work for me.

[alcibiades_mystery]

9. Thanks for the long post

I have another desktop that runs Linux exclusively (Mandriva 10.1, specifically), so I'm not completely without experience. Just one question: when you say "boot from PMagic floppy," are you referring to a rescue disk? I got partition magic as a download, so I don't have a floppy, with the exception of the two rescue disks I made.

My current set-up is as follows:

Drive 0 - C: (120 gb, unpartitioned)
Drive 1 - H: (17 gb storage) Primary; I (20 gb storage) Logical (these are both for Norton Ghost backups, and everything is backed up from C:)

I renamed the second hard drive drive letters H and I because I would like to put 4 or 5 partitions on the first disk, something like as follows:

C: XP, plus a few apps
D: Downloaded apps
E: Data
F: swapfile
G: partition for Ubuntu (although I'll apparently need a Linux swap as well?)

My DVD drive is M: and my CD drive is N: (not that this matters).

As for the disclaimer, buyer beware, I know. I actually feel sorta silly even asking this, since I am (now, after some time now messing around with hardware and software) not a complete newbie, and like to think of myself as computer competent. My Linux box I built from the case up, so I'm not sure why I should feel so weird about partitioning disks. I think I'm just weirded by the PM program.

[bvar22]

10. Yes, the "Rescue disk"

which is made during the Partition Magic Install is the one I am referring to.
When you boot from this disk, a DOS version of Partition Magic starts with all the partitioning tool you need in a Graphical Interface. No sweat. You have to Tab through the menus because the mouse isn't operational. I suppose you could load a mouse driver if you want that.

Have Fun.
Let us know how it goes!

I built my most recent box over Christmas.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=242x6166

[RoyGBiv]

11. Speaking of that box ...

I asked at the time about the chipset fan on your motherboard, but you hadn't had it long enough to test the system fully. Have you had any problems with it.

As a related question, have you installed a Linux system on one of your partitions in that system, and if so, did you have any mobo related issues with that. Someone in one of the community forums was having a horrible time with hard drives and networks using that motherboard, but I don't know if that was an isolated case, something weird he was doing, or what.

Just looking for advice. I'm close to purchasing the motherboard for the system I'm building, and I still have my head set on the one you got.

[bvar22]

13. Hey!

No problems with the chipset fan. No problems with this box at all.
I haven't seen a chipset temp or CPU temp over 120F, and 120F is rare (only during intense game loads, and they quickly cool down after the game). They usually putter along at under 110F.

I eventually installed a single NVideo 6800GT (sli capable). This card has been more than enough to run the toughest games on MAX settings. I uninstalled all the overclocking software because I have no need for it (maybe later). I don't see ever having to put another SLI card in the other slot. Just don't need it.

I haven't installed Linux (yet) on the new computer, so I can't answer with any authority.
I suspect that the network problem may be due to the ASUS drivers for the "onboard" network and hardwall firewall.
I went through some confusion with getting this configured. The ASUS configuration utility took some time to figure out.

They might try:
1) disabling the onboard net and firewall

2) Installing a regular ethernet card to see if the problem disappears. (I actually did this the first day before figuring out the onboard firewall and getting the right drivers installed)

I don't have a guess about the HardDrive problems. I installed a new SATA hard drive, and it has worked perfectly.


I primarily use the new box for games, or graphics. I got another new toy, a Nikon digital camera.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=280x14284

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=280x14653


I'm spending most of my time with Corel Graphics programs processing digital photos, and hanging in the Photo Forum. The Nikon (at 10MPixils per foto) needs mucho horsepower to process and manipulate the images. The new box makes this easy. I would hate to be lacking horsepower when processing these photos.

I saw your post in the Photo Forum....excellent photo.
:patriot:

I'm going to try a Linux install later this week. I'll let you know.

Cheers

[RoyGBiv]

14. Mobo and Linux ...

I assumed the problem with the networking was what you suggested, but this person didn't speak (or write anyway) English well, and I was having trouble understanding him. He eventually got into a discussion in German with someone, and I lost interest, so I don't know if he figured it out or not.

I think the hard drive problem was actually a SATA problem. I don't remember which distro he was using, but it was one with an older kernel, and I don't think it had SATA support natively.

It's weird. With Windoze, you worry whether you have enough power to run everything well and seek out the latest and greatest. With Linux, it's often better to have older hardware due to driver issues.

In any case, let me know how it goes. I can work around the problems; I'd just like to have some idea of what I'm going to face before I start. I've gotten into authoring my own DVDs and have lately been playing with Blender to play around with 3D animation, and I'm wanting to up my own horsepower for that. I have the massive hard drives I need already. I just need the muscle to push the bits in something less than a full day.

Cool camera, btw. I wish I'd had something like that when I took that pic. (Thanks for the kudos, btw.) I also wish I had been more consciously aware of how it would come out at the time. It was a borrowed camera with a rather small memory module, and I was conserving space. Oh well. It came out pretty good under the circumstances.

[WhollyHeretic]

16. I had that same problem when trying to install Fedora on my PC with a SATA

drive. It kept telling me I had no hard drive but installed fine on one of my old computers with a PATA drive.

[alcibiades_mystery]

12. I'm going to have to RTFM

I tried to boot from the rescue disk and got the "Can't boot to DOS, press any key to try again" stuff. Maybe the rescue disk needs to be made again, or maybe I have to change something in BIOS. Will hit you back with results though. Thanks for your help thus far.

[IronLionZion]

17. 2 quick questions

1. where did you download partition magic from?

2. what do you have to do to boot Windows by default instead of ubuntu?

[SKKY]

18. It depends on what you need it to do...1 shoe fwon't fit everyone...

...For example, I have Winblows and Suse and 2 250gb SATA harddrives. On the first, it's partitioned 40 for windows, 40 for Suse, and the rest on another. I don't have any partitions on the second drive since it's were I keep all my pictures, songs, movies, etc.