Question About Separate Windows Partition

[wirm]

Hi folks,

I've got a couple pretty basic questions. I've seen in another thread that some people like to partition their large hard drives and put Windows onto the smaller partition. This apparently makes re-formatting easier.

My question is this: What exactly goes into the little Windows partition. Do all of your program files go in?

If I installed all my games into the separate partition, would that slow down gaming? What about if I installed my other applications (winamp, Microsoft Office, antivirus, etc.) onto the non-windows partition?

I hate re-installing all the stuff every time I format. Can't imagine how some people re-format every month.

thanks

 

[TypeX45]

Yeah what you can do is buy Norton ghost. Once you have your system just the way you want it with all your programs installed and registered and all that good stuff ghost it. After that you will have a complete system with all your programs then when you need to reinstall just use your image a bang you have everything back to normal. But with that note it is always good to store your data like music, videos, and stuff on a seperate partition because when you have to reinstall windows you don't lose the goods.

 

[N3051M]

yes that is true. and dont forget to back up the data on a different hdd.. expensive lesson learnt..

my setup:
windows xp 30gb - windows, updates, system critical programs etc
Apps 40gb - programs, games etc...
data the rest (usualy out of a 200gb hdd)

then theres the other various hdds and all....

defrag/chkdisk /f regularly, and virus protection up and you wont have to reformat anytime soon...

 

[DelJo63]

personally, I like to use the smaller C:\ specifically and only for Windows itself
and install my stuff on the D:\
this allows all kinds of maintenance on each without impacting the other