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Thread ID: 108152 2010-03-16 04:38:00 Virtues/drawbacks of separate OS and Program partitions Billy T (70) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
867560 2010-03-16 20:13:00 KISS principle applies, keep things simple

I can't see any benefit in having your OS and Program Files/Apps split across separate partitions on the same HDD spindle

Extra complexity for no benefit
nmercer (3899)
867561 2010-03-16 21:27:00 I've never seen the need to separate OS and programs - a corrupt OS, prompting a reinstall, will require a reinstall of all programs anyway

You would be surprised at what DOESN'T need a reinstall or registry entries.

Anyhting MS does, your antivirus does but most other things don't.

So there aren't any disadvantages that I can see.

Besides if you clone C:, even those things that did need the reg entries have already been installed so no need to re-do it.
pctek (84)
867562 2010-03-16 23:33:00 ..... and most MoBo's support basic RAID, it's an easier decision for home users....


Good idea.
But I would use Win software raid(mirror) rather than m/b's (slower) 'hardware' raid.
The build in raid controllers on home PC's arnt true hardware raid,often actually slower than Win's software raid.
Also, using (cheapy)onboard raid may give compatabilty issues if mb dies & need to recover data from the array.
sroby (11519)
867563 2010-03-16 23:41:00 ................
Or use windowsupdate if I cant be bothered installing the updates one by one

Since it wont count towards my data usage

How does that work?
windows updates don't count as data?
who/what plan are you on
bevy121 (117)
867564 2010-03-16 23:43:00 Anyone who's on Xnet, MS downloads are counted as local not international. This inc downloads from the MS download site, Akaimai servers (I think, which inc Apple, and the Itunes store as well). Even tho I dont use the Itunes store. I downloaded the WAIK install files the other day (For Vista, Vista SP1, (so I can slipstream SP1 and 2) and windows 7. That was just over 4 gb lol Speedy Gonzales (78)
867565 2010-03-17 01:10:00 If you wont use all that space, I would of Raid 1 the pair for fault tolerance and greater read speed, you could still partition the the volume also...

I have two WD 640GB in RAID 1 for the OS (and programs) and another two the same in Raid 1 for data.

Having lived for years within 10GB for OS/Programs and 20GB total for data (still got 10GB spare), I am absolutely swimming in unused disk space. So, provided I remember to image after every programming change, which will be few and far between once I get it all set up, I could use either system. Most of my legacy programs won't load anywhere but C anyway so some stuff will have to go on C like it or not.

Sounds like drive imaging will take care of any other issues, but I will most likely play it safe and stick to the tried and true. I'll be able to keep images of various key stages in the build-up anyway.

I'm putting the (a) paging file on the data drive too.

I found a very good XP site Here (www.theeldergeek.com) that explains a lot of this in language I can easily understand, and provides links to more useful information as well including MS information. It is much better than Microsoft's XP help files that's for sure.


pctek-You would be surprised at what DOESN'T need a reinstall or registry entries. I agree with this too, when my OS crashed earlier this year due to something stupid that I did, I then had a brain fart and accidentally did a full reinstall instead of a repair and was sweating a bit, but I found that most of my programs just needed their icons restoring. I did have to reinstall some things but 80% remained untouched.

Cheers

Billy 8-{)
Billy T (70)
867566 2010-03-17 02:48:00 Beware RAID is not data backup:

en.wikipedia.org
zqwerty (97)
867567 2010-03-17 02:58:00 Billy T
Imho it is much better to have 2 physical drives.
A small one C drive with just the OS on it.
The other one D Drive for all of your Data (If using Windows set this as My Documents)

This system makes for easy backing up and easy transfers later on to a new machine or a bigger drive etc.

The OS can go on a small drive which are very cheap these days.

I have done this for the last year, and I wish I had done it years ago.
Digby (677)
867568 2010-03-17 03:12:00 Good idea.
But I would use Win software raid(mirror) rather than m/b's (slower) 'hardware' raid.
The build in raid controllers on home PC's arnt true hardware raid,often actually slower than Win's software raid.
Also, using (cheapy)onboard raid may give compatabilty issues if mb dies & need to recover data from the array.

Sorry mate, but I disagree we your statement that software based raid is quicker than that of the chipsets on motherboards and AFAIK, most intel based CPU have the Intel south bridge chipset so any raid array will carry over onto another mobo...I had done this myself.
SolMiester (139)
867569 2010-03-17 03:15:00 Billy T
Imho it is much better to have 2 physical drives.
A small one C drive with just the OS on it.
The other one D Drive for all of your Data (If using Windows set this as My Documents)

This system makes for easy backing up and easy transfers later on to a new machine or a bigger drive etc.

The OS can go on a small drive which are very cheap these days.

I have done this for the last year, and I wish I had done it years ago.

Which is what he has. only better, fault tolerance on each physical drive array....
SolMiester (139)
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