C:\ Drive Partitions Advice Required ?

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Digs

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Topic # 9980 28-Oct-2006 11:25

I am currently working out how to partition my drives with XP2

I have 90 GB free on my C:

I want to do this my drives like this
F:\ 10 GB : Files storage
E: \ 5 GB : Internet and email and downloads (Internet Explorer, Microsoft Outlook)
C: \ 15 GB : Windows OS XP2 - All standard OS programs.
D:\ 70 GB : Installed Programs - Third party applications, working software.

I will be using Acronis Director suite to do all this.
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/diskdirector/

Question : To install Internet Explorer and Microsoft Outlook on the E:\ drive, I guess I unintall them from the C:\ and move them to E:\.
Does this ensure all the temp folders and caches end on the E: and not the C: drive for internet explorer. Also does this ensure that my email inbox and sent box data files are on the E: and not the C: as well ???

Just want all data thats associated with the internet in its own partition ??

Any advice welcome ??

freitasm

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Reply # 50046 28-Oct-2006 11:36

You can not uninstall Internet Explorer. You can install Microsoft Outlook and other Office programs in another drive though. Temp folders are not defined by where the program is installed, but defined by your configuration. You have to change in the System Properties | Advanced | Environment Variables and set the variables for this. Also you will have to change the user profile to use another drive, otherwise the default will still be on C:\Users Settings...

Unless you are planning to use a program to create images of drives to facilitate restore in case of crash, I really recommend using a single drive - much easier, you don't risk installing programs in the wrong drive, and less maintenance. Also, having multiple partitions on a single drive won't improve performance at all.

Also, the C:\ partition is not only for OS and "standard programs". You have to consider space for the swapfile, and it can be as small as your current memory, and up to twice as much. And if you use Hibernate you will need yet another amount equals to your system memory, to dump the state to disc.

Lots of things to consider, and I would say 15GB is not even a start. Actually just use the 90GB as a single drive. I have a 120GB as a single drive and I am very happy.

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Digs

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Reply # 50048 28-Oct-2006 12:16

I understand that its good idea to have a separate partition for internet explorer for browser speed and downloads. Also a good idea to have email there as well.

freitasm

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Reply # 50049 28-Oct-2006 12:24

Only if it is on another drive. Different partitions on the same drive do not increase system speed. Also if you want a bit more performance, the best way on a medium system still is to increase its memory.

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tonyhughes

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Reply # 50060 28-Oct-2006 14:09

i would have a seperate partition for file storage (not for performance, but so you have a place to keep stuff when reinstalling your OS.)

Aside from that, leave it be...

e.g.

C:\ - 80GB
D:\ - 10GB

You will not see any peformance gains with a single drive and multiple partitions, just like Mauricio says.