Partitioning HD

[bluewind.]

I'm getting a new hard drive (320 GB) for my laptop and would like to dual boot XP and Vista.

Would it make sense to make a separate partition for documents, music, and movies so both OSs can access that stuff? More importantly, would it work without any hitches?

[Tristan]

Have one partition to install Vista, another one to install XP, and a third one for data. You can also change the target of your My Documents to be on the third partition.

[capr]

its' a good idea, if you can't do it for whatever reason, you can just change the target of one of the operating systems to look at the other one's document folder.

[bluewind.]

Thanks. I've never really made a separate partition for data before. I assume the best way to do it is install Vista (using part of the drive) and leaving the rest unpartitioned. Then, installing XP and leaving some space unpartitioned. Then, how do I get my data onto the unpartitioned portion- I guess I would partition it through disk management?

[Tristan]

Backup up your data from your old hard drive. On the new hard drive create three partitions before you install any OS. Then you can install Vista and XP on the first two partitions and leave the third for data. I think it's better to have your data on a separate partition so you don't have to worry about it when you need to reinstall an OS.

[._.Andy._.]

As long as your XP install is NTFS you should be able to browse your vista partition.

[+allan MVC]

Partitioning is a personal choice. I'm big on "neat & structured" so I have a lot of partitions on all of my systems. You should decide what you think makes sense for you and then do it. Don't listen to anyone who tells you how many partitions to create and what to put on them. It's absolutely, positively your choice and there is no right or wrong. And no, multiple partitions cannot cause any problems.

BTW, creating a separate partition for data absolutely makes sense. I always move "my documents" to a drive/partition other than C:

EDIT: re the above post - it does not matter what file system(s) you use. You will be able to see your drives on the local computer.

[bluewind.]

Thanks all for the comments.

Stupid question- how would I make three partitions before installing anything?

[Tristan]

You can use a live cd called Gparted or using the XP cd, it will allow you create partitions before installing it.

[bluewind.]

Oh duh, thanks again.

[+allan MVC]

You create partitions as part of the install process with the OS - no need to use any other utilities.

[Volatile]

Vista to partition.

[devHead]

Thanks all for the comments.

Stupid question- how would I make three partitions before installing anything?

With the Vista or XP disc (actually, if you dual-boot, you always install the older OS first, then the newer) you can create your partitions from the XP setup program. Then select just one of them for XP.

Something to keep in mind: Vista requires quite a bit more space than XP just for the OS itself. So, you may want from a 320 GB drive to partition it with about 40 GB for XP, but 80 GB for Vista, and the rest for your data partition. However, don't try to install, for example, Office for your XP install on the same drive/folder as in Vista. Use each partition for its own programs.

But your data you can keep in the same place. You may also want to use the same computer name and user name for each install, for NTFS permissions purposes. But that might not matter.

[bluewind.]

With the Vista or XP disc (actually, if you dual-boot, you always install the older OS first, then the newer) you can create your partitions from the XP setup program. Then select just one of them for XP.

Something to keep in mind: Vista requires quite a bit more space than XP just for the OS itself. So, you may want from a 320 GB drive to partition it with about 40 GB for XP, but 80 GB for Vista, and the rest for your data partition. However, don't try to install, for example, Office for your XP install on the same drive/folder as in Vista. Use each partition for its own programs.

But your data you can keep in the same place. You may also want to use the same computer name and user name for each install, for NTFS permissions purposes. But that might not matter.

Thanks, very helpful.

[bluewind.]

Now, a few more questions. I have installed XP on my new drive and have made three partitions. I am currently formatting the data partition. I will put music and movies on there.

I believe I found a decent article by Microsoft on how to change the My Documents path somewhere else (to the data partition). This would be very helpful to me because my camera software organizes pictures in the My Pictures folder. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310147

Also, does it make any sense to put IM logs in the data folder? I use digsby and aim sometimes and may use it on both XP and Vista. I guess it doesn't really matter since they take up little space.

[RobC]

Now, a few more questions. I have installed XP on my new drive and have made three partitions. I am currently formatting the data partition. I will put music and movies on there.

I believe I found a decent article by Microsoft on how to change the My Documents path somewhere else (to the data partition). This would be very helpful to me because my camera software organizes pictures in the My Pictures folder. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310147

Also, does it make any sense to put IM logs in the data folder? I use digsby and aim sometimes and may use it on both XP and Vista. I guess it doesn't really matter since they take up little space.

I like to KISS (Keep it simple).

The less partitions you have, the less problems you will have when things go wrong in the future (and they will).

If you must have a separate data partition, then -

I would install no programs over there(I am sure you wouldn't).

And I would have no pointers between partitions.

I certainly would not mess around with the Documents and Settings folder.

Rob

PS I avoid using the Documents and Settings folder as much as I can.

It is like a bottomless mine shaft, with rabbit warrens branching off.

[+allan MVC]

The less partitions you have, the less problems you will have when things go wrong in the future (and they will).

If you must have a separate data partition, then -

I would install no programs over there(I am sure you wouldn't).

I'm sorry, but these are among the most ridiculous statements I've read on any of these forums (and there are plenty of ridiculous statements to be found). NONE of this is true. Multiple partitions CANNOT cause any problems and there is no reason not to install programs on separate partitions. I've always done both and never had any problems (and that's on many dozens of systems over more than 25 years).

[markwolfe Veteran]

Partitioning is a personal choice. I'm big on "neat & structured" so I have a lot of partitions on all of my systems.

...

Other than using separate partitions to split off "user data" from "system", there is no advantage to creating many partitions. A lot of partitions offers no advantage over separate folders, and in fact, there is a disadvantage if you need to re-allocate space: say you add more music than you intended, and keep less tax records or other such 'data type' from another partition. It is more effort and risk to resize partitions than to just use more space in the folder.

The less partitions you have, the less problems you will have when things go wrong in the future (and they will).

If you must have a separate data partition, then -

I would install no programs over there(I am sure you wouldn't).

I'm sorry, but these are among the most ridiculous statements I've read on any of these forums (and there are plenty of ridiculous statements to be found).

...

Agreed. Not sure what RobC's point was, but multiple partitions are not less stable than just having one. :ermm:

[RobC]

RobC was NOT saying that multiple partitions causes problems.

He was saying that when Windows or the hard drive stuff's up, it is desirable to have things as simple as possible, to aid in the recovery process.

[markwolfe Veteran]

The less partitions you have, the less problems you will have when things go wrong in the future (and they will).

RobC was NOT saying that multiple partitions causes problems.

True. You didn't say that more partitions means more problems. But you did say that less partitions are less problems.

[bluewind.]

I understand both points of view. However, doesn't it make sense to keep music and movies in a separate partition when dual-booting so both OSs can utilize them. Although a counter-argument would be that Vista and XP can read each other's files.

[markwolfe Veteran]

Why a separate partition, when a separate folder/directory does the same, but allows you to contain more family photos than expected without having to resize a partition?

Unnecessary over-partitioning can lead to storage issues if you don't predict your needs well.