Separate Partition for Application Software

[Guest Alan C. Brown]

What are the the pros & cons of installing applications software on a

different/separate partition from the operating system (Win XP Pro SP3) ?

 

In the past I have split my hard drive into 4 partitions ;

 

 

C: Win XP Pro

D: Applications

E: Data&Downloads

F: BackUps

 

The general logic was that you don't lose everything if you have to do a

clean install (reformat C: first) of Win XP Pro.

 

As far as the D: Applications partition is concerned, you would still have

to reinstall all the applications software, but the pros would be :

 

- the applcations to be reinstalled are listed in D:Program Files

 

- any data files associated with the applications are less likely to be

lost, and would hopefully remain in place on re-installation of the

application software.

 

My main concern is whether or not the laptop and applications run more

efficiently when they the applications installed on a different partition

(D) from the OS ©, and also the effect on bootup time.

 

Would appreciate any opinions/advice, because I'm in the process

re-installing all my applications software, and would like to know the best

way to go i.e. whether to install applications sofware on D: or C.

 

Thank you

 

Alan C. Brown

[Guest David Webb]

Re: Separate Partition for Application Software

 

Personally, I don't see much to be gained by installing applications on a

separate partition. This may have been a wise move back in the days of DOS, but

Windows enters many entries of its applications settings in the registry and

loads many special DLL files in the System32 folder. Both of these are located

on the C drive.

 

The other item I question is the storage of backups to another partition of the

same drive. If you have a drive failure, which is more common then you may

think, you're in deep trouble.

 

FWIW, I use Acronis True Image 11 to backup my 3 main partitions to an external

USB 160 GB drive. I also use OEbackup, Money2003 backup, MS Outlook Backup to

routinely store in this same drive. I also keep backups of my MBR, Office

Settings, and All driver backups on this drive. Also, the ATI backups are saved

in file sizes which can be transferred to DVD media if need be.

 

"Alan C. Brown" <acbrown@intnet.mu> wrote in message

news:uA5EafA4IHA.5012@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

> What are the the pros & cons of installing applications software on a

> different/separate partition from the operating system (Win XP Pro SP3) ?

>

> In the past I have split my hard drive into 4 partitions ;

>

>

> C: Win XP Pro

> D: Applications

> E: Data&Downloads

> F: BackUps

>

> The general logic was that you don't lose everything if you have to do a clean

> install (reformat C: first) of Win XP Pro.

>

> As far as the D: Applications partition is concerned, you would still have to

> reinstall all the applications software, but the pros would be :

>

> - the applcations to be reinstalled are listed in D:Program Files

>

> - any data files associated with the applications are less likely to be lost,

> and would hopefully remain in place on re-installation of the application

> software.

>

> My main concern is whether or not the laptop and applications run more

> efficiently when they the applications installed on a different partition (D)

> from the OS ©, and also the effect on bootup time.

>

> Would appreciate any opinions/advice, because I'm in the process re-installing

> all my applications software, and would like to know the best way to go i.e.

> whether to install applications sofware on D: or C.

>

> Thank you

>

> Alan C. Brown

>

>

[Guest Galen Somerville]

Re: Separate Partition for Application Software

 

 

"Alan C. Brown" <acbrown@intnet.mu> wrote in message

news:uA5EafA4IHA.5012@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

> What are the the pros & cons of installing applications software on a

> different/separate partition from the operating system (Win XP Pro SP3) ?

>

> In the past I have split my hard drive into 4 partitions ;

>

>

> C: Win XP Pro

> D: Applications

> E: Data&Downloads

> F: BackUps

>

> The general logic was that you don't lose everything if you have to do a

> clean install (reformat C: first) of Win XP Pro.

>

> As far as the D: Applications partition is concerned, you would still have

> to reinstall all the applications software, but the pros would be :

>

> - the applcations to be reinstalled are listed in D:Program Files

>

> - any data files associated with the applications are less likely to be

> lost, and would hopefully remain in place on re-installation of the

> application software.

>

> My main concern is whether or not the laptop and applications run more

> efficiently when they the applications installed on a different partition

> (D) from the OS ©, and also the effect on bootup time.

>

> Would appreciate any opinions/advice, because I'm in the process

> re-installing all my applications software, and would like to know the

> best way to go i.e. whether to install applications sofware on D: or C.

>

> Thank you

>

> Alan C. Brown

>

>

Installing your programs to partitions other than C: is good. Naturally many

files end up on C: during the installs.

 

But, defragging C: is a lot faster as there are less files to contend with.

And the upper partitions seldom need defragging because there is less

activity.

 

Galen

[Guest Ken Blake, MVP]

Re: Separate Partition for Application Software

 

On Mon, 7 Jul 2008 12:02:41 +0400, "Alan C. Brown" <acbrown@intnet.mu>

wrote:

> What are the the pros & cons of installing applications software on a

> different/separate partition from the operating system (Win XP Pro SP3) ?

 

 

As a general rule, there is hardly any advantage for most people to do

this. See below.

 

Also read my general thoughts on planning your partitions in this

article I recently wrote:

http://www.computorcompanion.com/LPMArticle.asp?ID=326

 

> In the past I have split my hard drive into 4 partitions ;

>

>

> C: Win XP Pro

> D: Applications

> E: Data&Downloads

> F: BackUps

 

 

Regarding a separate partition for backups: if your data is important

to you, I urge you to seriously reconsider that plan. Such a "backup"

is better than no backup at all, but just barely. Too many things are

likely to clobber the entire physical drive and cause the loss of the

original and backup simultaneously. Real backups need to be stored on

external media, not kept in the computer.

 

> The general logic was that you don't lose everything if you have to do a

> clean install (reformat C: first) of Win XP Pro.

>

> As far as the D: Applications partition is concerned, you would still have

> to reinstall all the applications software,

 

 

Right, and that's the general reason that a separate partition is not

a good idea.

 

> but the pros would be :

>

> - the applcations to be reinstalled are listed in D:Program Files

 

 

That's a very complex way to maintain a list of applications, in my

view. You could easily maintain such a list on paper.

 

> - any data files associated with the applications are less likely to be

> lost, and would hopefully remain in place on re-installation of the

> application software.

 

 

Data files are normally kept separately, in My documents, not within

the application folders. Application configurations might be kept

within the application folders, but are often kept within the

registry.

 

Most important, if there is something you don't want to lose, the way

to protect yourself is by *backup* of those files. Separating files in

separate partitions provides very little protection; remember that

it's possible to lose the entire physical disk. You are focusing on a

need to reinstall Windows, something that should happen very seldom.

Instead you should focus on the all the more likely things that can

happen: hard drive crashes, virus attacks, severe power glitches like

nearby lightning strikes, and user errors.

 

> My main concern is whether or not the laptop and applications run more

> efficiently when they the applications installed on a different partition

> (D) from the OS ©,

 

 

No. The difference on modern machines is slight, but in general, from

an efficiency standpoint, a single partition is best. Multiple

partitions separate files on the drive and increases the time it takes

for the heads to move from one file to another.

 

> and also the effect on bootup time.

 

 

Same as above. A single partition is slightly better.

 

Also note that my personal view is that the attention many people pay

to how long it takes to boot is unwarranted. Assuming that the

computer's speed is otherwise satisfactory, it may not be worth

worrying about. Most people start their computers once a day or even

less frequently. In the overall scheme of things, even a few minutes

to start up isn't very important. Personally I power on my computer

when I get up in the morning, then go get my coffee. When I come back,

it's done booting. I don't know how long it took to boot and I don't

care.

 

 

> Would appreciate any opinions/advice, because I'm in the process

> re-installing all my applications software, and would like to know the best

> way to go i.e. whether to install applications sofware on D: or C.

 

 

My view: most people who are not dual-booting should have either one

partition or two, depending on their backup scheme. A single partition

is best for those who image their entire drive; two is best for those

who backup only data. Read my article cited above for a fuller

exposition of this. Hardly anyone who is not dual-booting needs more

than two partitions.

 

--

Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

Please Reply to the Newsgroup

[Guest Victor]

Re: Separate Partition for Application Software

 

"Alan C. Brown" wrote...

> What are the the pros & cons of installing applications software on a

> different/separate partition from the operating system (Win XP Pro SP3) ?

>

> In the past I have split my hard drive into 4 partitions ;

>

>

> C: Win XP Pro

> D: Applications

> E: Data&Downloads

> F: BackUps

 

I have always done this on both laptops and desktops:

 

C: WinXP, all applications, and pagefile

D: Data

 

My experience has shown me that this gives me the best performance (data,

and OS & applications, defrag differently and more efficiently) and also

best for organization (EASY access to data). It's also the easiest to

maintain.

[Guest Alan C. Brown]

Re: Separate Partition for Application Software

 

David, Galen, Ken & Victor

 

Thank you very much for your replies, helpful info/advice, and

informative/interesting links

 

My main concern was whether to use a separate partition for the application

software, and looks I'll probably go with the majority consensus against it,

and will install application software on C:

 

I already have the disk partitioned into 4 partitions:

 

C: Win XP Pro

D: Applications (Nothing installed)

E: Data&Downloads (already in use)

F: BackUps (already in use)

 

 

Was thinking I could perhaps just keep it the way it is, at least for the

time being, and utilise the free space of the D: partition to increase the

size of the other partitions according to demand, using Acronis Disk

Director

 

Alternatively, I could probably use Acronis Disk Director to delete the

current D: partition, and allocate the free space mainly to C:

 

C: OS & Application

D: Data& Downloads

E : Backups&Copies

 

Presumambly the partition letters for would automatically be adjusted

without detriment, and perhaps I could rename the partitions.

 

By the way I do backup my 2 laptop(s) to external hard drives (ABSPlus USB2

& ABSPlus Firewire). I use the F: partition mainly for copies of some

application software, in addition to limited temporary backups of some data

folders from the C: partition (e.g Favorites, Outlook Expess message), but

all are routinely backed up to the external drives.

 

 

Alan C. Brown

 

-----------

"Alan C. Brown" <acbrown@intnet.mu> wrote in message

news:uA5EafA4IHA.5012@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

> What are the the pros & cons of installing applications software on a

> different/separate partition from the operating system (Win XP Pro SP3) ?

>

> In the past I have split my hard drive into 4 partitions ;

>

>

> C: Win XP Pro

> D: Applications

> E: Data&Downloads

> F: BackUps

>

> The general logic was that you don't lose everything if you have to do a

> clean install (reformat C: first) of Win XP Pro.

>

> As far as the D: Applications partition is concerned, you would still have

> to reinstall all the applications software, but the pros would be :

>

> - the applcations to be reinstalled are listed in D:Program Files

>

> - any data files associated with the applications are less likely to be

> lost, and would hopefully remain in place on re-installation of the

> application software.

>

> My main concern is whether or not the laptop and applications run more

> efficiently when they the applications installed on a different partition

> (D) from the OS ©, and also the effect on bootup time.

>

> Would appreciate any opinions/advice, because I'm in the process

> re-installing all my applications software, and would like to know the

> best way to go i.e. whether to install applications sofware on D: or C.

>

> Thank you

>

> Alan C. Brown

>

>

[Guest Ken Blake, MVP]

Re: Separate Partition for Application Software

 

On Wed, 9 Jul 2008 08:56:28 +0400, "Alan C. Brown" <acbrown@intnet.mu>

wrote:

> David, Galen, Ken & Victor

>

> Thank you very much for your replies, helpful info/advice, and

> informative/interesting links

 

 

You're welcome. Glad to help.

 

> My main concern was whether to use a separate partition for the application

> software, and looks I'll probably go with the majority consensus against it,

> and will install application software on C:

 

 

In my view, far more important that where you install applications is

the fact that you are using a partition for backups. You're just

kidding yourself if you think that offers any significant protection.

 

 

> I already have the disk partitioned into 4 partitions:

>

> C: Win XP Pro

> D: Applications (Nothing installed)

> E: Data&Downloads (already in use)

> F: BackUps (already in use)

>

>

> Was thinking I could perhaps just keep it the way it is, at least for the

> time being, and utilise the free space of the D: partition to increase the

> size of the other partitions according to demand, using Acronis Disk

> Director

>

> Alternatively, I could probably use Acronis Disk Director to delete the

> current D: partition, and allocate the free space mainly to C:

>

> C: OS & Application

> D: Data& Downloads

> E : Backups&Copies

>

> Presumambly the partition letters for would automatically be adjusted

> without detriment, and perhaps I could rename the partitions.

>

> By the way I do backup my 2 laptop(s) to external hard drives (ABSPlus USB2

> & ABSPlus Firewire). I use the F: partition mainly for copies of some

> application software, in addition to limited temporary backups of some data

> folders from the C: partition (e.g Favorites, Outlook Expess message), but

> all are routinely backed up to the external drives.

>

>

> Alan C. Brown

>

> -----------

> "Alan C. Brown" <acbrown@intnet.mu> wrote in message

> news:uA5EafA4IHA.5012@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

> > What are the the pros & cons of installing applications software on a

> > different/separate partition from the operating system (Win XP Pro SP3) ?

> >

> > In the past I have split my hard drive into 4 partitions ;

> >

> >

> > C: Win XP Pro

> > D: Applications

> > E: Data&Downloads

> > F: BackUps

> >

> > The general logic was that you don't lose everything if you have to do a

> > clean install (reformat C: first) of Win XP Pro.

> >

> > As far as the D: Applications partition is concerned, you would still have

> > to reinstall all the applications software, but the pros would be :

> >

> > - the applcations to be reinstalled are listed in D:Program Files

> >

> > - any data files associated with the applications are less likely to be

> > lost, and would hopefully remain in place on re-installation of the

> > application software.

> >

> > My main concern is whether or not the laptop and applications run more

> > efficiently when they the applications installed on a different partition

> > (D) from the OS ©, and also the effect on bootup time.

> >

> > Would appreciate any opinions/advice, because I'm in the process

> > re-installing all my applications software, and would like to know the

> > best way to go i.e. whether to install applications sofware on D: or C.

> >

> > Thank you

> >

> > Alan C. Brown

> >

> >

>

 

--

Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

Please Reply to the Newsgroup