Clean Install

[Guest Dave Navarro]

I bought a new larger hard drive and rather than cloning the old one

over to the new one, I'd prefer to do a new clean install (it's been 3

years since I installed XP).

 

I have all my ducks in a row (install CD, key from case, software to re-

install, etc..)

 

However, I'd like to get max performance. So... Having surfed the net

the two biggest suggestions I ran across repeatedly were to create a

small 10gig or so partition to place the swap file on and a 40ish gig

partition to install the OS.

 

I should install all of my apps, etc.. onto a partition seperate from

the OS to make backups easier.

 

Does this sound correct? Or should I just make two partitions (one for

OS/apps and one for swap file)?

[Guest Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Re: Clean Install

 

When performing a clean install, Microsoft recommends that NTFS be used

and that the system be installed in a single partition on each disk. Under

Windows XP, big partitions are better managed than in previous versions

of Windows. Forcing installed software into several partitions on the disk

necessitates longer seeks when running the system and software.

 

Benchmarking on Windows XP

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/archive/benchmark.mspx

 

 

--

Carey Frisch

Microsoft MVP

Windows Desktop Experience -

Windows Vista Enthusiast

 

---------------------------------------------------------------

 

"Dave Navarro" <dave@no.way.dude> wrote in message news:MPG.22b9ba09ae989c4989683@msnews.microsoft.com...

I bought a new larger hard drive and rather than cloning the old one

over to the new one, I'd prefer to do a new clean install (it's been 3

years since I installed XP).

 

I have all my ducks in a row (install CD, key from case, software to re-

install, etc..)

 

However, I'd like to get max performance. So... Having surfed the net

the two biggest suggestions I ran across repeatedly were to create a

small 10gig or so partition to place the swap file on and a 40ish gig

partition to install the OS.

 

I should install all of my apps, etc.. onto a partition seperate from

the OS to make backups easier.

 

Does this sound correct? Or should I just make two partitions (one for

OS/apps and one for swap file)?

[Guest Dave Navarro]

Re: Clean Install

 

In article <ujQdVN#yIHA.3384@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl>,

cnfrisch@nospamgmail.com says...

> When performing a clean install, Microsoft recommends that NTFS be used

> and that the system be installed in a single partition on each disk. Under

> Windows XP, big partitions are better managed than in previous versions

> of Windows. Forcing installed software into several partitions on the disk

> necessitates longer seeks when running the system and software.

>

> Benchmarking on Windows XP

> http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/archive/benchmark.mspx

 

Thanks!

 

So, it's no longer recommended to create a seperate partition for the

swap file?

[Guest Alias]

Re: Clean Install

 

Dave Navarro wrote:

> In article <ujQdVN#yIHA.3384@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl>,

> cnfrisch@nospamgmail.com says...

>> When performing a clean install, Microsoft recommends that NTFS be used

>> and that the system be installed in a single partition on each disk. Under

>> Windows XP, big partitions are better managed than in previous versions

>> of Windows. Forcing installed software into several partitions on the disk

>> necessitates longer seeks when running the system and software.

>>

>> Benchmarking on Windows XP

>> http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/archive/benchmark.mspx

>

> Thanks!

>

> So, it's no longer recommended to create a seperate partition for the

> swap file?

 

Windows XP creates one that is 12% of the partition by default. You may

want to shrink that a bit ...

 

Alias

[Guest JS]

Re: Clean Install

 

If there is nothing wrong with the old drive, use it for the Swap/pagefile.

(Note: disconnect the old drive before you start the clean install, it will

serve as a backup just in case you have problems with the new drive)

 

I do install Windows on C: and Apps on the D: partition.

I also use image backup software so I can restore both C and D in case of a

drive failure.

(Image backup are created monthly just before I install the latest Windows

Updates or as

required when installing Application updates)

 

After you have Windows up and running on the new drive for a while and are

satisfied there are no problems then you can connect the old drive and

create at least two partitions, one for the pagefile and one for storing

Image backups of your new drive.

 

How to move the paging file in Windows XP:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307886

 

Don't forget to backup any important data on your old drive to a DVD just in

case....

 

JS

 

"Dave Navarro" <dave@no.way.dude> wrote in message

news:MPG.22b9ba09ae989c4989683@msnews.microsoft.com...

>I bought a new larger hard drive and rather than cloning the old one

> over to the new one, I'd prefer to do a new clean install (it's been 3

> years since I installed XP).

>

> I have all my ducks in a row (install CD, key from case, software to re-

> install, etc..)

>

> However, I'd like to get max performance. So... Having surfed the net

> the two biggest suggestions I ran across repeatedly were to create a

> small 10gig or so partition to place the swap file on and a 40ish gig

> partition to install the OS.

>

> I should install all of my apps, etc.. onto a partition seperate from

> the OS to make backups easier.

>

> Does this sound correct? Or should I just make two partitions (one for

> OS/apps and one for swap file)?

[Guest Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Re: Clean Install

 

Correct. Your computer will perform best when

the page file remains on the same partition as the

operating system.

 

--

Carey Frisch

Microsoft MVP

Windows Desktop Experience -

Windows Vista Enthusiast

 

---------------------------------------------------------------

 

"Dave Navarro" <dave@no.way.dude> wrote in message news:MPG.22b9c00ff9a23343989685@msnews.microsoft.com...

In article <ujQdVN#yIHA.3384@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl>,

cnfrisch@nospamgmail.com says...

> When performing a clean install, Microsoft recommends that NTFS be used

> and that the system be installed in a single partition on each disk. Under

> Windows XP, big partitions are better managed than in previous versions

> of Windows. Forcing installed software into several partitions on the disk

> necessitates longer seeks when running the system and software.

>

> Benchmarking on Windows XP

> http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/archive/benchmark.mspx

 

Thanks!

 

So, it's no longer recommended to create a seperate partition for the

swap file?

[Guest Lem]

Re: Clean Install

 

JS wrote:

> If there is nothing wrong with the old drive, use it for the Swap/pagefile.

> (Note: disconnect the old drive before you start the clean install, it will

> serve as a backup just in case you have problems with the new drive)

>

> I do install Windows on C: and Apps on the D: partition.

> I also use image backup software so I can restore both C and D in case of a

> drive failure.

> (Image backup are created monthly just before I install the latest Windows

> Updates or as

> required when installing Application updates)

>

> After you have Windows up and running on the new drive for a while and are

> satisfied there are no problems then you can connect the old drive and

> create at least two partitions, one for the pagefile and one for storing

> Image backups of your new drive.

>

> How to move the paging file in Windows XP:

> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307886

>

> Don't forget to backup any important data on your old drive to a DVD just in

> case....

>

> JS

>

> "Dave Navarro" <dave@no.way.dude> wrote in message

> news:MPG.22b9ba09ae989c4989683@msnews.microsoft.com...

>> I bought a new larger hard drive and rather than cloning the old one

>> over to the new one, I'd prefer to do a new clean install (it's been 3

>> years since I installed XP).

>>

>> I have all my ducks in a row (install CD, key from case, software to re-

>> install, etc..)

>>

>> However, I'd like to get max performance. So... Having surfed the net

>> the two biggest suggestions I ran across repeatedly were to create a

>> small 10gig or so partition to place the swap file on and a 40ish gig

>> partition to install the OS.

>>

>> I should install all of my apps, etc.. onto a partition seperate from

>> the OS to make backups easier.

>>

>> Does this sound correct? Or should I just make two partitions (one for

>> OS/apps and one for swap file)?

>

>

 

Putting the page file on a separate drive is a good idea, but see

How to configure paging files for optimization and recovery in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314482

 

--

Lem -- MS-MVP

 

To the moon and back with 2K words of RAM and 36K words of ROM.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer

http://history.nasa.gov/afj/compessay.htm

[Guest JS]

Re: Clean Install

 

That is the article I was looking for but could not find it.

 

Thanks

JS

 

"Lem" <lemp40@hotmail.com> wrote in message

news:%23cYelY%23yIHA.5620@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

> JS wrote:

>> If there is nothing wrong with the old drive, use it for the

>> Swap/pagefile.

>> (Note: disconnect the old drive before you start the clean install, it

>> will serve as a backup just in case you have problems with the new drive)

>>

>> I do install Windows on C: and Apps on the D: partition.

>> I also use image backup software so I can restore both C and D in case of

>> a drive failure.

>> (Image backup are created monthly just before I install the latest

>> Windows Updates or as

>> required when installing Application updates)

>>

>> After you have Windows up and running on the new drive for a while and

>> are satisfied there are no problems then you can connect the old drive

>> and create at least two partitions, one for the pagefile and one for

>> storing Image backups of your new drive.

>>

>> How to move the paging file in Windows XP:

>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307886

>>

>> Don't forget to backup any important data on your old drive to a DVD just

>> in case....

>>

>> JS

>>

>> "Dave Navarro" <dave@no.way.dude> wrote in message

>> news:MPG.22b9ba09ae989c4989683@msnews.microsoft.com...

>>> I bought a new larger hard drive and rather than cloning the old one

>>> over to the new one, I'd prefer to do a new clean install (it's been 3

>>> years since I installed XP).

>>>

>>> I have all my ducks in a row (install CD, key from case, software to re-

>>> install, etc..)

>>>

>>> However, I'd like to get max performance. So... Having surfed the net

>>> the two biggest suggestions I ran across repeatedly were to create a

>>> small 10gig or so partition to place the swap file on and a 40ish gig

>>> partition to install the OS.

>>>

>>> I should install all of my apps, etc.. onto a partition seperate from

>>> the OS to make backups easier.

>>>

>>> Does this sound correct? Or should I just make two partitions (one for

>>> OS/apps and one for swap file)?

>>

>>

>

> Putting the page file on a separate drive is a good idea, but see

> How to configure paging files for optimization and recovery in Windows XP

> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314482

>

> --

> Lem -- MS-MVP

>

> To the moon and back with 2K words of RAM and 36K words of ROM.

> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer

> http://history.nasa.gov/afj/compessay.htm

[Guest Big_Al]

Re: Clean Install

 

Dave Navarro wrote:

> In article <ujQdVN#yIHA.3384@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl>,

> cnfrisch@nospamgmail.com says...

>> When performing a clean install, Microsoft recommends that NTFS be used

>> and that the system be installed in a single partition on each disk. Under

>> Windows XP, big partitions are better managed than in previous versions

>> of Windows. Forcing installed software into several partitions on the disk

>> necessitates longer seeks when running the system and software.

>>

>> Benchmarking on Windows XP

>> http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/archive/benchmark.mspx

>

> Thanks!

>

> So, it's no longer recommended to create a seperate partition for the

> swap file?

 

Another issue to remember is that if you have one drive and partition it

into many segments, you the user think its separate drives C: D: E:,

along with the OS. But the reality is its still one piece of hardware

and one motor and one set of read heads. Any performance increase by

putting software on another drive is null and void since you only have

one set of heads and one platter. If you had 2 HD's, then I might agree

you see more performance since heads on drive c: can move independent of

those on drive D:

It may be easy to make backups with OS / data split like this maybe.

I'll leave that up to your backup logic. Any backup that works is right

IMO.

[Guest Daave]

Re: Clean Install

 

 

"Alias" <iamalias@removegmail.com> wrote in message

news:g2p0d3$97m$4@aioe.org...

> Dave Navarro wrote:

>> In article <ujQdVN#yIHA.3384@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl>,

>> cnfrisch@nospamgmail.com says...

>>> When performing a clean install, Microsoft recommends that NTFS be

>>> used and that the system be installed in a single partition on each

>>> disk. Under Windows XP, big partitions are better managed than in

>>> previous versions of Windows. Forcing installed software into

>>> several partitions on the disk necessitates longer seeks when

>>> running the system and software.

>>> Benchmarking on Windows XP

>>> http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/archive/benchmark.mspx

>>

>> Thanks!

>>

>> So, it's no longer recommended to create a seperate partition for the

>> swap file?

>

> Windows XP creates one that is 12% of the partition by default. You

> may want to shrink that a bit ...

 

Although the default allocation is 12%, XP does *not* create a seprate

partition for the page file by default!

[Guest Bill in Co.]

Re: Clean Install

 

Daave wrote:

> "Alias" <iamalias@removegmail.com> wrote in message

> news:g2p0d3$97m$4@aioe.org...

>> Dave Navarro wrote:

>>> In article <ujQdVN#yIHA.3384@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl>,

>>> cnfrisch@nospamgmail.com says...

>>>> When performing a clean install, Microsoft recommends that NTFS be

>>>> used and that the system be installed in a single partition on each

>>>> disk. Under Windows XP, big partitions are better managed than in

>>>> previous versions of Windows. Forcing installed software into

>>>> several partitions on the disk necessitates longer seeks when

>>>> running the system and software.

>>>> Benchmarking on Windows XP

>>>> http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/archive/benchmark.mspx

>>>

>>> Thanks!

>>>

>>> So, it's no longer recommended to create a separate partition for the

>>> swap file?

>>

>> Windows XP creates one that is 12% of the partition by default.

 

I don't think so. See below.

>> You may want to shrink that a bit ...

>

> Although the default allocation is 12%, XP does *not* create a separate

> partition for the page file by default!

 

I don't think it's the pagefile you're talking about (at 12%). It's the

portion of the partition reserved for System Restore (the System Volume

Information folder).

[Guest Daave]

Re: Clean Install

 

"Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message

news:Oee9BiEzIHA.3884@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

> Daave wrote:

>> "Alias" <iamalias@removegmail.com> wrote in message

>> news:g2p0d3$97m$4@aioe.org...

>>> Dave Navarro wrote:

>>>> In article <ujQdVN#yIHA.3384@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl>,

>>>> cnfrisch@nospamgmail.com says...

>>>>> When performing a clean install, Microsoft recommends that NTFS be

>>>>> used and that the system be installed in a single partition on

>>>>> each

>>>>> disk. Under Windows XP, big partitions are better managed than in

>>>>> previous versions of Windows. Forcing installed software into

>>>>> several partitions on the disk necessitates longer seeks when

>>>>> running the system and software.

>>>>> Benchmarking on Windows XP

>>>>> http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/archive/benchmark.mspx

>>>>

>>>> Thanks!

>>>>

>>>> So, it's no longer recommended to create a separate partition for

>>>> the

>>>> swap file?

>>>

>>> Windows XP creates one that is 12% of the partition by default.

>

> I don't think so. See below.

>

>>> You may want to shrink that a bit ...

>>

>> Although the default allocation is 12%, XP does *not* create a

>> separate

>> partition for the page file by default!

>

> I don't think it's the pagefile you're talking about (at 12%). It's

> the portion of the partition reserved for System Restore (the System

> Volume Information folder).

 

Right you are. Bill. Senior moment, I suppose!

[Guest Bill in Co.]

Re: Clean Install

 

Daave wrote:

> "Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message

> news:Oee9BiEzIHA.3884@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

>> Daave wrote:

>>> "Alias" <iamalias@removegmail.com> wrote in message

>>> news:g2p0d3$97m$4@aioe.org...

>>>> Dave Navarro wrote:

>>>>> In article <ujQdVN#yIHA.3384@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl>,

>>>>> cnfrisch@nospamgmail.com says...

>>>>>> When performing a clean install, Microsoft recommends that NTFS be

>>>>>> used and that the system be installed in a single partition on each

>>>>>> disk. Under Windows XP, big partitions are better managed than in

>>>>>> previous versions of Windows. Forcing installed software into

>>>>>> several partitions on the disk necessitates longer seeks when

>>>>>> running the system and software.

>>>>>> Benchmarking on Windows XP

>>>>>> http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/archive/benchmark.mspx

>>>>>

>>>>> Thanks!

>>>>>

>>>>> So, it's no longer recommended to create a separate partition for

>>>>> the swap file?

>>>>

>>>> Windows XP creates one that is 12% of the partition by default.

>>

>> I don't think so. See below.

>>

>>>> You may want to shrink that a bit ...

>>>

>>> Although the default allocation is 12%, XP does *not* create a

>>> separate partition for the page file by default!

>>

>> I don't think it's the pagefile you're talking about (at 12%). It's

>> the portion of the partition reserved for System Restore (the System

>> Volume Information folder).

>

> Right you are. Bill. Senior moment, I suppose!

 

Good. For a minute there I was beginning to question my own! :-)

[Guest Alias]

Re: Clean Install

 

Bill in Co. wrote:

> Daave wrote:

>> "Alias" <iamalias@removegmail.com> wrote in message

>> news:g2p0d3$97m$4@aioe.org...

>>> Dave Navarro wrote:

>>>> In article <ujQdVN#yIHA.3384@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl>,

>>>> cnfrisch@nospamgmail.com says...

>>>>> When performing a clean install, Microsoft recommends that NTFS be

>>>>> used and that the system be installed in a single partition on each

>>>>> disk. Under Windows XP, big partitions are better managed than in

>>>>> previous versions of Windows. Forcing installed software into

>>>>> several partitions on the disk necessitates longer seeks when

>>>>> running the system and software.

>>>>> Benchmarking on Windows XP

>>>>> http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/archive/benchmark.mspx

>>>> Thanks!

>>>>

>>>> So, it's no longer recommended to create a separate partition for the

>>>> swap file?

>>> Windows XP creates one that is 12% of the partition by default.

>

> I don't think so. See below.

>

>>> You may want to shrink that a bit ...

>> Although the default allocation is 12%, XP does *not* create a separate

>> partition for the page file by default!

>

> I don't think it's the pagefile you're talking about (at 12%). It's the

> portion of the partition reserved for System Restore (the System Volume

> Information folder).

>

>

 

Hmmm, you're right. My bad.

 

Alias

[Guest Twayne]

Re: Clean Install

 

> I bought a new larger hard drive and rather than cloning the old one

> over to the new one, I'd prefer to do a new clean install (it's been 3

> years since I installed XP).

>

> I have all my ducks in a row (install CD, key from case, software to

> re- install, etc..)

>

> However, I'd like to get max performance. So... Having surfed the net

> the two biggest suggestions I ran across repeatedly were to create a

> small 10gig or so partition to place the swap file on and a 40ish gig

> partition to install the OS.

 

10 Gig is a little small unless you don't have many programs installed.

20 Gig is much more future-safe; I use 40 Gig for mine.

>

> I should install all of my apps, etc.. onto a partition seperate from

> the OS to make backups easier.

 

Wont' help much with speed/efficiency but does make backups easier to do

and quicker as a rule since you can easily choose to back up only that

partition (drive). I have my OS in one partition, data in another

(actually several, but I'm not an "average" user).

>

> Does this sound correct? Or should I just make two partitions (one

> for OS/apps and one for swap file)?

 

If you only have one physical hard drive (piece of hardware), leave the

swap file where it is; just increase the partition to larger than ten as

I mentioned above. You CAN move it, but you won't see any benefit to it

and could see a negative benefit.

Where you MIGHT see some benefit, if you are a heavy user, is to put

the page file (swap file) on ANOTHER separate piece of hardware - a

second physical hard. Regardless of how many paritions you have,

putting the page file on a different PHYSICAL hard drive can result in

some improvements in speed/efficiency.

But for the casual/average user, it might not be a noticeable

difference, so it depends on what applications you run and when and how.

As a general rule, adding RAM is the first thing to do if you have

speed problems. Then the page file is used much less and becomes much

less of an issue. Then again, for the "average" user, that might not

cause any noticeable improvement either, so again, it depends on what

you're doing and when and how.

 

Sorry if that sounds weasly; it is, in a way because those things are

dependent of quite a few variables and thre is no one size fits all

rule. There ins't any hard and fast rule for such things, only

generalities, unless specific problems are being noted. And since you

didn't mention any ...

 

HTH

[Guest Twayne]

Re: Clean Install

 

> In article <ujQdVN#yIHA.3384@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl>,

> cnfrisch@nospamgmail.com says...

>> When performing a clean install, Microsoft recommends that NTFS be

>> used and that the system be installed in a single partition on each

>> disk. Under Windows XP, big partitions are better managed than in

>> previous versions of Windows. Forcing installed software into

>> several partitions on the disk necessitates longer seeks when

>> running the system and software.

>>

>> Benchmarking on Windows XP

>> http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/archive/benchmark.mspx

>

> Thanks!

>

> So, it's no longer recommended to create a seperate partition for the

> swap file?

 

Incorrect. It never has been recommended to put the page file into

another location UNLESS it is to locate it on a different hard drive

than the one the operating system lives on. Two hard drives (not

partitions) are required in order to get any benefit from it which, in

many instances, may not create any noticeable improvements anyway.

In general, no, there is no need to. For some, yes, there is. It

depends on the particular case under discussion.

[Guest Twayne]

Re: Clean Install

 

> Dave Navarro wrote:

>> In article <ujQdVN#yIHA.3384@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl>,

>> cnfrisch@nospamgmail.com says...

>>> When performing a clean install, Microsoft recommends that NTFS be

>>> used and that the system be installed in a single partition on each

>>> disk. Under Windows XP, big partitions are better managed than in

>>> previous versions of Windows. Forcing installed software into

>>> several partitions on the disk necessitates longer seeks when

>>> running the system and software. Benchmarking on Windows XP

>>> http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/archive/benchmark.mspx

>>

>> Thanks!

>>

>> So, it's no longer recommended to create a seperate partition for the

>> swap file?

>

> Windows XP creates one that is 12% of the partition by default. You

> may want to shrink that a bit ...

>

> Alias

 

No.

The page file size varies with the needs of RAM.

To see what the page file is occupying, open the tool for setting the

page file size; it'll tell you right there the min/max size of the page

file.

It is SELDOM a good decision to change the setting from "Let windows

manage" to hard and fast numbes unless you know EXACTLY what you're

doing and WHY.

There are also many page file monitors soyou can see exactly what the

page file is doing at all times. 90% of the time it's best to let

windows manage the page file size.

 

HTH

[Guest Twayne]

Re: Clean Install

 

> Correct. Your computer will perform best when

> the page file remains on the same partition as the

> operating system.

 

When there is only one hard drive, that's true.

 

Usually even true when there are two or more hard drives but not

always. It then depends on othe variables whether it will help anything

or not.

I only say this because the OP didn't bother to provide any specs to

his system; all that could be assumed was XP and then even that isnt' a

certainty.

 

Regards,

 

>

>

> "Dave Navarro" <dave@no.way.dude> wrote in message

> news:MPG.22b9c00ff9a23343989685@msnews.microsoft.com... In article

> <ujQdVN#yIHA.3384@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl>,

> cnfrisch@nospamgmail.com says...

>> When performing a clean install, Microsoft recommends that NTFS be

>> used and that the system be installed in a single partition on each

>> disk. Under Windows XP, big partitions are better managed than in

>> previous versions of Windows. Forcing installed software into

>> several partitions on the disk necessitates longer seeks when

>> running the system and software.

>>

>> Benchmarking on Windows XP

>> http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/archive/benchmark.mspx

>

> Thanks!

>

> So, it's no longer recommended to create a seperate partition for the

> swap file?

[Guest PD43]

Re: Clean Install

 

"Twayne" <nobody@devnull.spamcop.net> wrote:

>> I bought a new larger hard drive and rather than cloning the old one

>> over to the new one, I'd prefer to do a new clean install (it's been 3

>> years since I installed XP).

>>

>> I have all my ducks in a row (install CD, key from case, software to

>> re- install, etc..)

>>

>> However, I'd like to get max performance. So... Having surfed the net

>> the two biggest suggestions I ran across repeatedly were to create a

>> small 10gig or so partition to place the swap file on and a 40ish gig

>> partition to install the OS.

>

>10 Gig is a little small unless you don't have many programs installed.

>20 Gig is much more future-safe; I use 40 Gig for mine.

 

For the SWAP FILE????

 

Reading is a skill.

 

>

>>

>> I should install all of my apps, etc.. onto a partition seperate from

>> the OS to make backups easier.

>

>Wont' help much with speed/efficiency but does make backups easier to do

>and quicker as a rule since you can easily choose to back up only that

>partition (drive). I have my OS in one partition, data in another

>(actually several, but I'm not an "average" user).

>>

>> Does this sound correct? Or should I just make two partitions (one

>> for OS/apps and one for swap file)?

>

>If you only have one physical hard drive (piece of hardware), leave the

>swap file where it is; just increase the partition to larger than ten as

>I mentioned above. You CAN move it, but you won't see any benefit to it

>and could see a negative benefit.

> Where you MIGHT see some benefit, if you are a heavy user, is to put

>the page file (swap file) on ANOTHER separate piece of hardware - a

>second physical hard. Regardless of how many paritions you have,

>putting the page file on a different PHYSICAL hard drive can result in

>some improvements in speed/efficiency.

> But for the casual/average user, it might not be a noticeable

>difference, so it depends on what applications you run and when and how.

> As a general rule, adding RAM is the first thing to do if you have

>speed problems. Then the page file is used much less and becomes much

>less of an issue. Then again, for the "average" user, that might not

>cause any noticeable improvement either, so again, it depends on what

>you're doing and when and how.

>

>Sorry if that sounds weasly; it is, in a way because those things are

>dependent of quite a few variables and thre is no one size fits all

>rule. There ins't any hard and fast rule for such things, only

>generalities, unless specific problems are being noted. And since you

>didn't mention any ...

>

>HTH

>

>

>