Installing Windows

[Hitman]

Originally Posted by onebxr

I already have that program crunch, I use it for my external HDD. So how much space do I need to leave for my OS? and how many partitions should I create?
-1

I would suggest only 2, unless you have a reason for more then 2 partitions. Between 60 and 100 GB is good for your OS depending on the large games and other apps that you install.

[onebxr]

Thanks Hit. I may try to screw up my computer this weekend.

-1

[Captain Crunch]

If you leave 60bg thats more than enough..........and just remember when ever you download or install a new program you have to send it to you d drive cuz the 60gb will fill up real fast!

[Jokerswild]

Partition Magic is also a very good partition tool that you can use after you've installed windows.

[Quakindude]

TBH, I use a 60Gb partition for Windows. I install all my games on a different drive letter as well as the swap file. The only things that get installed on the C: drive is the OS, MS Office, music players, utilities, DVD authoring and the like. That way, a defrag takes no time at all and if I bork my windows install, reformatting the drive takes little time and then I can re-image it. Back up and running in about 30 minutes.

Joe, this is an awesome write up brother! Ya done good.

[Hitman]

Originally Posted by Quakindude

Joe, this is an awesome write up brother! Ya done good.

Thanks Tom,

Screwball
I know Vista just came out, but if you can install XP with out issues you can install Vista. We just wanted to do a walk though of installing an OS. The concept is pretty much the same with installing all OS's.

[halutzparilla]

bravo and great job Hitman, now only missing is a GUIDE FOR MAC OSX and the OSX leopard is about to be available... for me i got nothing against mac and linux, i just never have the chance to play with them...

this site is getting better and better every turn of the clock, great people with noble goal thats what i can describe all of you here...

[PrOLifIC_onE]

I usually put about 60GBs on my C drive as well. BUt I install all my programs still on the C drive. All my music, photos, videos, downloads and backup files are put on the D drive. I do this so that if I have to do a complete reinstall of windows, I just reformat the C then reinstall it, along with all the programs that I use. I then dont have to worry about deleting the installed program files on other drives (as they are pretty much worthless anyway unless you reinstall right over top of them). AND all the files on my D drive are safe as I reinstall windows on the C drive.

Plus if for any reason a virus does end up on your pc that is hell bent on destroying files, hopefully it will focus on the C drive and leave all the backup files on another partition alone (I try to do DVD backups of all my irreplaceable files like family photos at least twice per year anyway.)

If you store large files in "My Documents" or other windows folders, that might fill up the C drive quicker. In that case I would suggest you change those to folders to be on the D drive as well (as polobunny pointed out in another post (here-> http://forums.hardwarelogic.com/f20/partition-4456.html ), just right click MY DOCUMENTS then click PROPERTIES, then click MOVE and select your new location... another drive/partittion or where ever...)

[One4yu2c]

Originally Posted by PrOLifIC_onE

I usually put about 60GBs on my C drive as well. BUt I install all my programs still on the C drive. All my music, photos, videos, downloads and backup files are put on the D drive. I do this so that if I have to do a complete reinstall of windows, I just reformat the C then reinstall it, along with all the programs that I use. I then dont have to worry about deleting the installed program files on other drives (as they are pretty much worthless anyway unless you reinstall right over top of them). AND all the files on my D drive are safe as I reinstall windows on the C drive.

That's right on par with what I do for single drive setups as well. I also like to keep a few images handy for quick restoration, including:

1) Right after a fresh/updated install of Windows. This will have you back up and running with a new Windows installation in just a few minutes.

2) Once I've installed drivers for all my hardware, installed my favorite programs, and optimized my setup, I like to keep a second image handy. This way if I need to reinstall Windows and have not changed either my hardware or program usage habits, I can be back up and running with a 'finished' Windows install in just minutes.

3) And finally, assuming I have plenty of hard drive space (and I usually do), I'll keep a third, continuously updated image of my OS drive. This will retain any installed games (and save points) and anything else I've cluttered my PC up with since the last Windows install. Sort of the same concept as Microsoft Word periodically autosaving a document.