How should I partiton new 1TB and install / migrate OS and apps?

[Frank E]

Hi, I bought a new F3 1TB primary drive and an F4 storage archive drive to replace my 120GB PATA drive, which is nearly dead.
I'm running XP Pro 32 with 4*512GB RAM Northwood 3GHz just now, Office 97 Pro, Turnpike Mail & News (huge files >2GB), heavy web use.

When I have money for more HW, would like to migrate to Win 7 64 full and install less pedestrian software, so please bear that in mind in recommending partition sizes.

Firstly how should I partition the primary drive? Do I do this in Disk Management and accept default allocation sizes? Do I just set the OS partition as active, then the OS will install there?

Would I make an:

OS only partition? Size?
App partition? Size?
Swap File partition? Size?
Document partition? Size?
e-mail reader partition? Size?
Temporary internet files partition? Size?

What is the best and quickest way to freshly install the OS yet be able re-install just a few pieces software I have lost the disks for? (I have the vast majority)There is quite a lot of gumph in the OS, I deleted MSIs for updates and there are a load of not fully uninstalled freeware apps.

Edit: are there free apps that can resize partitions including the OS partition if I don't right-size them from the outset?

[badass]

Hi, I bought a new F3 1TB primary drive and an F4 storage archive drive to replace my 120GB PATA drive, which is nearly dead.
I'm running XP Pro 32 with 4*512GB RAM Northwood 3GHz just now, Office 97 Pro, Turnpike Mail & News (huge files >2GB), heavy web use.

When I have money for more HW, would like to migrate to Win 7 64 full and install less pedestrian software, so please bear that in mind in recommending partition sizes.

Firstly how should I partition the primary drive? Do I do this in Disk Management and accept default allocation sizes? Do I just set the OS partition as active, then the OS will install there?

Would I make an:

OS only partition? Size?
App partition? Size?
Swap File partition? Size?
Document partition? Size?
e-mail reader partition? Size?
Temporary internet files partition? Size?

What is the best and quickest way to freshly install the OS yet be able re-install just a few pieces software I have lost the disks for? (I have the vast majority)There is quite a lot of gumph in the OS, I deleted MSIs for updates and there are a load of not fully uninstalled freeware apps.

Edit: are there free apps that can resize partitions including the OS partition if I don't right-size them from the outset?

Partitioning is a complete waste of time these days. You haven't said the size of your HDD's but presumable your storage drive is larger.
1 partition on each disk, store your data on the other one. You'll be better off wiping the XP install to install 7 anyway.
Make sure you back up your stuff regularly. If not, get an ecternal drive and set up regular backups.

[Zak33]

Partition the first 1/3 for your OS and your Apps, games etc.

leave the large bit for a second partition and also for a backup of all your drivers, (and an image of your operation system install if you have the sotware)

Don't split the drive into more than 2 partitons or the data read head will be all over the place.

Install XP to the first partition, get it perfect with drivers etc.. then image it if you have the ability)

[Machinegun]

Don't waist your time with XP go for W7 and you will enjoy the best
Your F3 - system 200Gb and the rest for things and backup ( i have the same HDD and the same config )

[Frank E]

Thanks all.

Thought I had responded to this.

[shaithis]

With Windows 7 and Vista, make sure you manually add a partition during setup (windows will then give a message about possibly needing to create a hidden partition), then delete the partition you created and extend the 100MB hidden partition to 500MB, then add a partition for OS and apps as Zak suggested.

This means that the hidden partition should never fill (the default 100mb is not enough in certain scenarios) and the OS and apps are then contained on the fastest x% of your disk.

[Frank E]

Thanks it's done. I am using XP Pro 32 as I said, but I'll bear that in mind if I ever get Windows 7 (unecessary really).

[Betty_Swallocks]

And use the 64 bit version of W7. There really isn't any reason not to. With a 32 bit version of windows you're only using half your CPU.