Installing OS on a small partition-virtues?

johnwillyums · 01 Dec 2009

Hi all,
Presently I'm running a dual boot with Vista x64 and W7 x64 on two partitions. Both OSs have programmes and games installed with them on their respective partitions.

Today I'm receiving a new Samsung F3 1TB HDD.
I've read that it is advantageous to install the OS on a small partition and put the programmes, games etc on a seperate partition.
This supposedly has various advantages- speed, security etc.

Can anybody clarify this for me as I'm thinking of making my new drive my c:/ drive and putting W7 on that (dropping Vista altogether) as it will be faster than my current main drive.
Would it be a good idea to put W7 on a small partition and everything else on the main body of the drive?
If so how do I go about it. I can install and partition but how do I install programmes and games on a separate partition and access them?
I know this is a dumb question but I've never done it this way before.

Thanks, John:)

Orpheous · 01 Dec 2009

I find that it's better for me to install to a smaller partition, say 100Gb. That's where I install all of the "core" programs ie. office, antivirus, security programs etc.
I do this for two reasons:
1. It keeps the size of my drive backup images down.
2. As I'm multibooting XP, Vista, 7 & sometimes Linux versions, it makes it easier for me to keep files and folders available to other computers and OS's.

To install programs to another drive or partition:
During installation, instead of just clicking through - ok - yes - ok - ok whatever...
at the point where it states the default location to install to, you can either browse for a folder, or, just change the drive letter to the drive/partition letter of your choice, for example change
C:\Program Files (x86)\ScreenRecorder
to
E:\Program Files (x86)\ScreenRecorder

johnwillyums · 01 Dec 2009

Thanks very much for your reply Orpheus.
I just checked my current install and it's 155GB but that includes Steam and 14 games.
The rest is the OS, several browsers, a few security programmes, various graphics programmes (Photoshop,Lighroom), and several utilities.

I imagine that Steam and the games are taking up quite a bit of space so I would presume I can install that and the games on a different partition (?)

If I do that I imagine I'll be down to about 100GB but I don't want to be cramped so maybe a 150GB partition.
What do you think?

Best wishes, John:)

wallyinnc · 01 Dec 2009

johnwillyums said:

I imagine that Steam and the games are taking up quite a bit of space so I would presume I can install that and the games on a different partition (?)

Hi John
That should be no problem, unless the program is badly written (see a good explanation here). I don't think it will be the case with Steam. I have Steam on C in both my XP and Win7 boots, but I also have run programs directly from the XP partition, invoking them from Win7.

Do you also intend to put your data files separately? I intend to (also reinstalling on a new HD soon) and in that case I am in doubt of the best way. I will transfer them from XP and Win7 (from another computer) then try to consolidate everything on this new Computer / HDD, then transfer the personal data later to another HD. Does it make sense?

reghakr · 01 Dec 2009

Yes,. I partition mine with a 60GB windows 7,. then one for 3rd party programs,. then one for music and videos.

I would suggest a second hard drive in case of a crash for backup and/or imaging.

Barman58 · 01 Dec 2009

Hi John,

Personally I always run multi-partition systems, I keep a smallish partition for the OS and programs and the larger partition for Data.

I Keep the programs with the Operating system because, as the applications write their data to the Apps folder and or the registry, they will need to to be re-installed if the Operating System is re-installed.
Also of course you may have a slightly different version of a program to match the operating system, This is especially true here at thee moment as I run Vista Ultimate x86 and Win7 Pro x64.

I redirect my personal folders to the relevent data locations on the other partition

I actually also keep a certain amount of program data, (my outlook PST and Lightroom catalogue, on the data partition, as a security measure against OS failure.

I am not a gamer so this does not effect my planning. if you are a gamer It would depend on how much data is stored in the Apps folder and registry, If they follow the normal model then they would also have to be re-installed with the OS.

Games that follow the older model of storing all data in a data folder under the main game folder then these are OS indipendent and may be installed on a separate partition

reghakr · 01 Dec 2009

Barman58 said:

Hi John,

Personally I always run multi-partition systems, I keep a smallish partition for the OS and programs and the larger partition for Data.

I Keep the programs with the Operating system because, as the applications write their data to the Apps folder and or the registry, they will need to to be re-installed if the Operating System is re-installed.
Also of course you may have a slightly different version of a program to match the operating system, This is especially true here at thee moment as I run Vista Ultimate x86 and Win7 Pro x64.

I redirect my personal folders to the relevent data locations on the other partition

I actually also keep a certain amount of program data, (my outlook PST and Lightroom catalogue, on the data partition, as a security measure against OS failure.

I am not a gamer so this does not effect my planning. if you are a gamer It would depend on how much data is stored in the Apps folder and registry, If they follow the normal model then they would also have to be re-installed with the OS.

Games that follow the older model of storing all data in a data folder under the main game folder then these are OS indipendent and may be installed on a separate partition

Totally agree.

johnwillyums · 01 Dec 2009

Thanks for the replies people:)

Sounds like I'm best off virtually replicating the system I have now if not extending my W7 partition.
I currently have a 250 GB partition for OS, all programmes and games and I'm using 155 GB of it.
All data , media and precious RAW files are on another partition and backed to another HDD.

Given that I'm bound to get more games I might be better making it a 300GB partition for the OS etc and putting all my music (100GB) movies (120GB) and photos (100GB) on a separate partition.This will obviously continue to grow. I tend to avoid compression with any form of media if I can.

So the main difference is losing the dual boot with Vista and I'm not really sure about that. Having a dual boot has saved my bacon a couple of times.
Wish Google OS would happen. That would be a good dual boot I imagine..

Cheers, John