Separate Paritions for Data & Apps (W98)

[glomedia]

Hi. I've worked with Windows 98 before, but I'm new to having it installed on my own home computer.

Can anyone tell me if it is a good idea to keep data and apps on a separate partition from the operating system files? Does this benefit the operating system?

I assume the system files are everything that is inside the "Windows" folder (directory). Is this correct?

[Joe_F]

I think it is, if you install windows to the primary partition, and install all programs to the secondary partition, you can format and clean install windows, then just run the installation for each of your installed programs, and you don't lose any settings or data.

As to any benifit for windows, other than the fact that your installing programs to a second partition or drive, it keeps the drive or partition that windows is installed on from filling up as fast, so you don't run the risk of running out of space on the primary partition or drive as soon as you would if it were not partitioned.

Not just systems files, but also the files windows needs to interface with all the programs that you have installed on the computer.

[mysterywolf]

circumstances can occur where drive letters change...apps on a seperate drive can then create problems.
data can incur similar but rarer and minor and easily sorted and is a good idea for many reasons.

[adg]

Keeping data files off your system drive is always a good idea, yes.

Allan
<a target="_blank" href=http://www.tweakdatabase.com/idealbb>tweakxp.com</a>

[jdharm]

I agree with mysterywolf. "Installing" apps in a separate partition is asking for headaches. I mean, if you have to scrap the Windows partition then you are going to have to reinstall the applications anyway, so save yourself the possible trouble. And it is inconvenient to constantly have to tell Windows were certain system files are when they aren't were the OS expects them to be, which will happen when you have your OS and program files on separate partitions.

However, yes, it is a good idea to save the install packages/source files on a separate partition, along with your personal docs/data. That will make your reinstall procedure go a lot faster and smoother.

Josh

[i]Sorry folks, I'm an idiot. Moose out front shoulda told ya. [i]

[adg]

jdharm - we're not talking about programs, we're talking about data files. And given the choice you want them on a separate partition. Of course, you also want to back up the data files (to off-disk media) as often as possible too.

Allan
<a target="_blank" href=http://www.tweakdatabase.com/idealbb>tweakxp.com</a>

[homeflash]

How about making 3 partitionS..

C. Operating systems.
D. Applications.
E. Data

???

*** Sometimes Helping is a way of Learning! ***<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by homeflash on 01/29/03 17:07.</FONT></P>

[jdharm]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr>

we're not talking about programs, we're talking about data files.

<hr></blockquote>Yes, I understand that. But Joe_F made comments about "installing" the apps, which is totally different than "saving" them. It was the "installing" of apps in a separate partition that mysterywolf and I were clarifying was a bad idea.

Josh

[i]Sorry folks, I'm an idiot. Moose out front shoulda told ya. [i]

[mysterywolf]

I let it go myself !!!

[jdharm]

I would, but I must be right all the time.

In fact, I am.

BOW BEFORE ME AND MY GREAT INTELLECT, ALL YE MENTAL PEASANTS!!!

/images/forums/icons/tongue.gif

Josh

[i]Sorry folks, I'm an idiot. Moose out front shoulda told ya. [i]

[mysterywolf]

"I would, but I must be right all the time"

not grammatically though eh?....'all OF the time' !!

[Paul D]

That's purely a matter of opinion.

I have 11 partitions spread over 60gb on 2 HDs. To me it's just an extension of the folder system.
Windows 98
Windows XP
MS Apps
Other Apps
Data
Pictures
Music
Backups
My son's drive
A small partition for a CD burning source.
Storage

I keep my optical drives out of the way at Y & Z to avoid drive letter hassles

I'm not saying this the right way - there is no single right way - whatever you're comfortable with.

Also, bear in mind that with Fat32, your cluster size doubles on partitions bigger than 8gb, so you start wasting more space.

Paul D