Why Windows XP on a separate partition?

[WildHorse]

I have a separate HDD for mirror backup of everything.

So why not put the OS and all the applications together on 1 partition?

In fact, why not just have 1 partition for EVERYTHING, OS+Applications+Data?

 

[wexsmith]

The only reason I can see for a normal home user to have more than one partition is to make reformating easier. All data can be backed up onto the "data" partition while the "os" partition is wiped. That being said, I don't use partitions anymore. Two physical drives is the way to go. One for data and one for os+apps.

 

[WildHorse]

Originally posted by: wexsmith
The only reason I can see for a normal home user to have more than one partition is to make reformating easier. All data can be backed up onto the "data" partition while the "os" partition is wiped. That being said, I don't use partitions anymore. Two physical drives is the way to go. One for data and one for os+apps.

So do you put My Documents on the other drive?

 

[wexsmith]

Yes, I remap My Documents to the data drive.

 

[scottws]

But if you reformat the OS partition, all the registry entries stating which applications are installed on the system go with it, making many (most/all?) applications installed in a non-system partition worthless in the fresh install of the OS. The OS doesn't know they are there.

 

[wexsmith]

Originally posted by: scottws
But if you reformat the OS partition, all the registry entries stating which applications are installed on the system go with it, making many (most/all?) applications installed in a non-system partition worthless in the fresh install of the OS. The OS doesn't know they are there.

What?

OS+Apps on the same partition...that's been the message in this thread all along.

 

[scottws]

Sorry, my bad. I should have read more closely.

I think the sub-heading threw me off - "Why not Windowxs XP + all applications on 1 partition?" To me, that part kind of suggests that the OP is looking for reasons why not to separate the Windows OS and applications in two (or more) different partitions.

 

[Nocturnal]

I keep all my programs + OS on one partition/hard drive. Reason is, even if you keep your apps on another partition, once you re-install Windows, your apps aren't going to work properly. It embeds itself with registry keys and what not. Once you re-install, all those keys are gone and you're going to have to re-install your applications.

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: wexsmith
The only reason I can see for a normal home user to have more than one partition is to make reformating easier. All data can be backed up onto the "data" partition while the "os" partition is wiped. That being said, I don't use partitions anymore. Two physical drives is the way to go. One for data and one for os+apps.

:thumbsup:

 

[ProviaFan]

Originally posted by: corkyg

Originally posted by: wexsmith
The only reason I can see for a normal home user to have more than one partition is to make reformating easier. All data can be backed up onto the "data" partition while the "os" partition is wiped. That being said, I don't use partitions anymore. Two physical drives is the way to go. One for data and one for os+apps.

:thumbsup:

Right. I use separate drives, but the principle remains the same. Separating OS and apps is just a pain, and can only give a [minuscule] performance benefit if they're on separate drives. Putting them on separate partitions is a maintenance nightmare, and will probably actually cause a slight decrease in performance due to the greater seek distances on the hard drive's platters. Keeping the OS and apps on one partition/drive with data on another partition/drive has all of the usual reinstallation benefits, though, and is generally a good idea.