Partitioning 250GB HDD for XP+Vista+Linux

[sakumar79]

I have recently purchased a new PC with following Config (currently assembling it):

Intel C2D E4400 - 5400
XFX 650i Ultra Motherboard - 5400
2x 1GB DDR2-667 Dynet RAM - 3950
250GB Seagate Sata2 HDD - 2950
Zebronics Peace Cabinet with 500W Platinum SMPS - 3900
Sony SATA DVD Writer - 1600
iBall Laser Combo - 800
Zebronics USB Mouse Pad - 500
Leadtek 7600GS card - 5600
17" Samsung CRT Monitor - 4900
Floppy Disk Drive - 300

Total: 35300


The estimated Disk Space is 238 GB. I will be using it for primarily Gaming, so the default main OS for me is Win XP...

The primary Partition: 15 GB for Win XP system files
Additional OS: Vista - 15 GB? and Linux - 10 GB?

Additional Partitions for XP:

Programs - 25 GB
Games - 60 GB
Data - 50 GB
Music - 20 GB
Pics - 10 GB
Install Files - 20 GB
Game Install - 12 GB
DOS-compatible(FAT32) - 1 GB

Does this look Okay?

How should I set the Partition Order - First partition is XP core files... Should the Vista, FAT32 and Linux partitions come at last or first, and in what order should I set them (first Vista, then FAT32, and then Linux)?

For Vista, I will install trial version - so, the validity will be one month or one year if registry workaround works... What precautions should I take to enable smooth installation and removal?

For Linux - Which flavour to try? I have used Linux long back, but I dont remember much of the command line tools for configuration, etc. So, I prefer a flavor that works out of the box, but allows tinkering of details... Should I Install it after XP and Vista? How to remove if not satisfied?

Thanks in advance
Arun

[praka123]

considering you as a proff windows user-try Kde(windowish) distros like Pclinux os or Opensuse(bulky) or Kubuntu.ofcourse other half is using Gnome Desktop environment which is little alien for win users,but much simpler than kde.Ubuntu is running Gnome.now if you expect proprietory plugins & codecs shud workout of the box,try linux-mint(ubuntu only+codecs) Gnome or Kde.
also it shud be helpful if you read below article patiently before using Linux.
http://linux.oneandoneis2.org/LNW.htm
also for install a "/" of 7GB or above and a swap partn of 500MB is good.yes swap is needed.

[QwertyManiac]

For Linux, get Ubuntu and follow UbuntuGuide post installation. It'd be very easy cause you know your way around Windows very well already.

10 GB should do just fine, though its not bad expanding it if you're gonna try a lot of new applications on it.

And it requires no CLI stuff anymore for basic stuff like installing things and changing looks, adding effects and so on. The only place you'd use CLI is for performing power jobs via BASH, or compiling and so on.

Yes you have to install Linux only after Vista is installed, and to remove it would require you to format the drives via the Partition Manager in Vista and then to use some MBR-Fixing program like this one (Others are EasyBCD, VistaBoot, etc) to erase the Linux boot-loader.

There's a method involving the Vista Boot Disk itself, but am not aware on how to do it that way.

15 GB partition for Vista looks low to me, try a 20 for best results. I suffered with a 17 GB, so the advice.

[gxsaurav]

Originally Posted by sakumar79

I have recently purchased a new PC with following Config (currently assembling it):

Floppy Disk Drive - 300

Config looks good, but why Floppy? Do u even need them

The primary Partition: 15 GB for Win XP system files
Additional OS: Vista - 15 GB? and Linux - 10 GB?

20 GB Primary partition for Windows Vista. Out of my 20 GB partition 9.8 GB is free
10 Primary partition GB for Windows XP.
10 GB Primary partition for Linux should be good enough.

Rest all a big NTFS Partition shared among all OS. Why do u need so many partitions? Just make one big partition & make folders in that partition for games, music, movies.

Linux now has NTFS read & write capability so u won't miss anything when it comes to saving files.

DOS Compatible? Doesn't DOS 7.2 supports NTFS? The one I have in XP/Vista supports it fine.

Installation should be in order XP -> Vista->Linux

[sakumar79]

@praka and Qwerty - Thanks for your input... I used Linux about 4 years ago, but I think things have changed a lot since then, so I want to check it out...

@gx - Guess I am old fashioned to hang onto a floppy disk drive... Cost is only 300 bucks and you never know when it might come in handy... I am partitioning the drive into so many parts as it will make sense while defragging - some partitions may be rarely modified once created, while others may be used extensively... I think Dos support for NTFS is Read-only - has it changed?

Should I do the partitioning in this fashion?

1. XP Main Partition
2. XP Sub Partitions
3. FAT32 partition
4. Vista Partition
5. Linux Partition

Is there anything else to keep in mind?

Thanks in advance
Arun

EDIT: Where can I get trial version of Vista preferable Home Premium version? I dont want to purchase, nor do I want to pirate it...

[gxsaurav]

Originally Posted by sakumar79

I am partitioning the drive into so many parts as it will make sense while defragging - some partitions may be rarely modified once created, while others may be used extensively

What do u use for defragmentation? What u r saying was the case with NTFS in Windows XP 0, but not after Windows XP SP2. If U have one big partition with folder like I said even then the defragmenter will only fix fragmented files, not the whole HD. Your concept & my concept hardly has any defragmentation difference.

... I think Dos support for NTFS is Read-only - has it changed?

Yup...U can write files in NTFS drives using DOS. Atleast I can copy using CMD to & from my C to d drive

Should I do the partitioning in this fashion?

I already mentioned the way I prefer.

Where can I get trial version of Vista preferable Home Premium version? I dont want to purchase, nor do I want to pirate it...

Check Windows Marketplace

[infra_red_dude]

Originally Posted by sakumar79

The estimated Disk Space is 238 GB. I will be using it for primarily Gaming, so the default main OS for me is Win XP...

The primary Partition: 15 GB for Win XP system files
Additional OS: Vista - 15 GB? and Linux - 10 GB?

Additional Partitions for XP:

Programs - 25 GB
Games - 60 GB
Data - 50 GB
Music - 20 GB
Pics - 10 GB
Install Files - 20 GB
Game Install - 12 GB
DOS-compatible(FAT32) - 1 GB

For Linux - Which flavour to try? I have used Linux long back, but I dont remember much of the command line tools for configuration, etc. So, I prefer a flavor that works out of the box, but allows tinkering of details... Should I Install it after XP and Vista? How to remove if not satisfied?

i'd suggest this:

10GB partition for XP - ntfs
20GB partition for vista - ntfs
Programs - 25 GB - ntfs
Games - 60 GB - ntfs
Data - 50 GB - (what kinda data??) if shared wid linux then fat32 otherwise ntfs
Music - 20 GB - fat32
Pics - 10 GB - fat32
Install Files - 20 GB - ntfs
Game Install - 12 GB - ntfs (what is this partition for? and only 12gb?)
DOS-compatible - why do you need it?
linux - root (/) - 6gb minimum - ext3
linux - home (/home) - 4.5 gb minimum - ext3
linux - swap - 500mb
.... in that order

regarding the linux which you need, download and install the KDE version of linux mint 3.0.

and abt trial version of vista, jus get hold of any installation media or download the iso (its 2.6gb or so). while installing DO NOT enter the product key. it'll get installed in trial mode and its legal to do so.

first install windows xp, then vista and then linux. let vista boot loader take care of windows xp and vista boot and GRUB take care of linux and the windows combo.

and yes, many a times you need floppy drive in case of emergency (like a crashed hard disk, using recovery tools etc. where cdrom iso is not supported). get it, its only 300 bucks anyways.

[sakumar79]

@gx, where in Windows Marketplace can I find download link for trial of Vista? All I can see there are purchase links...

Arun

EDIT:
@infra -
1. so, vista partition should come directly after xp main partition? not after the other xp sub-partitions?

2. Games+GameInstall I think I will combine into single partition 72GB and put install files in a subfolder...

3. Data are work-related mostly and I doubt I will use them in Linux...

4. I think Linux supports NTFS, so I will probably use it instead of FAT32

5. Currently inclining in favor of Ubuntu...

6. By DOS compatible, I meant FAT32 partition... Just in case...

Arun

[infra_red_dude]

i'd suggest that you make the media (music videos movies etc.) and pics partition as fat32. there is not significant advantage wid ntfs. yeah linux supports ntfs read and write but in case of a disaster these partitions will be accessible thru a normal dos boot too, in case u may need to backup data. sometimes the windows recovery utils (including bart pe) refuse to work and as of now the live linux cds only support reading ntfs partition not writing. so in the worst case scenario if u need to backup or copy its beter to haf a fat32 partition.

of corz for games and programs, and windows it is always better to haf ntfs, but for these shared data its better to go in for fat32.

[sakumar79]

Thanks for that info... I have backup of pics and songs on CDs, so I will keep it NTFS... The Data part being FAT32 appears to make sense...

Arun

[praka123]

@infra:knoppix livecd got read and write support with ntfs afaik?

[infra_red_dude]

i dunno i'm not sure about it. but surely the dos bootable don't haf out of the box ntfs support. so jus in case he may need it i suggested a fairly big fat32 partition, thats it.

[vish786]

max size for fat32 party is only 20GB as per i know.

[Pathik]

Offtopic: Dude y didnt u get a xfx 8600gt for just 1k more???
@ vish its 32gb

[gxsaurav]

Pathiks...its more then 32 GB. With Windows U can only make 32 GB Max

[infra_red_dude]

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

Pathiks...its more then 32 GB. With Windows U can only make 32 GB Max

make it windows 2k/xp family. they can format only upto 32gb. but the fdisk thats availble on win98 boot disk can create i guess upto 120gb fat32 partition. and if i'm not wrong the theoretical limit is 2TB wid 32k clusters.

[sakumar79]

Considering that I plan to uninstall Vista after trying it out, will it make sense to push the Vista installation folder to the end of Windows Partitions, or at least after the Programs and Games partitions?

Arun

[gxsaurav]

Originally Posted by sakumar79

Considering that I plan to uninstall Vista after trying it out, will it make sense to push the Vista installation folder to the end of Windows Partitions, or at least after the Programs and Games partitions?

It doesn't matter where u put it

[infra_red_dude]

reuse the vista partition as a backup paritition or something. how will it matter?

[sakumar79]

I have downloaded Ubuntu ISO from their website... Also, in this months PC World CD, they have given Vector Linux... How easy is it to install different Linux distro over another one (now I will try Ubuntu, after some time, I will try Vector Linux)? Any precautions to make sure Windows partitions are not corrupted?

Finalized my partitioning as follows:
The primary Partition: 20 GB for Win XP system files
Additional OS: Vista - 20 GB and Linux - 12 GB

Additional Partitions for XP:

Programs - 20 GB
Games - 70 GB
Data - 50 GB
Music+Pics - 25 GB
Install Files - 15 GB (cut down 5 GB here because I noticed that the total capacity was 233 GB and not 238 GB as I had calculated)
DOS-compatible(FAT32) - 1 GB

Arun

[QwertyManiac]

Its pretty easy and non-destructive. All you have to do is select the same partitions in Vector's installation and it'll format them. Next you have to let Vector overwrite the GRUB too, and the Linux will be replaced. No changes to Windows unless you select a windows partition.

And even if by any chance (Very minute) that your GRUB doesn't show Windows partitions, you can simply add an entry and it'll be fixed. Just as simple as you'd edit boot.ini. (Here it is /boot/grub/menu.lst)

And the entry (For archival purposes) would look like:

title           Microsoft Windows
root            (hdx,0)
## hdx must be replaced by hd0, or hd1 and so on, 
## which ever is the hard disk 
## your Windows runs on.
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader     +1

[mehulved]

Yes, you can completely overwrite the earlier linux install without any problem. But, don't leave the grub of previous install.
Don't forget a swap partition of max. 300-400 MB unless you will be doing a lot of graphics, video and audio editing in linux.