Windows 7 Install questions

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koffiejunkie

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Hi guys,

You'll have to excuse my noobness at this. Since I don't work in a Windows shop anymore, I'm a bit out of the loop.

About six years ago, I built my mum a new PC and put XP on it. I partitioned the drive with 20GB for OS+Apps and the rest for her stuff. I thought 20GB was plenty. And it was, but I intended that install to last for two years at most. But I moved away and she persisted in installing all sorts of rubbish, and of course, Windows gains weight all by itself, so it's no longer any good.

On my next visit I'm going to give her PC a much needed upgrade and install Windows 7. So my questions are:

1. How much space do I need to give the OS to last a couple of years. Would 100GB do? I intend to load 64bit, if that makes any difference. Software would be MS Office, the usual iTunes and media players, Firefox, Thunderbird, Skype, but there really isn't much else. I expect that there will be some driver installs as she buys new kit.

2. How do I tell Windows to put C:\Users on a second partition or second drive? Can this be done during the install process? I didn't see any options for it.

Thanks
 
You'll have to move the users dir afterwards. Its stored in the registry somewhere. Best option is to change it & then create a new user imo. I'd be inclined to leave the users though & rather move the program files dirs.

Remember the MS OS must always be installed first since it wipes the boot settings of Linux/whatever. If not the the other OS needs to do a repair to fix the boot.

You don't really need drivers for most stuff. Basically just latest GFX & then if you have some specific ext gear like a printer.

Windows folder is ~15gb. Thats for x64...x86 is gonna be less since the WoW layer isn't there. 100gb is good imo.
 
I'll never understand why people insist in partitioning their drives in this day and age?

In the first place it makes zero difference to performance (in fact two partitions may actually slow your system down more).
In the second place Windows 7 already creates it's own "system" partition.
In the third place it makes no difference to backup or re-install procedures.

Please enlighten me?
 
Garyvdh said:
I'll never understand why people insist in partitioning their drives in this day and age?

In the first place it makes zero difference to performance (in fact two partitions may actually slow your system down more).
In the second place Windows 7 already creates it's own "system" partition.
In the third place it makes no difference to backup or re-install procedures.

Please enlighten me?
Click to expand...

It makes a difference in that if you partition the first part of a disk, then when accessing that part of the disk it will take less time to access data than if it was near the 'end' of the disk.
The further the little magnetic reading arm has to travel the longer it takes. Keep the OS partition at the beginning of the disk and it will be 'somewhat' faster.

As for backups/re-installs. Always try to keep your downloads, updates, everything you work with, on a seperate drive or partition. If windows does decide to crash, then at least you can just re-install on the partition and have all your backups available.
 
Wooden.Spoon said:
It makes a difference in that if you partition the first part of a disk, then when accessing that part of the disk it will take less time to access data than if it was near the 'end' of the disk.
The further the little magnetic reading arm has to travel the longer it takes. Keep the OS partition at the beginning of the disk and it will be 'somewhat' faster.

As for backups/re-installs. Always try to keep your downloads, updates, everything you work with, on a seperate drive or partition. If windows does decide to crash, then at least you can just re-install on the partition and have all your backups available.
Click to expand...

I guarantee you that you would not be able to tell the difference in speed on a modern hard drive.

As for keeping all your stuff separate, that is also possible on a non-partitioned hard drive.
 
Garyvdh said:
In the first place it makes zero difference to performance (in fact two partitions may actually slow your system down more).
Click to expand...
That I want to see. EDIT: Ah I see...the physical position on disk.

Garyvdh said:
In the second place Windows 7 already creates it's own "system" partition.
Click to expand...
Win 7 creates a 100mb partition for booting. Aside from that it doesn't create any partitions aside from what you instruct it to do (i.e. install location & size).

Garyvdh said:
In the third place it makes no difference to backup or re-install procedures.
Click to expand...
Huh? How are you going to format if OS & data is on the same partition?

Unless I'm misunderstanding you on pts 2 &3....
 
Garyvdh said:
Dude, that is just asking for problems! :eek:
Click to expand...

Don't have much of a choice: we live 11 hours apart. That's 11 hours by Airbus :) Besides, having her follow my instructions has proven to be safer and less destructive than letting her local techie loose on the box.

Wooden.Spoon said:
It makes a difference in that if you partition the first part of a disk, then when accessing that part of the disk it will take less time to access data than if it was near the 'end' of the disk.
Click to expand...

Since most modern hard drives have multiple platters, you have no guarantee that your partition will be on the slower or faster bit of the disc. Anyway, that's besides the issue. Please let us not descend into the partition or not to partition rat-hole.

I only said "separate drives/separate partitions" to cover all bases. It's going to be two drives, since she already have one. I'm just trying to work out the sizes, because if 100GB odd is enough for OS and programs, I might just be nice and get her an SSD for that.
 
koffiejunkie said:
Don't have much of a choice: we live 11 hours apart. That's 11 hours by Airbus :) Besides, having her follow my instructions has proven to be safer and less destructive than letting her local techie loose on the box.
Click to expand...

You wouldn't take a day out to fly out here for your poor Mommy? :eek:
Imagine how pleased she would be to see you!
(pleased enough to sabotage her PC!)
 
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