Partitions, backups, restore, etc

[jcnj6]

Greetings,

I just ordered a 320G 7200 rpm hard drive for my new T60 (came without hard drive)
Installing XP Pro, (gonna wait on Vista)
Wondering about partitioning:

How many partitions?
What size?
. . . .What size is needed for OS install,
. . . .with or without programs,
. . . .is optimal sector size important

Should I
Install OS in 1 partition, Programs or Data in 2nd/3rd
Backup (Ghost) of full install in yet another
. . Does this mean just clean OS install w/o programs?
What backup/ghost programs work best?

Can/should you copy XP install CD image to a partition

Hard drive mechanical failure means loss of everything
. . . I know there is a need for other backup

I have some older games / programs long gone, should I think about dual boot?
Is there a Partitioning / Dual Boot for Dummies.

There are lots of ideas out there
How would YOU proceed if you could start from scratch?

I'm not a complete novice, but have not kept up as I would have liked. Sometimes terminology escapes me. I Googled and searched the forums and found bits of info but would like to have a more comprehensive picture. Most information I've found is several years old and wondering if wisdom changes. I'm just looking for insight, perhaps links to cohesive outside articles.

Thanks
Rich

[RealBlackStuff]

For XP and the basic program load, a partition of 20GB is more than adequate.
You could split the rest (ca. 150GB each) up between a partition for data, and a partition for games/music/photos.
Use an external HD for backups. Easiest is to take a regular image of a partition (or even the whole HD), using something like Acronis TruImage.
Use a 1TB external HD so you have ample space.

And do yourself a favor: skip Vista and go straight to Windows 7, when you are ready to upgrade.

[jcnj6]

So here it is a year and a half later and I have discovered that a 20 gig drive for windows is not adequate. The problem is that windows does its updates and stores the backup files on the C drive. I have to regularly move the files to another partition as the C drive is perpetually 99% full. There are also programs that write data, and older programs only know how to install to the C drive.

So how can I deleted and join partitions, move data and programs around, find a way to stablize my system?
Do I just need to reistall windows and everything else?

At least my data is safe

Thanks for the help
Rich

[RealBlackStuff]

Obviously you are/were not following my advice to use an extra partition for data.
Meaning, you should install programs not in C:\Program Files, but in (D:, E: or whatever Partition for Data).
A relatively easy way around some data shortage would be to move "My Documents/My Pictures/My Music" to your Data partition.
http://www.mydigitallife.info/change-my ... and-vista/
Furthermore, use a program like CCleaner, to empty your (probably overstuffed) temp files and IE/FF caches.
You can happily delete all the $NTuninstall... files, along with all the KBxxxxx.log files from your Windows directory.
That should give you a quick breather.

With programs like GParted or Parted Magic you can expand existing partitions, but you need to make space for expansion first.
Assume you have C (20GB), D (150GB), and E (150GB).
You need to create 30GB extra space for C between C and D. Use the partitioning software to 'shrink'/resize the D partition from 150GB to 120GB, leaving space BEFORE the D partition.
When done reboot (this is important, do not skip!).
Now 'expand'/resize your C partition, using the empty space that was freed up above.
Reboot again.
Enjoy.

[robert213]

My original plan was to allocate...
54 GB in C: IBM_PRELOAD for Windows XP, program files, and downloaded install programs
36 GB in E: DOCUMENTS for user data
1.658 GB in hidden partition IBM_SERVICE for Windows XP recovery.

I never use folders "My Documents" "My Photos" "Desktop". Perhaps, I ought to stop using "Program Files", as well.

Lately, I have been keeping my data on 5400 rpm HDs (acquired from my local recycling center) in my Ultrabay.

I keep two spare 4200 rpm 40 GB HD squirred away in my closet.
One contains a fresh install of Windows XP with SP3.
The second contains a fresh install of Windows XP with SP3 and fresh installs of my most frequently used programs.

I use Acronis True Image Home v11 to clone onto a 7200 rpm 100 GB HD.