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How to utilize data partition?

post #1 of 15
1/9/11 at 4:56am
Thread Starter 
Ok now for a new newbie question.

If I have C:\ ACER & D:\ ACERDATA partitions,
C:\ being OS how do you designate D:\ so as not to continuously be filling C:\?
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post #2 of 15
1/9/11 at 5:59am
I personally get rid of the D partition, but use external backup... It saves time recovering if you have to do a system recovery, you can leave the D partition alone.. I have also set in some cases my documents to be in a separate partition by creating a folder and redirecting shortcuts to my documents there...

Here's how,

Quote:
How to Move the My Documents Folder

Updated 18. August 2010 - 22:19 by gizmo.richards
Moving the "My Documents" folder to another drive or partition in Windows XP is easier than you think (Not applicable to Vista)
Most folks use the My Documents folder to keep all their personal data. Unfortunately, this folder is by default located on the C: drive, the same drive that contains the Windows operating system.
Storing these two things together on the same drive is not a great idea for several reasons. Here are just two:
First, your personal data is very likely to be growing in size while Windows is not. In this era of multi megapixel digital photos you are in real danger of filling up your C: drive. This progessively degrades Windows performance. Sooner or later you'll fill up the disk and have to make more space by deleting some of your personal files or get into the complex and problem- fraught exercise of increasing the size of your primary disk partition.
Second, it complicates backup. Your personal data is changing all the time while the Windows operating system changes much less frequently. That means your personal data needs to be backed up more frequently than Windows. With both on the same drive you'll end up making very large drive images and having to create them more frequently as well. Similar comments apply to disk defragmentation. Mixing your personal data with Windows increases the need for defragging and results in a slower defrag.
Nope, leaving your My Documents folder on the C: drive is like storing your washing powder with your vegetables. Quite possible, but not a great idea.
Now, many folks have only a single partition of their hard drive; that is, their only hard drive is their C: drive. These folks can't move their My Documents folder. They could of course re-partition their drive but that's a complex issue I'm not going to address here.
If you do have two or more partitions on your hard drive, or if you have more than one hard drive, it's quite easy to move your My Documents folder to another drive or partition.
You will, however, need enough free space on the second drive/partition to accommodate all your documents. To find out, go to My Computer and click on View/Details and make a note of the free space available on each partition or drive. Make sure you don't get confused by your CD drive. You can't move your My Documents folder there!
While still in My Computer, right-click on My Documents and select Properties. After a few seconds you should see the folder size shown. If two figures are shown with one in brackets, note the larger figure. That's the amount of disk space you will need.
Now make a decision which drive you'd like to move the My Documents folder to. Make sure there is enough disk space. Let's say you selected the D: drive.
Click on the Start button and then right-click on My Documents and select Properties. If there's no My Documents in your start menu then right click on the My Documents icon on your desktop instead.
When you've clicked on properties, select "Move" and then navigate to your D: drive. Select the drive letter and then click "Make New Folder." Enter "My Documents" as the folder name and hit Enter and then OK. Windows will then ask you whether you want to move your documents; click Yes.
Moving your documents make take some time. Once moved, though, you can access them normally from the "My Documents" icon on the desktop or elsewhere.
In the process you'll free up a lot of room on your C: drive. Defrag the drive so it can be utilized by Windows in the most effective manner.
For more information you can consult this Microsoft document: http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310147
The ideal time to relocate the My Document folder and other system folders is when you have just bought a new PC and have yet to load your data or applications. It's something to bear in mind when you get your next PC.
Source
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post #3 of 15
1/9/11 at 6:07am
Thread Starter 
That is the answer to my question.
I just restored my computer and updates alone leave me with about 5gigs free on C:\ and I haven't started using computer really. I have plenty of space on hdd and increase size, but was trying to figure out how to make D:\ default as for non-OS stuff.
D:\ is presently untouched except for the system restore entry.
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post #4 of 15
1/9/11 at 4:09pm
Thread Starter 
About how many Gigs is a fully updated windows xp?
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post #5 of 15
1/9/11 at 4:17pm
2 gigs for XP, 1+ gig for Sp2, 1.5+ gigs for SP3, ca 1 gig (pushing) for other updates ... you do the math

cheers ...
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post #6 of 15
1/9/11 at 4:43pm
Thread Starter 
After Acer unpacked I sat at about 6.2 Gigs.
After updates I sit at about 13.2 Gigs
I only installed 2 items Avira and Malwarebytes.
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post #7 of 15
1/9/11 at 6:20pm
That's a lot

cheers ...
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post #8 of 15
1/9/11 at 6:47pm
Thread Starter 
Yes it is.
It hasn't been offering anymore updates though. I'll just keep comparing the 2 drives and see what happens.
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post #9 of 15
1/9/11 at 6:56pm
Thread Starter 
When I boot into safe mode it shows almost 12 Gigs used.
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post #10 of 15
1/9/11 at 6:59pm
Just checked my re-installed old desktop - SP3 with all updates, Flash player, Java, DirectX and some Microsoft goodies (Live Essentials, MSE, WMP11) -> 8 gigs!

cheers ...
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post #11 of 15
1/9/11 at 7:46pm
Thread Starter 
On restore from default factory disk it doesn't put all the bloat ware back in sytem like NTI & all the acer stuff empower technology so I'm going to see what a completely updated system without extras would finish out to on old hdd.
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post #12 of 15
1/10/11 at 1:32am
Thread Starter 
I just swapped hdd's and the 1 I ran av on before updates has 10 Gigs used.
On that hdd I removed recycled desktop ini and ran superantivirus before update now it shows 10GigsOn the other I only restored from PQService it shows 13.2Gigs, I guess that says a lot.
Both were allowed to run updates.
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post #13 of 15
1/10/11 at 2:26am
From experience, the minimum partition size with XP you want is 15Gbs, with Vista look at least 50 to 60Gbs, win7 is more to XP than vista... Reason is VSC or Volume Shadow Copy, or to you and me 'System Restore'... It will utilise a lot, esp on Vista (why it was so slow on initial install)... Couple that with your swap file and space just goes... Henceforth 'Gaaaah, I hate putting XP on Eee PC 900's' because the SSD drives are between 4 and 16Gb - not big enough.... Ubuntu these days needs at least 8Gb to work well...
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post #14 of 15
1/10/11 at 2:36am
Thread Starter 
If I was limited on space I would get rid of acer arcade, Nti, Acer gridvista and a few other things they put in as they aren't necessary.
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post #15 of 15
1/10/11 at 2:48am
Thread Starter 
I've been dealing with Debian for almost a year and finally have a stable system.
Ubuntu was cool but I was having problems with shutdown, but I fixed by add shutdown menu and forgetting about the stock shutdown, even though chasis power button functioned.
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