I'm about to install a brand new system (using my fairly new, but used, hard drives - both 60GB.) I'll be installing Win XP Pro. I've been reading some of the threads on RetouchPRO (here and here) as well as a bunch of other websites on partitioning and am pretty sure I want to do this. I'm just really tired of having to reinstall everything every time I have a problem with my system. Perhaps I'll have better luck with WinXP, but with my luck lately, I'm not holding my breath. 
Based on what I've read, I'm thinking of the following partition scheme on my main drive:
One for Windows
One for Windows Swap
One for Program Files
One for User Data
I've got a few questions about this though:
1. How big should I make the partition for WinXP Pro?
2. How big should I make the partition for the Swap File? I'll have 1Gig of RAM in the new system and I can't imagine that I need 2x that (or 2Gig) for a swap file, do I?
3. Should the Windows swap file go on the same disk as the System files or my second disk? I've seen remarks that Windows will run faster if the swap file is on a different disk than the system files. BUT, the Photoshop scratch file is supposed to be on a different disk than the Windows Swap file. In the past, I've put the PS scratch file on my second disk. Does it really which disk the two swap/scratch files are on as long as they're different?
4. I've read that the reason for having a separate partition for Program files is so that it's easier to wipe the system partition clean and reinstall. But, what happens to those applications which stick a bunch of stuff in the registry? Will they still run if the registry is wiped out and reinstalled? Won't I have to reinstall the programs anyway to have them show up in the registry?
5. I'm thinking of getting Partition Magic 8. Sandra, I think you installed that recently with WinXP, right? How has it worked for you? Since I don't have it yet and I'd really like to get the new system up and running tomorrow, does it work to install it after the fact? If I use the WinXP feature to create the partitions, will Partition Magic recognize those, or will I have to start all over? (In which case, perhaps I'll wait to install? But I'm so tired of working on my current system which may crash at any time!)
OK, enough questions for now. Yet again, I'm driving myself crazy. I think I think too much.
Jeanie

Based on what I've read, I'm thinking of the following partition scheme on my main drive:
One for Windows
One for Windows Swap
One for Program Files
One for User Data
I've got a few questions about this though:
1. How big should I make the partition for WinXP Pro?
2. How big should I make the partition for the Swap File? I'll have 1Gig of RAM in the new system and I can't imagine that I need 2x that (or 2Gig) for a swap file, do I?
3. Should the Windows swap file go on the same disk as the System files or my second disk? I've seen remarks that Windows will run faster if the swap file is on a different disk than the system files. BUT, the Photoshop scratch file is supposed to be on a different disk than the Windows Swap file. In the past, I've put the PS scratch file on my second disk. Does it really which disk the two swap/scratch files are on as long as they're different?
4. I've read that the reason for having a separate partition for Program files is so that it's easier to wipe the system partition clean and reinstall. But, what happens to those applications which stick a bunch of stuff in the registry? Will they still run if the registry is wiped out and reinstalled? Won't I have to reinstall the programs anyway to have them show up in the registry?
5. I'm thinking of getting Partition Magic 8. Sandra, I think you installed that recently with WinXP, right? How has it worked for you? Since I don't have it yet and I'd really like to get the new system up and running tomorrow, does it work to install it after the fact? If I use the WinXP feature to create the partitions, will Partition Magic recognize those, or will I have to start all over? (In which case, perhaps I'll wait to install? But I'm so tired of working on my current system which may crash at any time!)
OK, enough questions for now. Yet again, I'm driving myself crazy. I think I think too much.

Jeanie
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