quick thumbs up/down on partition scheme

I used an older 4500S system to practice a hard drive wipe clean, followed by a fresh install of XP sp2, to include creating partitions.  I'm glad to report I was successful in all of the above.

 

Note:  I didn't use the purple "Reinstallation CD Windows XP Home sp2" sent with the Dell.  Instead, I used a Windows XP Service Pack 2 CD shipped directly from Microsoft in 2004. 

 

Now I'd like to do the same with my much newer 8400, which is my daily machine with an 80gig HD.  I have a few questions, and would appreciate input with your thoughts on my plan to partition in the manner listed below.

 

Questions:

(1)  I'm aware that this action will kill the Symantec partition to "restore to factory condition".  That doesn't bother me too much, as I don't mind losing the buy-me-ware installed in that way.  But are there any other factors I should be thinking about regarding wiping out this Symantec partition or other Dell from-factory partitions?

(2)  In addition to the purple OS reinstall CD sent with the Dell, I have used the Dell OS Recovery Utility to make one Microsoft® Windows® Operating system CD for backup purposes.  Can you suggest any other back-up, start-up, DOS boot, etc. CDs I should create or have in my possession before reinstalling Windows?

(3)  Any other distinct advantages to keeping a Dell-shipped install of Windows XP? 

(4)  Using the XP-install CD from Microsoft, I couldn't find a way to name partitions from the beginning.  It wanted to start with C: and continue logically from there.

 

And here's my plan to partition.  Your thoughts much appreciated.

   C:\     1.0G     FAT32    DOS-bootable partition in case my CD drives fail in future.

   D:\     1.0G     NTFS     used to store drivers only

   E:\      6.0G    NTFS     reserving this partition for future install of Windows Vista

   F:\      5.0G    NTFS     this is where I will install XP (a current sp2 w/all updates uses 3.2G)

   G:\    30.0G    NTFS     install partition for my games only

   H:\    37.0G    NTFS     install partition for everything else

  

Thanks to everyone in advance!