XP re-install and partitioning

dude-sweet,

The only reason to use an file system other than NTFS on an XP system is if you are using it as a dual-boot system and wish another operating system such as Windows 98 which cannot read NTFS partitions to share access to data with Windows XP. You may have a small (~34MB) FAT partition on the hard disk which contains the Dell diagnostics for your system.

So then, if I am reformatting/repartitioning should I eliminate the other partitions and just go with one NTFS partition? Do I need the Dell Diagnostic? I don't have this on other PCs and it has not been a factor.

You do not need the diagnostics partition.  You should have a diagnostics CD also they can be downloaded to floppies.  The current thinking is two or more NTFS partitions, one for the O/S and programs, another for data and maybe a third to keep an image for the O/S and programs partition for quck restores if needed. 

So, how do I configure with more than on partition? How large should I make the partitions? How do I assure that certain data go into a specific partition (ie WinXP on a specific partition and possibly other files/data on a separate partition).

thanks,

dude

dude-sweet,

When you install XP you have the option of deleting any and all existing partitions then creating new ones of any size you choose from the unpartitioned space that results. See Step #5 here. Your new partitions will start with C:\ and proceed alphabetically. Windows XP will be installed on C:\ which should be somewhere around 5GB to 8GB. Mine is 10GB and after three years is barely half full (although my Outlook Express messages and My Documents have been moved to D:\ on my system. Windows XP requires 2GB so the additional space should be sufficient to hold the applications you wish to install. Nearly all apps offer to install themselves in C:\Program Files by default.