Nubby question about windows registry and stuff, moving program files

[0o0]

Hey guys, new kid in town just joined HWC few days ago. I've been reading for months, only came to me that I should join a few days ago lol.

Anyways, I'm partition stroking my blackie 1tb so there's 20gb for C: partition, none but the default program files are going to be there, will it be enough? I'm going to be installing all my games and software (M$ Office) in another partition, and I'm going to have a huge partition for the inner chunk of my hdd for data.

First question, how much would be enough for C:? I'll be doing reformats every now and then, at least once a year or so...
Second question, I'm planning on having 100gb for my program files partition, more if necessary. Can I put the program files that I'm not using (like games I get bored of) in my data partition, and copy them back when I feel like playing again?

Thanks :)

[YukonTrooper]

Don't separate your OS and applications into different partitions. The OS and applications need to communicate to operate, so the closer they are together on the drive, the better.

[PLg]

If you reformat the C partition, I am pretty sure you won't be able to use the software from the other partition. ( I'm thinking about the registry)

[0o0]

The 2 partitions are physically right next to each other on my platters. I thought maybe different partitions would prevent fragmentation...? I know that the programs won't work when I format, that's why I keep my installers on my data partition that I don't format

But would the program files would continue to work (in win7) if I moved them to another directory, and moved them back later? Also, how much would you guys recommend for C:?

[Andy]

There are too many factors to adequately answer your question. Sure some programs may work, others will not. What I will say though, is that what you are thinking about doing is a bad idea. If you are planning on reinstalling an OS, it shouldn't take you any more time to re install any games or software. Just backup your user data before formatting. Since you have a terrabyte to play with I would allocate 200-250 Gigs for your C: drive. Install everything you use on a daily basis and leave it at that, the rest is for storage.

If you have the option I would recommend you run your OS, and all programs off a completely separate drive than your storage drive, for safety's sake. But whatever you do don't start separating any of the Windows core files or folders.

Also, the last thing you really should have to worry about these days is fragmentation, in fact I would gather that if you did what you mentioned above, you would be creating tons of fragmentation issues.