URGENT-which disk should the OS be installed?

Status
Not open for further replies.
ranjan2001

ranjan2001

Contributor
NEED URGENT REPLY

I am about to format my system,

I have 4 seagate hdd having different specs ranging 2mb buffer to 32mb buffer.

Detailed spec can be checked here Seagate Technology - Seagate Technology

ST3160211AS-160gb /2mb buffer (4yrs old)

ST3250624AS-250gb /16mb buffer (3yrs old)

ST3320620SV-320gb /16mb buffer (1.5 yrs old) this hdd has faster read/write

ST31500341AS-1.5TB /32mb buffer 120 MB/s sustained data rate

Should I load the OS on the latest HDD having 32mb buffer & use the 16mb & 2mb buffer hdd just for storage?

Need help in planning my dual boot XP/vista x64 system.
 
It depends on your need for storge of data.

Personally if you dont format your system or dont make images of it then you should install the os in the 320 one single partition.

Now the pagefile of the os and other softwares should also be on the different hdd preferably 1.5 TB.

Do what you want with the rest.

Advantages of this are.

Storing data in 1.5 tb will help safeguard it if anything goes wrong with ur main disk or os.

Ask if this is not enough.
 
I need minimum 3 partition to dual boot 2 for os one for page file on 320GB hdd, so as per the specs 320 is best for OS installation?
pagefile of the os and other softwares should also be on the different hdd preferably 1.5 TB.
Click to expand...
Will that give a significant speed difference or its just a minor difference.
 
check the guide section... here I wrote a tutorial about this... you can adapt it to your needs, it's basically a multiboot setup with Linux and Windows.
 
Thanks PiXeLpUsHeR

I had bookmarked that link of urs but forgo, reading it now will get back if I need further help.
 
Ok After reading it I am coming to the following conclusion.

I will make 3 partition on my 1.5Tb, this disk has faster sustained transfer 120mb/s

On 1.5Tb disk

40Gb C:/ Xp SP3

40Gb D:/ install all softwares separately on this (as per ur article)

40Gb E:/ Vista sp1

balance Gb F:/ data storage

On 320gb disk

20Gb G:/ xp & vista page file will be kept here

60Gb H:/ scratch disk & all temp files which certain programs need.

Balance space for data storage

What do you think?
 
This should work well, but I would say that if you moved your installed software to a different disk than the OS (not a separate Partition), you may see a slight increase in performance.
 
hmm.. put one os on 1 hdd... n the 2nd os on another...

put ur primary os (the one ull be using the most) on the 1.5tb hdd...

n the other u can put on the 320gb hdd...
 
As per both suggestions I modified the layout

On 1.5Tb disk has a 120mb/s transfer speed.

40Gb C:/ Xp SP3

40Gb D:/ install all softwares separately on this (as per ur article)

20Gb E:/ Vista page file will be kept here

balance Gb F:/ data storage

On 320gb disk This disk supports NCQ & has a 72mb/s transfer speed.

40Gb G:/ Vista sp1

20gb H:/ xp page file will be kept here

60Gb I:/ scratch disk & all temp files which certain programs need.

Balance space for data storage

What do you think now, any downside of this layout?
 
I think I wanted to bring into your notice some points.
1. Whether you install it on 500gb or 320 gb is not that big a matter but DONT install softwares on a different partition. Please
The reading and writing head of a hdd is capable of one work at a time so the best option is to have a senile environment, dont want to disrespect anybody but the theory put forth has been followed by me in olden days when the fat16 limitation was there.
Now to the performance gains by having paging file of windows and photoshop or other softwares on a different disk is that while you work the cache writing or scratch is going on on a different hdd which has a different writing head than that of the primary hdd on which the os is installed, so you have a parallel working of hdd. now if anybody can refute that let them come forward otherwise rest in peace forever.
just to remind you that all the multi core processors by intel and amd have proved parallelism is better at speed and reliability than the megahertz war......
do what you want but this was my 2 cents.:hap5:
ranjan2001 said:
Ok After reading it I am coming to the following conclusion.

I will make 3 partition on my 1.5Tb, this disk has faster sustained transfer 120mb/s

On 1.5Tb disk
40Gb C:/ Xp SP3
40Gb D:/ install all softwares separately on this (as per ur article)
40Gb E:/ Vista sp1
balance Gb F:/ data storage

On 320gb disk
20Gb G:/ xp & vista page file will be kept here
60Gb H:/ scratch disk & all temp files which certain programs need.

Balance space for data storage

What do you think?
Click to expand...
 
Though I installed it (XP only as of now) but I may need a reinstallation due to AHCI driver issue with XP.

I tested the 2 hdd for benchmarks & it seems that 1.5 TB disk is quite faster here are the screenshots.

1.5TB hdd



320gb hdd.



Now which hdd should I load the 2 OS?

320 hdd is sure that it supports NCQ, but 1.5Tb data sheet does not mention NCQ but the benchmark shows its quite faster.
 
I have again come to visit your thread!!!!

Again I want to offer my advice..

Please read this carefuly...

1. Do you want to dual boot ie you see a boot menu and then you make a choice whether to boot into a or b or c...

2. you just want to have multiple oses installed not withstanding the boot menu.

the first scenario is very simple install the second os into 1.5 tb its good and fast. just pop the vista or whatever os u want as second os and choose the 1.5 tb

second is a little tricky but better in experience I will give the reasons too.

u have already installed xp on 500 gb even if u reistall it. then do that and then after you have done that put the vista dvd into ur rom and shut down the computer ( then take out the powercord and just unplug the cord of the first sata hdd on which xp is installed, this works for me ) then start computer it will boot from the dvd from there give the choice of installing it to the 1.5 tb drive..

Now after the installation shut down again and replug the first hdd on which xp is installed then start the comp press F8 ( important ) while its posting and it will in most cases show the boot menu to you there you can choose which hdd to boot from remember the hdd name for the correct os to start.

this has several benefits according to me

1. you always have a os to start ready in the separate hdd.

2. ur data in the other hdd can be accessed all teh time and this solves the purpose of having 2 oses,

3. in case one of the os is corrupt then you can start the other one and repair it.

My 2 cents......

ask me more

I will be happy.
 
Thanks Tech_enthu,

I have always been looking for the 2nd option but did not know how to get it working, I will surely do the 2nd option now.

What I understand is that instead of showing the boot menu with the choice of OS I will now get a choice of HDDs to boot from.

Can I set default hdd in bios so by default it boots to vista hdd, when ever I need xp I press f8 & get the choice of hdd to boot from where I select the xp hdd to boot from.

The advantages you listed are quite a reason to go this way.
 
Yes but REMEMBER you have to press F8 each time to go to the desired os or disk to boot.

You have all the options to select but the channel 1 or hdd1 as its marked is the default hdd the computer boots from but yu can change that....
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom