Partition sizes?

[cdbrown]

After reading through the back up thread it got me thinking about how to setup the HD for the cab (coming next week).

I like the idea of having multiple partitions to keep data away from windows.

I am having 98SE (dual trackball hopefully) and XP dual boot.  I was thinking that I would load the frontend, emulators and roms onto the third partition.  But for games that require 98 to run they will be loaded on the first partition (along with emulator).
I guess it would be like

C:  98SE
     analog+
     specific roms

D:  XP
     Installed progs

E:  Frontend
     Emulators
     Roms
     MP3's
     Movies

What size partition do you recommend for c and d?  I can't imagine c requiring much as there aren't that many games that use dual trackballs.  I don't have a clue about the size of the xp partition.

Also with Ghost, should those images go on another partition or another drive if I can get it?

Appreciate any advice.

Cheers
-cdbrown

[Geo]

98 can live comfortably in 512 MB but give it 1GB if you leave your swap file there and also since some programs like to use "C" as a temp site.

My XP partition is 2.35 GB and that is about the least I would go. I still have about 700MB free space (even with the pagefile there) but I get close to the limit when some programs insist on using "C" for temp stuff.

I assume these boot partitions will be hidden from eachother? Not a bad idea just to keep things safe. If you use NTFS on XP I don't think 98 will see it anyway. If they are hidden from eachother, path specific commands on your data partition shouldn't be an issue.

What apps are you running that require 98? When Andy's card comes out and proves itself with XP and Arcade monitors, I plan to migrate away from 98. Right now I use 98 DOS and the 98 GUI but if I can get XP, the Emu's and my 15khz arcade monitor to work together, I'll make the switch to XP.

George

[Lilwolf]

I would go

c

Thats it.

why?  It's a real pain in the !@# to combine partitions when you want.. .and its more of a pain when you run out of one... then another is empty...

So make a few directories.

I have

windows\
winnt\
development\
emulation\
games\
program files\

thats about it.

[MrBond]

If you really want to partition your HD, go with Partition Magic 8.  It allows me to resize partitions on the fly, make partitions on the fly, and do pretty much anything you want related to partitions ON THE FLY.  What this means is in Win XP say, I can create a FAT32 partition at the beginning of my drive, reboot to this partition, install win 98, and then have the included Boot Magic utitlity allow me to select what OS I want at startup.  Simple.  I can then size them differently, moving around gigs of information or blank space without loosing anything.  I've been fooling around with the sizes on my 80GB HD.
The other guys are right about the sizes.  Go with atleast a gig for '98, and leave XP have 2 or 3 gig.  Give the rest to your "storage bin".  I just the left the /program files for the specific OS's alone so they wouldn't cause problems.  Partition magic automatically hides the primary partitions from one another, but you can choose to unhide if you like, although this can cause serious problems with '98.  Win XP seeing the '98 partition is fine.  Good luck!  

[MrBond]

Oh by the way, make your E:\ drive FAT32 if you want '98 to be able to use it.  If not, go with NTFS.  

[eightbit]

Don't use partition magic unless you have to. It overly complicates things. If you use a little thought when you set it up you shouldn't ever need to move things. Assuming your not going to install lots of apps like msoffice, photoshop, or others leave 2 gigs for Win98 and 4 gigs for XP as minimums. Think about it, on the big drives is leaving an extra gig for your E: really going to be a big deal? Don't use boot magic, install 98 first then XP and use XP's boot menu.

The only valid reason IMO to duel boot with XP and 98 is analog+

[MrBond]

I use '98 for my Interact V4 driving wheel too.  By the way, is there any chance at all of porting analog+ to XP?  I know, I know, M$ goofed again, but is there ANY chance?

[cdbrown]

Thanks for the replies.

I need 98 for analog+ (dual trackballs).  I will try to have it setup so that any games that require 98 and analog+ will be on the 98 drive so that the other partitions will be ntfs.

2 gig for 98
4 gig for xp
74 (roughly) gig for roms, mp3s, data etc.

I may install msoffice on xp drive but if I install any games they will go on the e: drive.

I think I'll stay away from partition magic as I don't have it.

OT - made a few purchases for the cab pc - liteon 48x24x48, 2 x sunon 80mm case fans, logitech elite duo wireless keyboard and mouse.  Once the email system is going at work I may be able to purchase the rest  

Cheers
-cdbrown

[SirPoonga]

As for ghost, if you have a version that writes to CD Just write C:\ and D:\ using ghost.  

Back E:\ just by burning the files to CDs, That drive would change too much to benefit from ghost.

[Mike]

I would definately do a partion on the drive. The reason why is if you screw up the OS and are forced to format the drive you don't lose your roms. But I see no reason to put both an XP and 98se partion. I'd just run one OS. Unless you can think of something that will only run on 98 i'd probably go for XP if you have the processing power.

[eightbit]

I would definately do a partion on the drive. The reason why is if you screw up the OS and are forced to format the drive you don't lose your roms. But I see no reason to put both an XP and 98se partion. I'd just run one OS. Unless you can think of something that will only run on 98 i'd probably go for XP if you have the processing power.

He wants to run analog+ for some games which allows 2 trackballs (mice) and it won't work under XP.