Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Minimum size of primary partition

Mar 11, 2004 9:18AM PST

WinXp home 512 MB Ram 2.4 GBP4 160GB Seagate HD
What is the minimum primary partition size for operating "normally". I know 4Gb is too small for me now.
Roy

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Re:Minimum size of primary partition
Mar 11, 2004 9:25AM PST

The problem is one of definition. If you were to use XP's System Restore, you need to define how much space to let it have based not only on the OS installed on the bootdrive, but add-ons that may be installed there.

Load up XP with IIS, Visual Studio, and more busts past the 10GB point in no time.

Your question can't be answered with what's in your post.

Bob

- Collapse -
My 2 cents-With the way
Mar 12, 2004 3:42AM PST

Photo editing is ramping up, and movie making-etc, I am beginning to think I should have made my C drive 35 or so instead of 25-over 1/2 full already and I keep all photo's-music-videos on other partitions after processing---

- Collapse -
Re:Re:Minimum size of primary partition
Mar 12, 2004 4:49AM PST

Bob,
WinXp home 512 MB Ram 2.4 GBP4 160GB Seagate HD 80GB WD HD 40 GB maxtor HD
This is a stand alone box with no network connection outside of the modem to get me to the WWW. I suppose I may network it with a P300 or some other machine if I get such an inclination.
I don't program (not since the card reader ate my last batch of punch cards), soooo Visual Studio isn't in my works yet.
I install programs on other drives and partitions if possible.
I store data on other drives and partitions.
I edit photos and videos.
Some gaming is done on the machine.
When I set up the 160 GB HD, it never occured to me that 5GB would get eaten up by my OS so fast.
I am trying to figure a reasonable siz to go for.
Thanks fo ryour attention,
Roy Swazey

- Collapse -
Re:Re:Re:Minimum size of primary partition
Mar 12, 2004 5:03AM PST

About 20GB for the base "Windows" partition should do for this year.

Bob