Optimum distribution of OS and program files over multiple..

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I would like some wisdom from those who know what the best way to install XP
over multiple spindles is.
ie. how to distribute OS files, paging file, program files, and data over
multiple drives, and whether putting said bits on different spindles actually
produces tangible benefits.

I have 3 IDEs (2 sharing a channel, 1 on other channel) and a SATA drive,
and would like to apply any suggested model to our clients requiring top end
performance workstations..

Cheers and thanks for input.
Bruce.
 

Jim

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Mar 31, 2004
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Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain (More info?)

"bruced" <bruced@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:393DCCCC-E8F3-4D93-9116-A57EF7AA7D46@microsoft.com...
> I would like some wisdom from those who know what the best way to install
XP
> over multiple spindles is.
> ie. how to distribute OS files, paging file, program files, and data over
> multiple drives, and whether putting said bits on different spindles
actually
> produces tangible benefits.
>
> I have 3 IDEs (2 sharing a channel, 1 on other channel) and a SATA drive,
> and would like to apply any suggested model to our clients requiring top
end
> performance workstations..
>
> Cheers and thanks for input.
> Bruce.
After you have advised them to buy the computer with the fastest CPU, ample
RAM, and 10000 rpm disk drives, you can worry about this subject.

I am not certain that the OS files can be distributed. It is customary to
put the secondary page file on a separate disk, but whether this really
helps or not depends on the specific case.
The only hazard with putting the program files on a separate disk is that
then you are depending on two (or more) disks to be operational for
successful use of the computer/

How about trying these techniques on your own computer first?

Jim
 
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Guest

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Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain (More info?)

bruced <bruced@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>I would like some wisdom from those who know what the best way to install XP
>over multiple spindles is.
>ie. how to distribute OS files, paging file, program files, and data over
>multiple drives, and whether putting said bits on different spindles actually
>produces tangible benefits.
>
>I have 3 IDEs (2 sharing a channel, 1 on other channel) and a SATA drive,
>and would like to apply any suggested model to our clients requiring top end
>performance workstations..
>
>Cheers and thanks for input.
>Bruce.

Windows XP is designed to operate with the system files on one drive,
with the %windir%, %winbootdir%, and %systemroot% variables all
pointing to the same place. Although it would seem possible to have
each of these 3 items as a different drive/folder you would first have
to determine which files were being referenced via each these
variables and not just by Windows but by device drivers and
application programs as well so as to ensure proper placement of these
files.

It does make some sense to have the Program Files and the user data
files on different drives, but I do not have any benchmark test
results to show what differences this might achieve.

As of the paging file, the ultimate answer is to have sufficient RAM
so as to eliminate the need to relocate active memory content from RAM
to the paging file. Failing this, with multiple drives it is
advisable to have multiple paging files, one on each physical drive,
and let Windows choose which specific file is the optimal one for any
given paging option.

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."