XP Pro Install on new system.

Well I finally put all my components together and I believe I'm ready to install the OS. I'm Using XP Pro and I'm looking for any advice on how to properly load the OS. I purchased a Full version CD. The HD is a New, nothing on it WD 120GB 8mb/7200rpm mod# WD1200JBRTL.
Is partitioning necessary? And can I only load Pro on 1 machine? Thought I heard somewhere that 2 was allowed with Pro?

So any advice, or links for a proper install would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

truiz


Gigabyte 8KNXP Mboard
SilenX 460w 14 dBA Active-PFC PSU (very quiet)
CPU P4/3.0CGHz 800Mhz W/ HT
1GB (2 x 512) OCZ C2 PC3500 EL DDRAM
WD 120GB 8mb/7200rpm mod# WD1200JBRTL
1-PNY FX5200 Ultra 8x VGA/DVI out AGP card
1-PNY-FX5200 8X 128Mb DUAL VGA out PCI card
Panasonic 1.44MB FDD
Khypermedia CD-RW
CASE KINGWIN KT-436WM SILVER
XP Pro

does the HDD you have, have the ability to be SATA. your mother board can handle it but can your HDD.


to install the OS yes partitioning is a good idea.

some regualar partitions are

OS partition (install the OS onto this drive and all programs)
SWAP partition (for the paging file) (not necisary but as i found out it can be helpful, you know where to set the page file do you?)
Documents partition
Porn partition (if thats what you are into, but personally i don't need one LOL)
multimedia partition (well i have one of these instead of a porn one, i keep all my music and videos in here)


sizes are very opinion based because it depends on how or what you use your computer for

MY PC
OS partion =7 Gb should be plenty (winXP for me)
(i have linux taking up another 7Gb)
swap partition= 1.5Gb (1.5 times the ram size is the regular/default maths)(this helps avoid page file fragmentation that will annoy the hell out of you LOL)
Documents= (i have 32Gb FAT32 setup to share between linux and XP, so sizes for other people probably vary but this was a restricted size for me)
Multimedia= 64Gb in my case




but partition sizes are as personal as your car seat setup!!!


Alltaken