New vostro -- to partition or not? Backup when? Where to store data?

Hi :smile:

I've just bought my vostro 1700, with vista ultimate and a 200 Gb hard drive .
I haven't yet got stuck in, as I have a few queries first:confused2:

First of all, when would you do your first backup? I initially intended to do one when I first booted up, but was put off by the number of DVDs this would use. I want to remove some bloatware, but didn't know whether to do a backup after this, or immediately after I've loaded my most basic applications (mousepad, voice operated software etc -- anything I need to use the computer). What do you think? It makes sense to me to remove anything I know I definitely won't want, and load the basics first, to save me time if I ever do have to resort to backup disks -- I'd like to have to avoid uninstalling and reinstalling at least some of my software if possible.

Then I didn't know whether to partition my hard drive, and whether to set up a new partition to store my data.
All important data will be stored on an external hard drive, but obviously I will want some space on my laptop to do day-to-day tasks.
I had always believed that one should store data on a separate drive to the OS, but reading stuff on the Internet means I'm no longer so sure...
this is a basic explanation of how to create a data partition in vista, but scroll to the bottom some of the comments don't seem so positive...
http://www.vista4beginners.com/Move-user-files-folders-to-another-partition
This is an interesting discussion that seems to suggest a separate partition might just not be worth the hassle.
http://lifehacker.com/software/ask-lifehacker/how-do-i-store-my-data-on-a-separate-partition-in-windows-vista-257297.php

I want my system to be 'neat and tidy' -- or as much as possible! There doesn't seem much point in saving the data in a separate partition, if it won't function after a re-format anyway.
But I'm not sure whether starting afresh with a brand-new laptop and OS meant that everything needed to access the data would all be in the right partition (as opposed to moving data across from an old partition to new one).
Am I just best off assuming that most of my data will be on my external hard drive (give or take a days work), and I should just let vista put data where it suggests? I mean that if the whole thing crashes, I've got most my data anyway...

Is the same true with music, videos etc? How do people their computers with vista?
Thanks for any advice,
Sophie

 

Anyone? Please...