Proper Partition Order for Dell E1505

I just purchased a 120GB hard drive from Dell to replace my 60GB one. While I'm familiar with formatting and installing XP Media Center, I'm a complete idiot when it comes to making multiple partitions on a hard drive. Especially a factor now that Media Direct is thrown into the equation. I read the guide stickied, and it was most helpful, but it didn't directly answer my issue.

I know how to create partitions, but the real question I have is in what order do the partitions need to be in? I'm looking to have a Dell Media Direct partition (Media Direct 2.0 if that matters), the XP Media Center OS partition, a Page File partition and, if possible, a Dell Diagnostics partition. I'll be using the XP MCE CD I have to partition the hard drive. From what I've read, I'm assuming the order goes like this:

Partition 1: Diagnostics (How large does this have to be?)
Partition 2: The OS (Remaining space)
Partition 3: Page File (I'll be making it around 1.8 GB)
Partition 4: Media Direct (2GB, to prevent issues that some people have had when it was set to less)

Is that correct, or horrendously wrong? I would also like to have my OS partition to be called "C:" and my CD/DVD drive to be called "D:" (not sure how the partitioning affects this, if it even does, but I've never created more than one partition before). Thanks in advance for any help you would be able to provide.

 

Part1: Your C Drive around 80 - 100 gb -
When you make partition 1 manually edit the size and leave around 20 - 40 gb to play with (unallocated) - Then you can install windows onto it alone, and use disk management to create the rest of partitions on unallocated space (Start>Control Panel>Administrative Tools>Computer Mangement>Disk management) - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/309000
Once that is done create Part2: Diag/Recovery (around 10 gb)
Scratch part3 because your pc will run better having the paging file on the same partition as windows is installed on.
Part3: Media Direct / Backup if you want (or part4 for backup if you like although it is all one drive so if the drive fails you lose all your parts anyways)

 

For MD 2.0, all you need to do is leave at least 1.5 of unpartition space at the end of your HDD. When you install MD, it will format the unpartition space to it's liking. If you make it a partition, MD will not work properly.

Also, make sure that you have MD 2.0. If you have MD 3.0, then you have to do a different set up. Mainly because MD 3.0 requires you to completely reformat and start out with the MD 3.0 reinstallation disc. If you skip this step, then you'll be wasting time.

 

Thank you both for your replies, you saved me a great deal of headaches.

I'm about 100% positive its Media Direct 2.0, since I received the Reinstallation Disc from Dell back in August, prior to the release of Media Direct 3.0.

So just to clarify, I just use one partition, installing XP Media Center, leaving some space unpartitioned for Media Direct 2.0 installation. What about Dell Diagnostics? Do I have to create a partition, or does that work in the same way as the installation of MD 2.0, where it'll format some leftover space for its own use?

Thanks again.

 

You will have to create a partition for it within the OS (or from setup) (safer to do it within the OS) - leave enough space for your other parts / unpart space -

 

I wouldn't bother with a separate partition for the page file. In fact, it'll make things worse by placing it further away from the start of the disk where you get the fastest speed.

Instead of that, keep it on your windows partition (which should be the first one), and right after install, create it at a fixed size of 1.5-2x your actual memory. This will make sure that the file does not resize and become fragmented later on (proper defragging of the page file is a pain). It also makes sure that it's as close to the start of the disk as possible (usually within a few gigs -- the size of the windows installation).

 

Can anybody help me please...
I have the factory set.All the space in one drive.there are others for media direct but i am talking of the usable space.How do i resize it?I tried partition magic8, but it gave "I/O error please check the drive and then press any key" Win xp too doesn have any resize option in disk management.Event the format option is disabled.I don want to reinstall the OS again.How do i do it keeping all my data intact?
Thanks

 

What exactly are you trying to do? We need more info on what is going on.

 

I have one drive of 69.4GB(c drive).I want to split it into 4 drives of
9GB,
25Gb,
20GB,
Remaining.
I am not able to do it in windows or using partition magic.In Pmagic it gave an error saying I/O error.In windows disk management, there is no option of resize.
Hope i am clearer this time.Basically i want to resize and split my drive without formatting.