Recommended XP Partition Size Install
The first step when installing Windows XP is preparation. In many cases it is recommended to reformat and repartition the hard drive for your new install. There are some requirements for the partition onto which Windows XP will be installed, especially regarding the size and format of the partition.
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Partition Size
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Windows XP Professional requires at least a 1.5 GB primary partition to install. This requirement may not allow for enough free space to install additional programs though. Microsoft Office 2007 for example, requires 400 MB of free space, while Microsoft Office requires 3 GB.
Partition Scheme
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Windows XP must be installed on a primary partition that can be FAT32 or NTFS, though for partitions larger than 32 GB you will need to use NTFS. To increase the efficiency of Windows XP, creating two partitions (one for Windows XP and another called 'Data' to hold your files and installed programs) will improve I/O functionality as well as keep the system partition healthier. This will also protect your data if Windows XP needs reinstallation, as the Data partition will be left intact.
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Dual Booting
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Microsoft recommends installing the oldest version of Windows first, followed by the newer versions in order of their release. The hard drive must be partitioned correctly to dual boot, so for dual booting XP and Vista/7, the partitions should be formatted as NTFS. You can create one Data partition to hold all your files and programs, this parition can be accessed from XP and Vista/7.
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References
- Microsoft: XP System Requirements
- Microsoft: Office Requirements
- Microsoft: FAT32 Limitations in Windows XP
- "CompTIA A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC"; Jean Andrews; 2008
- Microsoft: Dual Booting
- Microsoft: Windows XP partitioning
Resources
- Photo Credit hard disk drive image by MAXFX from Fotolia.com
