Partitioning - your opinions please

[eager2no]

With PCLOS 2010 around the corner, I am making thoughts about how to partition my new hard disk that I haven't even bought yet 
I need Windows XP for work, but would like to do everything else in PCLOS.
I like to keep my data (work-related files, archived files, app install files, etc.) off the C drive in Windows and off /home in Linux. Currently I have an NTFS partition set aside for the purpose in XP, and a /data in PCLOS.
Is there a way to have a single consolidated data partition that both systems can use?
As far as I now, my choices are FAT and NTFS. Since I also have quite a few large files, FAT is out, and NTFS has the stupid habit of changing Last Accessed folder dates whenever something happens within them. The registry hacks I found don't help.

I am even thinking of moving my XP-based environment to a virtual XP under Linux, but I'd still need to access my data files from it.

What do you think?

[marian]

You can chose ntfs or ext3. I would chose probably ext3 with driver for windows:
http://www.blogsdna.com/1859/access-linux-ext2-ext3-volumes-directly-from-windows-using-ext2-installable-file-system-for-windows.htm

An yes you can use VirtualBox to install XP and access your ext partitions through "Local network" in XP.

[ThirdOfSix]

eager2no,

Please tell us a little more about your computer.

Is it a desktop unit which has room for another drive internally?

Or, is it a lap top that you carry back and forth to your work?

How big is your current drive?

Will your computer boot from an external USB drive?

What windows applications do you use for your work?

How many and how large are your work files?

Many of us here run Windows in VirtualBox for a number of reasons.

Depending on your work needs, that could be a very viable option for you. In some situations, it would be better to stick with a dual boot system.

In general though, when your livelihood depends on your Windows install, I would lean towards keeping Windows on a physically separate drive that is periodically backed up/imaged onto your new large Linux drive.

[eager2no]

marian,
I'd love t have an ext file system for the data, but would Ext2 IFS handle ext4? I understand the new PCLOS 2010 will use ext4.

ThirdOfSix,
Computer: It's a desktop.
Drives: It currently has two identical and identically partitioned internal 400GB SATA drives. One is the workhorse drive (I first typed 'workwhore' and liked it  ), the other one is normally unconnected, connected only to back up the work drive. In this configuration, 400GB is about 80 percent full, I am thinking of buying a 1TB drive (or two to keep the twin drives configuration).
USB boot: I have fooled around with a 32GB USB drive and managed to make it bootable.
Windows apps: The primary reason for needing Windows is that I need to use Trados. Not that I couldn't use it from under VirtualBox.
Large files: The large files are partly XP system backups, and partly some videos.

I do use VirtualBox and do have a virtual Windows system, but serves no 'serious' purpose at the moment.

[marian]

You can access ntfs from PCLinuxOS so you rather leave your work related partitions as is.

PCLOS 2010 will use ext4 but will be backwards compatible.

And as for Ext2 IFS it was primarily wrote for ext2 but works with ext3 too and it may work with ext4 but I've never tried that.

[Was_Just19]

I'd love t have an ext file system for the data, but would Ext2 IFS handle ext4? I understand the new PCLOS 2010 will use ext4.

You can use Ext for your data partition just as you can use NTFS.

What FS is used for the OS install has no bearing on that.