>>5
here's what you do:
1.- partition hdd in 100Gb for windows and programs and leave the rest for documents/backup of progs part.
2.- install winxp on the first part.
3.- install all your progs and shit.
4.- go to your user folder (C:\Documents and Settings\Yourname) and cut (yes cut) the following folders: My Documents, Favorites and Desktop.
5.- go to the second partition and make a new folder, inside that folder, paste the folders you cut and that way anything you save to those places will automatically be saved on the second partition, thus not having to worry about losing data when your windows partition fucks up.
6.- get a hold of hiren's boot cd (
http://www.hirensbootcd.net/download.html) and use norton ghost to make a... er... ghost of your system (just the first partition), save it to the second partition as well and use it to restore your windows/programs partition when it fucks up.