getting a new laptop in the next few days..needless to day it has only 1 HD. So I figure it might be worht it to partition so reformatting is easier.

Would there be any disadvantages to doing this? Like slower performance or something...

Also, say I have two partitions, one for windows/programs, one for stuff i want to keep, and i go into windows 2k/xp setup, would it be good to do this:
1. Delete the Windows partition
2. Recreate the partition from free space
3. Install to that partition
4. Pray that the new partition somehow ends up as drive C

Step 4 has me a tad worried

TIA

-C