this is a good tip, and something i learned a while back
i actually have a small 8 gig drive that holds only my os
another larger 40gig drive partioned in half, one side for programs and basic storage and the other side (20gig) that I call "current project" in which i use on the current transfer and editing
after the project is finalized, and stored (used to be on dat, now on cd-r) i erase the drive, and use a disk verification and optimization program (norton utilities) on the disk
this friend of mine told me the more junk you have on the disk that you use while working on a project, the more likely you may have problems...he used the metaphor of a chalkboard in a classroom, where a teacher rights down a fact or an equation, then another then another, etc until the chalkboard is about full, and scrambling to find space...as the chalkboard gets more and more full, it gets harder and harder to find the information and interpret the information on the blackboard.
conversely, if you write a few facts on the blackboard, then store the facts, you can then erase the board and go onto the next topic, or project
this is ever so important the more tracks you use. most of use will only be using 2 tracks, dat/jbs transfer, but some of us use multitracking using 8, 16, 24 48 etc tracks AT ONE TIME...this is where is is critical to make sure your drive is operating at peak performance, and having that clean slate everytime you start makes things alot easier.
always back up your data of course, or face the reality that you will someday lose data...it is inevitable as computers are not without flaws.
brought to you by a recording junkie
have a grateful day
chris k