What operating system you are planning to use? Are you thinking about installing another operating system afterwards? What are you going to use the machine for? What number of partitions you’ll be required and of what sizes? How should the partitions be ordered? Are you having any backup scheme and how can you simplify that process from the start?

Make note of the system required to be installed and at the point when they’ll be required to install. One can use the list to create an unattended installation CD.