Question

Partitioning Disks - Value?

Asked by: codequest

I'm about to get  new XP Pro system with a 500GB harddrive.  On my current system my 250GB drive is partitioned.   I tried using my old version of PartitionMagic on #another# system I recently bought, and it went to blue screen, so I decided not to go that route.  I could cough up $70 to Symantec for a new version.  I'm just trying to figure out "why"?  I would normally put all my data in a folder called "MyStuff" (I hate the MS My Documents folder, don't ask me why) and then start dividing "MyStuff" into big chunks, smaller chunks, etc.  Is there some particular advantage to partitioning that I'm missing?  I've got a couple of 250GB passports and a network drive I use heavily....any input on advantages disadvantages of partitioning my new 500GB would be appreciated.

Thanks!

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Asked On
2009-11-02 at 20:36:56ID24866133
Topic

Microsoft Windows Operating Systems

Participating Experts
4
Points
500
Comments
8

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Answers

 

by: EirmanPosted on 2009-11-02 at 20:48:12ID: 25726127

One big advantage of partitioning is that you can keep your operating system and programs separate from your data.
You can then clone your OS for very quick disaster recovery. You only need to clone the OS when you make major changes to your system.
I clone my OS every 1-2 months whereas I backup my data every day

(xxclone is a good free program) .. xxclone.com

 

by: andossPosted on 2009-11-02 at 21:11:08ID: 25726203

As Eirman said the main advantage is in keeping your OS and data separate.
Main advantages I can think of by doing so are things like:
- Can wipe out your old OS and upgrade/reinstall without having to backup data to a second drive.
- Disk Defragmentation - depending how you use your computer a disk defragment of your data could take alot of time for insignificant improvement. A disk defrag of a 20gig OS partition would only need to be done occasionally and the improvement would be much more noticeable.

Personally i always create a 20-50gig partition for my OS and then leave the rest of the drive as data, while there is an advantage in separating data from OS there's no real advantage separating data from data.
That way if your OS crashes and you need to reinstall you just format the first partition and the system comes back up with all your data retained, no need for messy data restores when your OS crashes.

 

by: zimbixPosted on 2009-11-02 at 21:22:36ID: 25726242

Partitioning can be troublesome at times, but is great if you get it right from the start. I agree about the usefulness of being able to clone your OS for restoration in the case of a disaster.
I'd used Partition Magic in the past, but asfter encountering several Blue Screens, I switched to using GParted from an Ubuntu LiveCD. GParted is excellent, and is very easy to use.
Before partitioning, you should run "chkdsk /f" from cmd and defrag your HDD.
However, getting another two physical hard drives (1 about 60-80GB for your OS + 1 for your data) is probably the easiest option, as you will never encounter partitioning problems.
Good luck!

 

by: andossPosted on 2009-11-02 at 21:27:53ID: 25726258

If you are doing a fresh install of windows you can also just partition at install.... if you pre-plan and make sure you are setting it up correctly from scratch there is really no need for fancy partitioning software and since your getting a new 500gig hard drive you may aswell plan it out and do it right from scratch.

 

by: nobusPosted on 2009-11-03 at 00:32:53ID: 25726955

personally, i never use partitions; but i did use them for customers.
i don't see much advantage in it; as you said, you can as well use different folders (i know many will disagree, but that's my view)
as for cloning, you can as well clone the new installation when it is complete, BEFORE copying your data in it (of which you always need a backup on another disk) - then the cloning is the same as for partitioning.
I see only one drawback with partitioning : when using some programs, you can point them to the wrong partition (especially when you have more than 2)
or when the OS or disk become corrupt, weird things may happen to partitions

 

by: andossPosted on 2009-11-03 at 14:24:14ID: 25734490

The drawback you've pointed out (pointing to wrong partition) would occur with multiple disks anyway.
Also OS becoming corrupt on first partition will never affect what happens on the second partitiion, that's the whole point.
Disk becoming corrupt is going to cost you time/data regardless of partitioning choices.

Lastly your example of cloning, if i clone/ghost the fresh OS install it takes a snapshot of the entire partition. So in a 500gig partition when i restore the clean OS the entire partition will be wiped clean, if the partition is only 20gig then only that part of the disk is wiped on the OS restore... hence i can restore the clean OS without having to also restore 480gig of misc data.

 

by: nobusPosted on 2009-11-03 at 23:49:12ID: 25737209

al that i know; and is true; but i'm seeing a lot of questions about multiple partitions losing all data on all partitions since most errors occur on the disk in the starting sectors (which are most used)
but i won't argue farther on it, just my view, as said

 

by: codequestPosted on 2009-11-04 at 21:30:32ID: 25746994

Thanks all for inputs.  I've decided to do the partitioning.  Grazie!

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