160 GB Hard drive - Should I make multiple partitions?

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arthurcorell · #1 Post by **arthurcorell** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 12:44 am

What is the advantage or disadvantage?

Thanks

mod edit: moved to general hardware/software forum as this question is not T6x-specific.

mgo · #2 Post by **mgo** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 12:55 am

arthurcorell wrote:What is the advantage or disadvantage?

Thanks

If you are using just one drive for your operating system and your personal files, I always recommend two partitions. One for the operating system with room for some growth and other utilities. Then create one more partition for your personal data. For XP, up to 20 gig is plenty for the system partition, unless you have some really huge programs, like Microsoft Streets or something, which are one gig in size!

Creating more than two partitions is usually just a waste of space, because nothing really seems to "fit" all that well without leaving some useless slack.

For a USB external drive or Ultra Bay drive, one partition will work just dandy. Less confusing, too. (all those letters....)

whizkid · #3 Post by **whizkid** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 12:33 pm

I've been using one partition for Windows for ages. The main advantage I see is simplicity: Back up and restore everything. The main drawback I can imagine is that if the programs get corrupted, you'd also have to restore data, but that's usually small and quick, and you get it for free when you restore everything.

mgo wrote:If you are using just one drive for your operating system and your personal files, I always recommend two partitions. One for the operating system with room for some growth and other utilities. Then create one more partition for your personal data.

What are the pros and cons of doing that? Are those real benefits, or imagined ones?

Nick Y · #4 Post by **Nick Y** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 1:37 pm

On my external disc (300GB) I have a 4.5 GB partition which acts as a back up for personal data files and when it is 'full' I write the contents to a DVD. (In the larger partition, I regularly make Acronis back ups.) Don't know whether it is efficient or not, but it works for me.

darkwish · #5 Post by **darkwish** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 1:44 pm

whizkid wrote:What are the pros and cons of doing that? Are those real benefits, or imagined ones?

For me, I tend to reinstall windows a lot, and I don't have to worry about saving my personal files. I can just do a format of the OS partition and reinstall windows and my personal files are still there. Of course this doesn't save you from a whole disk failure, and thats why you should have a separate backup. You can just backup your personal files partition instead of the entire drive.

#6 Post by **carbon_unit** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 1:52 pm

I would use 20 or 25 gigs for Windows and the rest as a D:\ partition. Then change your my documents folder to reside on the D:\ drive as per: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310147
Now if (when) Windows gets corrupted and you have to reinstall, all of your data is already backed up and ready. You don't have to do anything to save your data on a day to day basis. If you want to backup your D:\ partition just drag and drop folders to the cdrw drive. If you are really tricky you can get your bookmarks, emails and address book to reside on D:\ also.

#7 Post by **bill bolton** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 8:04 pm

If Windows decides to spit-the-dummy (for whatever reason and whatever time - including a new install) it can easily scribble over any part of the drive, including the partition table.

Having data in separate partition on the same drive is really no better than having in a specific directory/folder tree on the same partition as the OS if you have only a single OS in use.

The only real case I can see for a separate data partition is where there are multiple OS partitions on a drive.

By all means keep data in a well organised set of directories, but I remain to be convinced that putting it in a second partition yields much value for most users.

A backup is like a spare tyre... don't go far without one!

Cheers,

Bill B.

darkwish · #8 Post by **darkwish** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 9:53 pm

Yes I agree it's not a good idea if your only reason is for data safety purpose. Always have a backup of your data on a separate drive. My main reason is for organizational purposes and allows me to format the OS parition without worrying about my data. I also dual boot between Vista and XP, and it allows me to have a common area for my personal data.

#9 Post by **erik** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 12:15 am

i divide my main drive up into a few partitions for better organization but not for data security.

frgtn · #10 Post by **frgtn** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 2:22 pm

Well I think that having one partition even in a small drive is a bad idea. In case something goes bad, like corrupt windows installation or worse, all the data is endangered. Imo one should have at least 2 partitions, keeping OS in one and all the data in another. Moving My Documents folder is essential.

As for me I like to explore some more interesting setups. I've divided my 500gb raid0 array on my desktop to let's see... 8 partitions not counting the linux ones. First one is Windows and some small programs, the second is for large software like games and various development / graphics tools, third for development workspaces / data and so on. The advantage of this is that i can play with block sizes (cluster?... i keep forgetting (: ) so some partitions are more suited for large files and some for loads of tiny files. Another advantage is less fragmentation and some more order

Tho i haven't really noticed any imba performance increases, at least it helps to keep things organized.

But an average user 2 partitions are enough. Well, maybe one more for keeping backups (though that would not help in case the drive dies).

P.S. Has anyone found a fast and efficient way to place desktop to another drive? I've heard just using a link works, but is very slow. Anyone tried?

Nick Y · #11 Post by **Nick Y** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 4:14 pm

Just to add to my post above, my external drive is only connected occasionally. I quite agree with the comments about not keeping a security back up on a main drive; far too dangerous.

Trekk69 · #12 Post by **Trekk69** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 4:57 pm

Hey
I've been lurking this topic for a while now. My X61T is coming next week, and was wondering if I use Acronis to partition my HD, will I lose the Lenovo backup partition???

My process was going to be:
1.) I was going to create a set of recovery disks using RnR
2.) Backup my HD to my external HD
3.) I planned on doing a RnR custom installation with BSA software
4.) Than I planned on using Acronis to partition my HD, but will I lose the hidden lenovo backup portion??

Thanks in advance,
S

mgo · #13 Post by **mgo** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 5:13 pm

Trekk69 wrote:Hey
I've been lurking this topic for a while now. My X61T is coming next week, and was wondering if I use Acronis to partition my HD, will I lose the Lenovo backup partition???

My process was going to be:
1.) I was going to create a set of recovery disks using RnR
2.) Backup my HD to my external HD
3.) I planned on doing a RnR custom installation with BSA software
4.) Than I planned on using Acronis to partition my HD, but will I lose the hidden lenovo backup portion??

Thanks in advance,
S

My experience is:
1: doing the Rescue & Recovery is a good idea. Make sure you also create the boot media CD also, or R&R might not work for you should you need to use it.
2: Rescue & Recovery will destroy any partitions you may have created on the drive during the recovery process. Only use it in a big emergency. Besides, it's slower than heck!
3: Use Acronis Disk Director to create your partitions. It will not affect your special recovery partition when you do that unless you deliberately delete that partition. Vista has a onboard partition utility, but when I tried it I was not pleased with it at all. (that was more than a year ago in beta)
4: Use Acronis True Image to create backups of your C: partition. It is the best and fastest way to protect your machine. (10-15 minutes using Acronis vs. 2 hours using R&R!)

Sure, you will be spending about $40.00 for each program, but what's it worth to you, eh?

I do not work for Acronis, but I have used the product for years with great success. By the way, Acronis 10 and Acronis 11 (the newest) are not cross compatible for some reason, but that should not cause problems for a new user.

I assume your new machine will have Vista on board. If so, use Robocopy (now available to the rest of us) for your data backups. It's fast and free. Easy to set up the batch files for it, too. If you need help with Robocopy, just ask me. I could even create the batch files for you.

Trekk69 · #14 Post by **Trekk69** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 6:34 pm

Thanks a lot mgo, great information. It works too because I already have Acronis, so I will just transfer it over to the new computer when it comes.
Perfect, so after I create the recovery disks and bootable media CD, I will use the BSA/RnR to do a custom install of Vista.
Than will use Acronis Disk Director to create my partitions.
Than use Acronis True Image to create backups of my C: partition.
And than will use Robocopy to maintain data backups to my external (USB) HD, through my continued use of my computer.

Thanks a lot guys....love this place.

mgo · #15 Post by **mgo** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 7:29 pm

Trekk69 wrote:Thanks a lot mgo, great information. It works too because I already have Acronis, so I will just transfer it over to the new computer when it comes.

Since you already a copy of Acronis, do you also have the emergency boot CD that you can create with Acronis? If so, use that to boot over when you start up your new machine for the first time. Make an image of that, before you do anything else. This will create a totally "virgin" factory image without any user data on the drive. This would be useful should you decide to sell the machine. The new owner would see a 100% factory fresh screen when he starts the machine the first time. (provided you restored that image, of course before giving it to him)

In fact, you could even create your first image using the boot CD without having to install Acronis on the machine.

#16 Post by **bill bolton** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 8:02 pm

frgtn wrote:In case something goes bad, like corrupt windows installation or worse, all the data is endangered.

In that case its all endangered anyway, whether its in one or two partitions!

Cheers,

Bill B.

Trekk69 · #17 Post by **Trekk69** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 8:02 pm

No, I don't have the emergency boot CD yet....but I can now create one.
So just create the 'emergency boot CD' on my current computer. And than when I get my new one next week, place it in the CD drive and turn it on, and than it will take me through instructions to make that full 'virgin' image of my machine?

Thanks again mgo, you have been of great help.

mgo · #18 Post by **mgo** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 9:50 pm

Trekk69 wrote:No, I don't have the emergency boot CD yet....but I can now create one.
So just create the 'emergency boot CD' on my current computer. And than when I get my new one next week, place it in the CD drive and turn it on, and than it will take me through instructions to make that full 'virgin' image of my machine?

Thanks again mgo, you have been of great help.

The Acronis True Image boot CD interface looks and behaves about the same as the Windows version. You select "backup" and tell the software where to save the image, and make sure you give it a good easy to understand label so you will know what it is later on. Sometimes your mouse may act a little funny in this mode of True Image. If it will not work you can use the Touch Pad for navigation.

I am assuming your machine is set to boot off a CD where there is a bootable one in the drive. This is usually the default mode in the BIOS.

When the program is done you click OK, and remove the CD and click the red X at the upper right corner to re-start your machine. Then, the ThinkPad will present you with the account forms to be filled out to create your presence on the machine.

The emergency boot CD is essential! If the hard drive dies, how does one get to Acronis to recover the image? You can't. So that is where the CD boot capability saves the day. The user can even plug in a different drive and place the old image down on it. Works really well.

Even when running a recovery action from Windows Acronis always needs a re-boot so it can load its own operating system in a sort of ramdrive in order to execute the recovery. Windows locks some essential files, as you probably know, so this is why one needs to get totally out of Windows in order to do a recovery.

Trekk69 · #19 Post by **Trekk69** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 9:57 pm

mgo, you are great....fantastic help like this is why I love this place!
Finally, got my sequence of events ready to go once the new X61T (with the ultrabase, for the CD drive) arrives I'll be ready to rock out!!!

Thanks again to all
S

Trekk69 · #20 Post by **Trekk69** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 5:22 pm

mgo: is the 'emergency boot CD', the same as : "Create Bootable Rescue Media"??

Thanks again

Trekk69 · #21 Post by **Trekk69** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 3:15 pm

ANYONE????
ITs Arriving TODAY!!!
THANKS!!!!

mgo · #22 Post by **mgo** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 3:27 pm

Trekk69 wrote:mgo: is the 'emergency boot CD', the same as : "Create Bootable Rescue Media"??

Thanks again

Yes, that is the one. I discovered the hard way that if I do not make that separate CD, then I might not be able to start up the rescue procedure. Luckily, I had another one around and was still able to save the day.

Trekk69 · #23 Post by **Trekk69** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 3:29 pm

Computer just arrived 5mins ago
THANKS!!!!!

Trekk69 · #24 Post by **Trekk69** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 3:31 pm

I plan on following the directions, we have listed out in this topic tonight...gotta do some work first (boo)
I'll let you know how it goes.

Once again, thanks

I love this place!!

160 GB Hard drive - Should I make multiple partitions?

160 GB Hard drive - Should I make multiple partitions?

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