New system, C: drive

[dwell]

Traditionally, I make a bunch of little 50GB or so partitions and allocate them for categories like games, music, etc. I am always hitting my head on one of the partitions so I am leaning towards one huge drive.

What do you normally do? I probably wont Ghost the system partition on install because if I re-do the system I will just do it completely from scratch.

 

[Aosh]

I would at least make a separate partition just for the OS (20-30GB depending on how many apps u install). Makes re-formatting and backups much easier.

Personally, I like to have my data across several partitions. One for my main data, one for data dump (unsorted downloads, etc..)

 

[flexy]

please dont partition

It would be a big subject now....but with XP/Vista and NTFS there are reasons NOT to partition.

Backup-argument is NIL since when the HD fails, also the other partition would be gone.

Just short: There are certain filesystem-boosting features in XP/Vista (eg. prefetching etc..etc..) which do NOT work across partitions.

From a human point of view it doesnt matter. You can have games or apps on a partition...or JUST have a *folder*( on ONE partition and access the folder (instead of the other partition)....under Vista even better since there are hardlinks.

I also did it that way years ago...OS one one partition...apps on the other...but it gets VERY non transparent...and as said XP cannot optimize across partitions as well as defraggers (eg. diskeeper)...on a second partition the OS/defragger would have no freedom to move around files to an optimal place...its always stuck on the partition. If you have, say, 3 partitions....the third one/last one will be at the BACK of the HD with approx up to 50% slower transfer-rates..etc..etc...not good.

 

[Aosh]

I'm not sure which backup argument you're referring to. But my idea of a backup is "copy all the data from drive D" Either to DVD or an external. No need to copy system files. A partition makes it a nice clean break.

Plus, re-formatting is a breeze. Don't have to worry about backing up your data first, because hey, it's already all on a separate partition. Even if all your data is in one "Data" folder, you'd still have to put that somewhere before you reformat. Lastly, it's a lot easier to type "d:" than it is to type or navigate to "C:\Blah\"

I'd take the no hassle advantages listed above over a few optimizations.

Personal preference, I guess.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Putting the OS on its own C: partition allows you to do image backups of that partition without needing to include tens of GBs of data files in the backup. The image will also be much smaller so easier to copy.

With just one drive I'd uusally put the OS and application installs on C:, data files and game installs on D:

If you don't use an image tool like Ghost or Acronis True Image this reason doesn't apply to you. Enjoy reinstalling Windows piece-by-piece from scratch instead of using a one click restore

 

[Blain]

I normally create a 4GB partition behind C:
I download drivers, utilities and small apps there. I make it 4GB so that it's easy to just burn a DVD and have all my download stuff in one place. I also save my screen shots of purchases when I make them.
I also use a totally different HD for storage.

 

[Slugbait]

Originally posted by: Chris
I probably wont Ghost the system partition on install because if I re-do the system I will just do it completely from scratch.

God, I wish I had time for that...drivers, broadband tweaks, RivaTuner, customized Start menu, Favorites import and associated cookies for places like Anand's, HOSTS file, security apps and configuration, setup system accounts, shell modification, performance tweaks, a couple of hours for all the critical patches, and of course two or three days of re-installing all the apps I use on a consistent basis (plus the few games I just can't quit playing). Considering I have to work during the day, a system rebuild takes about a week.

But instead I just waste 8 minutes of my life with TrueImage, and all that crap is already taken care of. That's why I have a small system partition, and install all my apps on the large partition(s). I don't see much value in having separate partitions if you aren't imaging.

 

[Navid]

Originally posted by: Chris
I probably wont Ghost the system partition on install because if I re-do the system I will just do it completely from scratch.

Why?

If you have made your mind about that and are sure that you will not do any imaging, and if you are sure that you will not be multi-booting (XP, Vista, ...), there is no reason for you to partition.