Partitioning a hard drive

[urgranny]

Hi

I would like to find outh wether it is necessary to partition hard drive? What are the benefits? The simplist software to partition?

Thanks

 

[ponder]

Gparted.

But it all depends on what you want to do with the drive. Your question is very vague.

 

[rrh]

Hi

I would like to find outh wether it is necessary to partition hard drive? What are the benefits? The simplist software to partition?

Thanks

Typically one might split a drive into two partitions, one for the operating system and programs, the second containing only your data. A backup strategy might then be to backup the data every night, the entire disk (i.e. both partitions) once a week.

A slightly more complicated option might be to locate one's data in a single partition (as above), then to install multiple operating systems, each in their own partition, along with a multi-boot manager. You will then be able to share your data amongst the operating systems - assuming that you have created the data partition using a format readable by all O/S.

 

[LazyLion]

It is ALWAYS necessary to partition a hard drive before use!

I think you mean is it necessary to split it into more than one partition?

My answer is no... these days with hard drive sizes and prices it is no longer necessary.

 

[EasyUp Web Hosting]

Will this be your main drive or a second drive. If it is a second drive, use windows disk management (right click my computer and click on manage)

 

[Avenue]

partitioning splits the hard drive to emulate multiple devices. One of the benefits would be that you can store all your files on one partition, and your OS on another- then if you ever need to reinstall your os, you dont need to format the entire drive and thus worry about loosing/backing up all your files. You just format the partition with the OS, reinstall it and you up and running in no time.

I use a partitioned drive to install a few operating systems- windows + ubuntu/kubuntu etc I can then play games in windows and do all my work in the far more secure linux environment. Not only that, but in linux programs can only access other partitions after a password has been keyed in, so if some malicious script does happen to run, its not going to be able to get to my system files anyway.

 

[Conradl]

If you have a huge drive that you use for apps and data storage, then you can get a performance benefit from creating a system partition and using that for games, apps, OS. The outer disk is faster when compared to the inner disk, putting your most used files there will speed things up - especially in a few months time when the outer tracks are full and you install a large game and it ends up on the slow part of the disk. Whether or not you will actually perceive any difference from doing so is another question.

 

[Jabberwocky]

Generally just a good idea to create more than 1 partition your HDD if its your only one. Keep installed stuff and windows on one, and mp3s, photos, movies etc. on the other.
Easier to format without losing all your stuff.

 

[Romito]

It's a very good idea to partition as you can separate your files or data from your OS drive. I learned the hard way back in my XP days when if a drive fails or is infected by a virus I would have to reformat the entire drive. I'm running Windows 7 now on its own 65GB partition and when i have to format it I don't even think twice about it since all my music, movies and softwares are on a separate partition. Benefits of partition is it eliminates potential loss of valuable data by at least 50% but if the drive itself is screwed then tough luck!

 

[urgranny]

It's a very good idea to partition as you can separate your files or data from your OS drive. I learned the hard way back in my XP days when if a drive fails or is infected by a virus I would have to reformat the entire drive. I'm running Windows 7 now on its own 65GB partition and when i have to format it I don't even think twice about it since all my music, movies and softwares are on a separate partition. Benefits of partition is it eliminates potential loss of valuable data by at least 50% but if the drive itself is screwed then tough luck!

thanks for all the very useful info!

So i used the DISK MANGEMENT in Window 7 to partition my 500Gb hard drive. But this utility only allows me to shrink the applications/Windows drive to 240Gb. Not any smaller.
@ROMITO: how did u shrink it to 65Gb?

 

[ponder]

Defrag the drive and use GParted on a livecd to resize it.

Windows probably has the kukkest disk management out there.

 

[urgranny]

Defrag the drive and use GParted on a livecd to resize it.

Windows probably has the kukkest disk management out there.

Aside from Gparted, is there any simpler program?

 

[BTTB]

Generally just a good idea to create more than 1 partition your HDD if its your only one. Keep installed stuff and windows on one, and mp3s, photos, movies etc. on the other.
Easier to format without losing all your stuff.

+1

 

[Demon7]

you could use Easeus partition manager... it is free and simple to use.. will also allow you to format FAT32 if you so wish...
Swissknife also good