Help with partitioning

[PTRMAN]

I've just partitioned my 500GB HD into two drives. The existing (where everything is now) is 350GB, while the other (completely empty) is 114GB.

What should I move where to make things more efficient/easier to backup/etc.? I've read that I should put Vista into one drive (c. 40GB) and the rest elsewhere.

Any suggestions as to how to setup my storage?

[halutzparilla]

well typically put the OS in small partition then the bigger one are for storage! thats what i always do during the time i was using my very first computer, now i just buy HDD physically separate everything...

[PTRMAN]

Yeah, I'm thinking about another HD but since this is all brand new (my first build completed two weeks ago) I'm trying to NOT spend any additional money right now.

If I wanted to move the OS (Vista 64) how do I do that?

[Yellowhello]

Partitioning confuses me. That's why I only use 1 hard drive!

[One4yu2c]

Originally Posted by PTRMAN

What should I move where to make things more efficient/easier to backup/etc.? I've read that I should put Vista into one drive (c. 40GB) and the rest elsewhere.

That's how I'd approach it, though I'd allocate a bit more than 40GB. I'd dedicate somewhere between 80GB-100GB for the OS and installed programs, and use the remaining 400ishGB for storage duties.

[Dr. V]

Definitely determine what you will be installing in terms of programs, games, anything that would go into the "Program Files" folder. Newer games are now easily consuming 6+ GB each. Not to mention certain programs aren't too small either. I have a whole 160GB HDD just for my Windows Vista and programs/games, and I only have about 20GB left. My storage drive for EVERYTHING and ANYTHING else is 250GB.

In terms of a huge 500GB HDD, I'd go 200GB for the OS and everything (just so you know you're good for a long while) and 300GB is still MORE than enough for everything else (depending on what kind of files you have to store, that is).

In any case, that's my $0.02. Enjoy.

P.S.

Originally Posted by PTRMAN

Yeah, I'm thinking about another HD but since this is all brand new (my first build completed two weeks ago) I'm trying to NOT spend any additional money right now.

If I wanted to move the OS (Vista 64) how do I do that?

Short and sweet answer - don't do it.

It's possible, but it's very tedious and time consuming, and at the end of the day it just isn't worth it. If you have any game save files or other files that programs may use stored on your main drive with Vista on it right now, simply back them up onto a folder, and then completely do a fresh install of the OS. That's what I recommend.

[PTRMAN]

I'm a bit confused. Right now I've got everything on the C drive, which is now 350GB. I'll try expanding the unused 114GB partition to about 300GB.

But what should stay in the original drive? OS only? OS plus programs? The only other things I have are itunes music and photos, both of which are stored on an external 150GB drive (the photos ARE backups, while the music is NOT backed up anywhere). Do I really even need the partition?

[Dr. V]

Here is the thing.

Picture this:

A brand new, completely freshly first time formatted hard drive with absolutely nothing on it. What's the first thing you do? Install OS, then install all your programs, then probably all your games. THAT'S what should be done on the C Drive.

ANYTHING ELSE - I mean documents, music files, picture files, downloads, everything else - goes on the D Drive. I guess another good way to look at it is - whatever DOESN'T NEED the C Drive to run (because programs need to be configured through the Windows drive, etc.), goes on the D Drive. The D Drive is now your backup drive and the drive you use to store everything that you may or may not use all the time, but doesn't have anything to do with Windows. Also, you need to make sure that the files on the D Drive don't require Windows to properly function (such as a program) or the D Drive deems itself useless.

So.

C:\ Drive:
OS
Programs
Games
Anything else that you have that NEEDS to be configured through the C:\ Drive to run

D:\ Drive:
Everything else;
Music
Pictures
Word, PowerPoint, Excel, or any other kind of Document
Downloads
Videos
etc.

For example. On the C Drive you would install Microsoft Office 2007. But, if you're working in Microsoft Office Word 2007 and you need to SAVE a document, you'd save it on your D Drive.

Help any?

[Reloadron]

I would set things up pretty much as One4yu2c and PTRMAN mentions. Since you are working with a single HDD partitioned into two drives I would place the OS and your programs on a partition of about 100 GB and use the remaining partition for storage.

The small problem I see is you already have the OS installed. Therefore you need to shrink C:\ or expand D:\ (I assume D:\) into what is now C:\. What partitioning software are you using?

Much of how you do this is pretty much a matter of how you plan to use what you have. Remember something with this configuration, if the drive ever fails everything is toast! Unless someone is running with redundancy it is wise to back up those things you treasure like pictures and music.

Ron

[One4yu2c]

Originally Posted by PTRMAN

Do I really even need the partition?

You don't need one, but it sure comes in handy if you ever need to reformat and reinstall your OS, such as a malware infection wreaking havoc, a driver install gone bad, etc. By partitioning, you can nuke your OS drive (presumably C:) and everything on your storage partition (presumably D:) stays intact.