Partition

[Will404]

I am getting a new 250GB hard drive for windows, and am not sure how to partition it

Should I go for one 50GB partition for the OS and some small apps, then 150GB for other apps and docs, photos ect, then another 50GB for backup - incase I delete something important

Or...

Do you think it would be better to go for 75Gb, then 100GB, then 75GB

Or...

Add a 4th partition, and have 50GB OS, 50GB apps, 100GB docs photos ect, then 50GB backup...???

Any other ideas would be apreciated

Not really sure, but I am sure I will not use more than 250Gb in the next few years

Also the ASUS P5Q-PRO will run this memory won't it

[peterb]

Personally I allow about 15Gb for the OS, then I'd allow about 75G for applications - and put nearly all my applications there, and then use the rest for user data. I wouldn't have my back up on the same drive - its pointless because if (or when - because it will - at some point) the drive fails, the backup uis lost too.

If you want to use a drive for backup, either get one specially or use the one that is coming out of the machine.

[Will404]

By backup I ment if I were to change something, and find that I had brocken it - it has happened before, accodentally deleting an important windows file , not incase the drive fails.

Also the ram mobo combonation will work wont it???

[TheReaFireblade]

By backup I ment if I were to change something, and find that I had brocken it - it has happened before, accodentally deleting an important windows file , not incase the drive fails.

You could just use a good backup program of course.
But I'd suggest 'cloning'/'ghosting' software, which allows for incremental backups (only files which are new/have changed since the last backup).

Acronis True Image (11) and Symantec Ghost (14?) are probably the two most popular commercial products available.
But HD Clone is an excellent - and FREE alternative

[Hicks12]

sorry to jump this thread but im also planning a format(in a few mins lol). Should i format my 250gb AAKS to like 20gb for OS, 150gb for games and 80gb for files? they dont need to be equal do they? having the partition for games the primary will mean that it will be faster right?.

[Will404]

Cool HD clone looks good, at the moment I am swaying towards 4 partitions - OS - 20GB, Apps - 90GB, Files - 90GB, and ghosts +backup - the rest - 50GB

Some quick maths there and it all adds up to 250

[peterb]

Looks OK - remember that drive mfrs tend to quote sizes in Gibibytes (base 10) while operating systems partition and report in gigabytes (base 2) so the actual sizes reported won't be exactly as you describe. A 250gibbibyte drive will have about 238Gigabytes of staoirage.

[Will404]

Good point - totally forgot about that

Ow well seems like it wont be all round numbers then

[Webby]

Looks OK - remember that drive mfrs tend to quote sizes in Gibibytes (base 10) while operating systems partition and report in gigabytes (base 2) so the actual sizes reported won't be exactly as you describe. A 250gibbibyte drive will have about 238Gigabytes of staoirage.

Think you have that backwards giga is base 10 and gibi is base 2 (bi for binary) and manufacturers quote in Gigabytes (1GB = 1,000,000,000 Bytes) while OS's report in Gibibytes (1GiB = 1,073,741,824 Bytes) even though they say its GB confusing yes important no not really in the great scheme of things!

[Will404]

Thanks all

Got it sorted now

[peterb]

Thanks Webby - yes - confused myself! (Got the principle right though )

[Hicks12]

done mine with 20gb OS, 150gb for games and 68gb for files. Works much better than before, its faster and its quieter as for some reason it doesnt make a huge noise while seeking etc.

[Will404]

Sorry to come back to it..., but all has been ordered, and the 320GB disk was on special offer, so I went for that one instead

However this has changed everything..

This is my latest idea (it involves a lot of drives - C:\,D:\....Z:\)

Primary drive

Total Space = 320 / 304.64
Primary partition(C:\) = Windows (+office) 36.76470588 / 35
Second partition (D:\) = Page file 4.87394958 / 4.64
Third partition (E:\) = Games 68.27731092 / 65
Fourth partition (F:\) = Programmes 68.27731092 / 65
Fifth partition (G:\) = Documents 89.28571429 / 85
Sixth partition (H:\) = Backup/ghosts 52.5210084 / 50


320 / 304.64

Second Drive

total space = 40 / 38.08
First partition (I:\) = Shared with network 8.487394958 / 8.08
Second partition (J:\) = Backup 31.51260504 / 30


40 / 38.08

Would this work, or is it a tad extreme!!?!

p.s sorry about the layour - copied from excel

[360bhp]

Is it best to leave the OS on a partition of its own, and install all software on another partition? Ive always thought it was best to put everything onto the same partition as the OS!

[Will404]

I think so, and have it as the first partition, so that it is on the outside edge, which means that it can read it faster, making it quicker.

Also having it on its own means that it does not get clogged up with programmes ect, so you have to do less defrags, and it runs faster

[shaithis]

On the flip-side, you do create yourself artificial barriers which may cause you problems later down the line.

Some programs will always stuff files onto the system partition and most larger apps will always put things into the system folders....

The time it takes for something like partitionmagic to resize partitions could well offset any loading times saved by partioning it in the first place.

As usual, almost every decision you make when setting up a PC has pros and cons.