Win7 64bits installing new 2nd 1TB HDD - 3 partitions?

[OCChew]

Hi Folks,

Could you advice me on partitioning new 1TB HDD please.

This is my spec:

Disk 1 (already running) - Intel SATA SSD 80GB - Windows 7 64bits OS only (not sure if it is NTSF of FAT)

Disk 2 (new addition) - SATA Samsung F3 1TB for data & future dual boot Linux.

I have done this so far:

a) Set BIOS to AHCI for the 1st SSD.
b) Installed Win 7 64bits OS.
c) Update mobo chipset to the latest Version 1.1. Gigabyte P55M-UD2.

Nothing else until now that I think the system is stable I intend to add 2nd HDD for the purpose of data storage &/or future dual booting Linux.

(after reading info on the web regarding partition etc)
I understand there can only be up to 4 maximum primary partitions on one drive and beyond that all partition will be logical ...

Question:

1) Do I partition the 2nd HDD as primary or logical? I need to store data only but I need to dual boot Linux from one of 2nd HDD partition in future. I guess 4 partitions is enough for me with one reserve for future Linux dual boot.

2) Do I reformat the 2nd HDD in NTSF since I do not know if I have NTSF or FAT in my SSD where the OS is residing?

3) Do I create all the partition after booting Windows or create them in BIOS?

4) Oh ... do I need to go into BIOS to set the 2nd HDD to AHCI or does the system knows that it will be in AHCI since the first SSD is in AHCI?

That's the questions for now.


Cheers



p/s: back to researching security software ... another headache so far ... arrghhh ...

 

[[TBR]MadMark]

1) Make them primary partitions I believe 7 is like vista in that the first 3 partitions you create wil be primary (extended+logical available after this).The other option is dynamic disk but i think you will need 7 pro and above.

2)Format NTFS as fat will offer little or no security to files also NTFS offers encrytion.

3)Create from within windows using Disk Management, you can manipulate your drive at will from there.

4)If the bios is set to AHCI then all disks will be ahci enabled.

Hope this helps.

 

[OCChew]

1) Make them primary partitions I believe 7 is like vista in that the first 3 partitions you create wil be primary (extended+logical available after this).The other option is dynamic disk but i think you will need 7 pro and above.

2)Format NTFS as fat will offer little or no security to files also NTFS offers encrytion.

3)Create from within windows using Disk Management, you can manipulate your drive at will from there.

4)If the bios is set to AHCI then all disks will be ahci enabled.

Hope this helps.

Thank you.

I will do that once I have sorted some problems with my system at the moment.