Help with Installing Windows 7 on new hard drive

BlueVenom · 19 Jan 2011 at 16:46

Tomorrow I'm going to install windows on a new 640gb hard drive after finishing off a new build PC.

Can anyone tell me if its worth having different partitions on this drive.

Only having one Hard Drive, I know Windows 7 will use some in for System Resources, then do i just click new then format the remainder of the drive, or partition say 100gb for Windows 7.

If I go down the 100gb route, I believe it will then show this partition as "primary". Do I format the rest of the hard drive at the same time before installing windows? If so, does that partition then become primary or system or something else as this is my first time installing an Operating system.

HELP !! :confused:

Scuzzy · 19 Jan 2011 at 20:44

May I ask why you need the partition?

Baz · 19 Jan 2011 at 20:50

If it's all one physical disk, there isn't much point in partitions to be honest.

You can set up a 50Gb partition say for Win7, then leave the rest for programs/docs etc, in which case you can either format it at installation or after you boot into Windows through Computer Management.

SiriusB · 19 Jan 2011 at 22:29

Just choose the HDD and leave it as one partition. Windows 7 will do the rest.

Given how cheap HDDs are, it is much better [and safer] to buy a second physical disk for all your media.

BlueVenom · 19 Jan 2011 at 22:43

Baz said:
If it's all one physical disk, there isn't much point in partitions to be honest.

You can set up a 50Gb partition say for Win7, then leave the rest for programs/docs etc, in which case you can either format it at installation or after you boot into Windows through Computer Management.

Is there any reason I should partition or can Windows and media all be saved to same partition i.e the whole 640gb

Is there any advantage to one over the other ?