Please advise on partitioning

wowits2006 · 1 Feb 2007 at 02:32

Hi,

I've never used partitioning before but I have a new 160GB hd and will be be using my PC for recording my own music mainly but also for a few games and general usage.

Two questions as I've only ever had a drive C and downloaded all games and applications to it.

Firstly, with partitions, do you actually download applications to the OS partition, install them there and save whatever you create from the application on another drive... or do you install the application straight onto another partition (not the OS partition)?

Secondly, does this look okay for a setup?

1. XP (20GB)
2. General Usage (60GB)
3. Music recording/samples (60GB)
4. Backup space for most important files (20GB - also have external 250GB drive)

hp7909 · 1 Feb 2007 at 05:34

wowits2006 said:
{snip}Firstly, with partitions, do you actually download applications to the OS partition, install them there and save whatever you create from the application on another drive... or do you install the application straight onto another partition (not the OS partition)?{snip}

You can download them anywhere you choose. Also, @ installation you can tell the program to install anywhere. Though, IMO its better to leave it at the default 'C:\Program Files'.

Here's how I have mine setup:

XP & installed programs are on C:
My Documents, software downloads, Games install are on D:
Page File is on E: along with CD/DVD images & download location for torrents
Rest is self explanatory, though the 16.4GB unallocated was for Vista RC1

For partitioning/etc, I use the excellent Acronis Disk Director (here) :cool:

Dwbreeze1982 · 1 Feb 2007 at 05:47

if your hard drive is seagate or western digital you will be able to download the manufacturers tools to set up partions and this works really well, if not then download arconis which has already been mentioned

wowits2006 · 1 Feb 2007 at 09:58

Thanks for answering my queries, folks. Much appreciated!

eric.51 · 1 Feb 2007 at 20:23

just another q regarding partitioning. i have partitioned many times......but can u partition with windows installed its just ive bought new pc with everything all set up inc software. is there anyway i can now partition without re-installing

rpstewart · 1 Feb 2007 at 20:25

Partition Magic is the usual way of changing partition sizes but there is as usual a slight risk that it'll all go horribly wrong - backup before you start.

eric.51 · 1 Feb 2007 at 20:30

ok maybe ill wait till i need to re-install or ill try it on an old machine first as ive never use part magic and sure as h ill be the slight risk catagory

hp7909 · 1 Feb 2007 at 20:39

eric.51 said:
just another q regarding partitioning. i have partitioned many times......but can u partition with windows installed its just ive bought new pc with everything all set up inc software. is there anyway i can now partition without re-installing

hp7909 said:
For partitioning/etc, I use the excellent Acronis Disk Director (here)

But (try) back-up first :cool:

crashuk · 2 Feb 2007 at 00:02

30-40 gig for xp partition

DB_SamX · 2 Feb 2007 at 00:07

By backing up a drive, do you mean creating a compressed image of the drive that can be restored should it get messed up?

Any sofware that can do that?

/edit - I already backup my docs, music on dvdrws, but my software, os, programs aren't.

wowits2006 · 2 Feb 2007 at 00:15

Just to follow up, I decided to go with just 3 partitions and made the OS partition 40GB instead of 20GB since I've heard Vista needs a fair bit and one day I may change from XP! It looks like this now, so one fewer partition:

1. OS: 40GB
2. FIles and data: 100GB
3. Essential files backup: 20GB

hp7909 · 2 Feb 2007 at 04:27

DB_SamX said:
{snip}Any sofware that can do that?{snip}

Acronis True Image Home (here).

It compresses my XP partition (total 16 GB, used 9.44 GB see above) down to 4.43 GB :eek: