HD partition questions

So I'm a little confused about the point of HD partitions and where I should be putting things like documents, programs, and media files.

After setting everything up (I didn't adjust partitions at all) I was left with a 149gb partition (C called "VistaOS" and a 137gb partition (D called DATA.

What's the difference between the two? Where should I keep all my stuff? Should I adjust them somehow? I've heard one may be a "restore partition". What is that, and do I need it if I backup on an external HD?

Secondly, I should be getting a copy of Windows 7 soon. Will the installation of that require me to wipe one of the partitions (VistaOS)? Will it give me the opportunity to redo my partitions? Do I need to do anything to prepare for getting windows 7?

Basically, do I need to do anything or can I indiscriminately save things on either partition, and not have to worry about anything when I install W7?

 

It's basically up to you how you want to arrange the files. What I do is put Windows and my Apps + My Docs on the C: drive. Then I use Norton Ghost to backup the drive twice a week. Games and downloaded files from the Net go on the 2nd partition. I don't bother to back those up since the computer would work fine without them.

Win7 **should** install over Vista with no problems. At least in theory anyway I'd for sure use imaging software like Ghost to backup the C: drive before upgrading.

 

I've heard about a restore partition too but don't know how to access this. I could have used it this morning when I got a BSOD maybe.

Anyway, the tech guys at my company swear the computers run faster if you put as little as possible on the partition with windows. They set up the documents folders and everything on the 2nd partition.

I haven't done any direct testing of this myself but I can't say I've noticed much difference doing it that way or putting everything on one partition like I do. It's just simpler to me.

If you want to do the 2 partitions thing I think it would make sense to have your windows partition as small as possible. 20-30GB? Maybe even smaller.

 

to access it you press I believe F10 or F12 upon boot (at the post screen) it should bring you to the recovery partition.

 

So when I install W7, will it automatically get rid of the Vista stuff? Or will I need to reformat the partition that vista is currently on?

 

There are currently two ways you can install Win7. 1. Put cd in drive while in Vista and install win 7 as an upgrade which will keep all files, programs and settings where they are but will install win 7 over vista. 2. Boot from CD and install as New OS, it will move all programs and files to a Directory called windows.old and install win 7 as OS but will not keep files and settings from Vista. If you dont want to keep any files on the vista partition then at the install screen for win 7 select the vista partition (usually C: ) click Delete answer questions then choose new and install. The previous step must be done durring Boot from CD mode.