Partition...do you keep it or reformat?

As you probably know, ASUS ships their ensembles with a partion harddrive. I have not used partitions in years so it is a major adjustment on my part. Do you guys keep the partition or reformat? DO you put all programs but windows on the D drive or just documents and downloads?

 

I partition all my computer like so (drive letters dont matter obviously..just using them for examples)

C - Windows
D - Programs/Games
E - MP3's/Movies
F - Personal
G - Temp/Recently Downloaded/etc

 

this may seem like a dumb question but how do you turn you partitions into one drive when you're formatting? =/

 

partitioning can reduce fragmentation, but that's about it. You no longer need it for security if you have NTFS and there's no added reliablity. Furthermore, by partitioning the hard drive, different partitions will run at different speeds depending on where it's located on the disk. Also, if you have big files (like you deal with digital video) you may not want partitions, since you may quickly run out of sufficient space on any given partition (i.e. if you have a 18gb file and you have 5 equal partitions on a 60gb hard drive, you wont' have enough space since all your partitions are 12gb!)

I personally don't like them because of the limitations and with advanced defrag utilities like Speeddisk and PerfectDisk, I can put my files anywhere I want on my hard drive (i.e. my mp3's and pictures all go at the end of my drive -- which is towards the center of the disk, since I don't need fast transfer rates for those files, and the rest of the files, like games, can be towards the outside of the disk where they can have maximum throughput).

 

So in a new W3v how would one change it to one partition... Partition Magic, Ghost?, reformat and reload? I am not looking forward to relaoding all of those drivers, etc. I am not experienced in partitions since I have never needed to address it.

 

Partition Magic would be the easiest for you. But if you don't have that program and don't want to buy it, I think you'll have to reformat unless someone knows of a freeware version.

If you format, what you do is boot into DOS and then run FDISK and then delete all partitions (under the Non-DOS partitions, if they're NTFS), then create a new partition using 100% of the drive. You then reboot the machine and format it.

Actually now that I think about it, I think the Windows installation will do this for (I install in a different way so I can install Windows in 20 minutes since I do computer repair as a sidejob).

 

While I see your point, I have to admit that I usually do it more for organization than speed. If I need to reformat windows, I don't have to worry about losing my data since I just wipe the Windows and programs drives, while retaining all of my personal/mp3/etc files.

Admittedly this was a bigger deal when Windows needed to be reformatted once a year (at least, lol), and with XP it is not really necessary...I guess I just like my tried and true method.

 

There are a couple of choices when/if you use the ASUS restore disks or partition that allows you to choose how your hdd will be partitioned..ie one disk or split in two. Thus you dont need partition magic you can use the asus utility!

I used to do a similar mulit partition thing but now just stick with 2 one for windows/programs etc and one for data/music/movies etc...this way I can reload windows and reformat C without loosing data.
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ps Ive done both ie I have formated the partition on my M6 but kept it(for the moment) on the M2

 

Also everyone seems to be forgetting (haven't seen?) Windows XP now has an on the fly disk partitioning utility built in. Go to computer managment and under storage you can create and delete partitions from within Windows.

Phil

 

Nice tip. I didn't mention it because I think it's a destructive process (i.e. your data will be lost when you modify the partition), but maybe I'm wrong.

 

This is exactly why I have two partitions. It's so much easier to reinstall Windows on its own partition than having to worry about putting movies, music, and pictures back on the hard drive after a reinstall. Of course, I keep everything backed up on DVD, but it's still easier just to let that stuff sit on its own partition.

 

It still puzzles me a little why Asus uses Fat 32 on a XP system. Furthermore I don't like partitons at all. As said here before, it only limites your freedom.

I put everything in one big c: partition. After all Bill Gates designed folderstructure for filing.....

If you keep the big filing cabinet well organized with defrag tools there should be no hassle....

 

I figured that I would vote on this poll, since my Acer came partitioned.

I have a 100GB hard drive - Acer formatted it in two partitions, 50GB approx. each (less when formatted of course).

I agree, I have no idea why manufacturers send comptuers formatted with FAT32 anymore - mine was, but I converted it to NTFS as soon as I found out....(shrugs).

 

I didn't vote because my W2v came with a single FAT32 partition. I converted it to NTFS and that's all. Go figure.....

 

If anything happens, like for e.g your windows gets corrupted or unable to boot for whatever reason...whatever you downloaded/installed will be gone. And if you don't backup that often, then you're pretty much screwed. (i.e I lost all my mp3's while playing around with windows).

 

i will set 2 partitions, C for system and application, another one for my data and image file. After a new installation of Windows and application software, then i will use a program to create a Windows' image in the 2nd partition. If the windows is crash, then i can use the program and the image to reload the same windows i used before. This way will be more helpful to recover the original Windows.

 

You're a little late on this one buddy, that post was from nearly 3 months ago. Hehe....

But while we're on the topic, I too formatted. Me no likey partitions and FAT32 just isn't cool anymore. One big NTFS is good for me. Hell, I'm only using the drive for programs anyway, eveything else is external.

Later