Best way to partition a harddisk?

What's the best way to partition a harddisk speaking of prefered size. Meaning that partition C for XXX should be atleast 10 gb and partition D for YYY should be atleast 20 gb and then the rest could go into parition E etc.

So how did you partition yours, what did you put where and how would you do it if you had to do it all over again? =)

 

Well, it really depends on what you want to do with the machine. Personally, here's my thoughts...

1) Make a separate partition of about 20GB (I'm calling it E) for all your personal files. If you only use Windows, it can be NTFS. If you use Linux, make sure it's formated for FAT32.
2) If you DVR stuff, make a small partition (10-15GB) to prevent the DVR from taking too much space without your permission. Occasionally copy your recording to an external drive to save laptop space.
3) Put the rest into your C drive for the OS
4) If you dual boot, split C into C and D. Give your primary OS about 2/3 or the free space available and D about 1/3 for the secondary OS.

Of course, all of this assumes that you have enough space. But regardless, make at least two partitions...one for the OS and one for data. That way if the OS screws up you can reinstall without destroying your info.

 

Depends on your needs.
My desktop machine has (currently) 5 partitions spread across two harddrives. (When I get time, I'll add another 3 or so for linux)

My laptop? One partition for Windows, and three for linux.

What are your needs, what do you use the computer for, what do you want to gain from partitioning?

 

I prefer only 2 partitions. I use the 30-70 rule:
30Gb for system files and the rest 70Gb for my other files

 

The size of each partition is really up to your need but you should separate your OS / programs in one partition and documents / downloaded files in another partition. The reason is you can reformat and reinstall OS while leaving all your documents / download files intact. If you have more than one OS in the same computer, each OS should have its own partition and don't let one OS sees the other OS partition.

 

just like these guys said, i would reccomend having a separate partition for your files and one for system files, expecially if you run on linux (i use ubuntu), it comes in handy when you mess something up and need to reinstall (you dont loose all your files when you reinstall)

and dual booting...

 

Once I recieved my E1705, I deleted all partitions, and created a 20GB for the OS, and the rest for storage.

 

I have a 100GB drive; it's split into two partitions, a 20GB one and an 80GB one. I use the 20GB one for personal files and the 80GB one is for my programs and OS.

 

I just have one big partition over a whole physical drive. After what happened last time i started partitioning things I trust partitions about as far as I could throw Michael Moore.

 

I fully agree - besides having another partition for another OS as persay linux / dual booting / OS recovery and DIAG / or for a application that requires another partition - Otherwise, I stay away from partitioning just for "backup of data" or differentiating Windows partition from app/data partition since it is the same drive anways. I've ran into to many problems with friends/clients that have done to much partitioning.

 

For system C partition is about 20 GB from 120 GB disk. Now I have two partitions 50GB each but it's only because I wanted to try Linux on one.
For me it's usually one partition for system and one for data.

 

You must have a whole lotta programs

 

would 10 GB be sufficient for windows (it's the only OS i Use) and then the rest for files?

 

With XP, I made a partiton of 17GB for OS + Progs and all else was data (ie music video docs other files etc). People are recommending that I bump the base partition up to 25-30GB for Vista.

 

I would say NO. Leave plenty of room for C, 20 GB at least for XP.

When I bought my desktop in 2002, I made partitions C-G of my 80GB. It has been a constant headache and I have had to re-size them many times, finally deleting one and moving my music to an external drive, to give me freedom to do so. I use Partition Magic, but resizing is not easy or fun.

I began with 8GB for C (it's now up to 16GB) and I have made conscious efforts to install everything except MsOffice on the D drive (12GB). But updates sneak on to C and some programs appear to be missing when they aren't on C. And a crowded C slows you down. So I recommend leaving plenty of room to grow on C, putting programs on it too, and not making too many partitions.

(Side note: I made 3 partitions on my son's 2004 laptop and he curses me for it several times a year.)

I'm about to buy a new laptop and I may not partition it at all, or only into 2. I will definitely install programs on the C drive this time.

 

I have 30GB for windows and other progs and the rest of my hard drive for games and music etc. Best and easiest way was Partition Magic. I use PM 8 because i think it was the same guys that own Norton that bought it and after that it went crap!!

 

PM is the best hands down.

 

10GB for windows? I wouldn't trust that either.
Just based on all this Windows and Program Updates, 10GB will go fast.
I recommend atleast 20GB for XP.

Not sure about what I recommend for Vista, lowest I installed it on was 30GB.

And I have faith in trusty Gparted for any Partition needs.

 

You can run XP just fine on a 10GB partition. When I had a 17G partition I usually had about 9-11GB free - and that was with a full install of XP, Full install of MS Office 2003 and a buttload of prgrams, most of which I didnt use but just played with.

So if you install a lean version of XP and you dont need MS Office, you'd do perfectly fine with 10GB partition.

But for those who install a lot of junk yes you may want bigger.

 

BTW, frys.com has a current special,
http://www.outpost.com/entry?site=op:mfe031406&sku=5018815

It's a bundle of Norton Internet Security 2007, Partition Magic 8.0, and Ghost 10.0, FREE after rebates.
(rebate offer ends 3/1)

If you don't already own Partition Magic, I'd jump on this.