Hard disk question!

Hi if I have a 200 GB hard disk with 2 platters, and I format it as follows (approximately) -

C=50gb
D=50gb
E=100gb

is there no way to predict allocation of the memory? or can i assume C drive and D drive are created on the first platter and the E is created on the 2nd platter?

Thanks!

 

You ask a very complected question which I am not smart enough to answer. But if you let me help with what I can I think I could help you. The belief of separating platters? Kind of the way it works is there are heads (two read and write) on top and bottom that would be four? You see how that could be cool? Well here is were it starts to confuse me. But I do believe i am correct. What happens is you have a extra platter? ........................................... Sorry tommorow!

 

That depends on the drive model and is controlled by it's firmware but most drives write on both platters and don't fill up the first platter and then go to the next.
So C/50 D/50 and E/100 will all be distributed evenly on the first and the second platter. C/50 and D/50 will also be on both platters not only E/100.
The reason for this is because data is always read fastest at the beginning of the platter and for the hd to make maximum use of it's performance it uses the beginning parts of both platters rather than putting files on the slowest end part of the first platter and then filling up the the second platter.

I hope this makes sense to you

 

aaah... that definitely makes sense. See, I've ordered a thinkpad T61p with a 200gb 7200 rpm drive with disk encryption loaded with XP. And I've read on the spares and parts section of their site that these drives will have 2 platters. So yea I'm guessing there'll be 4 heads! Is there anyway this can cause scratching or damage if I move the laptop around while it's on?

Now I want to reinstall XP because I want to partition the drive before I start saving work on it. (so in case i need to format and reinstall the OS drive, my data will stay safe). So I was just wondering if there was any optimum way to partition my HDD...

Will partitioning it slow it down? Should I just get an external drive to back my stuff up or will the partitioning not have any effect on the performance?

Thanks!

 

XP installs on your first partition at the beginning of the platter so performance is quite high.
The following partitions however will move further to the end of the platters and performance will be a bit slower but since you are only using those partitions for backup it will be alright.
Partitioning itself will not slow a drive down, I think.
The only way partitioning would slow you down is when you put your OS and program files on a partition at the end of the disc and that's not the case with a standard XP installation.
Just make sure that when you install your programs you should use the Windows default "program files" directory on your first partition and you'll have optimum performance.