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    Optimum Partitions for X200 64gb SSD

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by gopherblue, Aug 25, 2008.

  1. gopherblue

    gopherblue Notebook Enthusiast

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    I just received my x200 with 64gb SSD, and would like to partition the drive and install XP (after burning the current Vista to disks).

    What would be the ideal partition configuration? That is, how may partitions and how big should each be?

    I am contemplating three configs:

    a) Three partitions: C: XP; D: Programs; E: Data/Media files

    b) Two partitions: C: XP/programs and D: Data/Media files

    c) Two partitions: C: XP and D: Programs and Data/Media

    I am stuck trying to figure out which config and how big each partition should be. I am leaning towards option (a), but welcome alternatives.

    Any thoughts/recommendations?

    I've read the various threads on partitioning, but given that I have only a 64gb SSD, and thus rather limited space, I'd welcome suggestions--especially regarding the partition sizes. (FYI, I store all my iTunes music on a network attached drive. Photos will be downloaded to this laptop, then moved to the NAS drive.)

    Thanks!
    Goph
     
    gopherblue, Aug 25, 2008
    #1
  2. techboydino

    techboydino Notebook Evangelist

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    i would go with option B if i had to choose from that list. i mostly partition in case i want to blow out the os or if it gets hosed up for any reason. hard to say. since you are storing all of your media offline, then i would even go with a single partition based on the size of your drive.

    i have multiple partitions on my drive, but i store all my photos and media on the second partition. plus, some of the benefits and theories based on multiple partitions dont apply to same to SSD.

    If you find that you need another partition, then you could always add one later.
     
    techboydino, Aug 25, 2008
    #2
  3. davepermen

    davepermen Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    I would not create any partitions. I mainly have them for defragmentation needs.

    On an SSD, defragmentation is not needed, and you gain quite some comfort and space by not doing it (not careing where to store what kind of data is always nice :))

    about reinstallation (reason for having b) or c)), forget about it. if your data is stored externally, just copy it back after reinstall. you have to reinstall all apps anyways. the back-copy is the smallest of your problems :)
     
    davepermen, Aug 25, 2008
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  4. gopherblue

    gopherblue Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks for the input so far. My biggest reasons for partitioning would be to separate out the OS (and perhaps programs) in case anything ever went a$$ over teakettle with the OS and to have a discrete drive with data/media I care about so that all I need to do for back-up purposes is drag-n-drop that drive to my external drive.
     
    gopherblue, Aug 25, 2008
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  5. davepermen

    davepermen Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    oh, and, offtopic. reasons for dropping vista? you gave it a chance, didn't you? :)
     
    davepermen, Aug 25, 2008
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  6. sean_nj

    sean_nj Notebook Guru

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    Hi,

    Can you verify the manufacturer/model number of the 64GB SSD? Is is SLC or MLC?

    Thanks a lot!

    Sean
     
    sean_nj, Aug 25, 2008
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  7. davepermen

    davepermen Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    hm.. else you just have to drag'n'drop that folder to your external drive.. :) much harder :)

    oh, and, i know, but get a windows home server. then you don't even have to care about backup at all :) (including your system)
     
    davepermen, Aug 25, 2008
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  8. gopherblue

    gopherblue Notebook Enthusiast

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    Samsung MCCOE64G8MPP-0VA. From what I can find by googling it, it is the SLC drive.
     
    gopherblue, Aug 25, 2008
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  9. techboydino

    techboydino Notebook Evangelist

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    with 64GB its really not worth it. use the drive image program of choice and send images to your NAS every once in a while.
     
    techboydino, Aug 25, 2008
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  10. boomhower

    boomhower Notebook Evangelist

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    Having a seperate partition for your programs doesn't make any sense because you will need to reinstall them if you have to reinstall the OS. My suggestion if to backup your installation. I like Acronis True Image. Install XP with updates and your programs then take an image and save it to an external drive. In the need of a reinstall you are good to go in 15 minutes.
     
    boomhower, Aug 25, 2008
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  11. strangesweet

    strangesweet Notebook Deity

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    Great! Thanks for the information. Hoping to see your reviews! :eek:
     
    strangesweet, Aug 25, 2008
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  12. miro_gt

    miro_gt Notebook Deity

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    do not partition ... 64gb is not big enough ...

    see if you had 1TB then that's a different story :)
     
    miro_gt, Aug 25, 2008
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  13. gopherblue

    gopherblue Notebook Enthusiast

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    I downgraded from the VIsta pre-install to XP. In "My Computer," the C: drive is only showing as being 53.4gb. I expected it to show ~59gb or so after formatting (I opted to not partition the drive). Why are so many gigs unaccounted for?
     
    gopherblue, Aug 25, 2008
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  14. sean_nj

    sean_nj Notebook Guru

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    Do you still keep the hidden partition?

    Sean
     
    sean_nj, Aug 25, 2008
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  15. gopherblue

    gopherblue Notebook Enthusiast

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    I dont think so. I didnt reformat the drive, I only did the XP downgrade install, which presumably reformats the drive into one partition. Is there a way, using the XP utilities, to see if there are multiple partitions? None other than C: are showing under "My Computer."
     
    gopherblue, Aug 26, 2008
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  16. sean_nj

    sean_nj Notebook Guru

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    You need to go to Control panel and choose the System and Maintenance, then Administrative Tools, then Computer Management, then Disk Management. From there you will see how your physical disk drive is partitioned. From my brief ownership of a T61, I remember there is a hidden partition which stores the backup of the OS and all files initially installed in your computer.

    Sean
     
    sean_nj, Aug 26, 2008
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  17. jketzetera

    jketzetera Notebook Evangelist

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    I prefer to partition drives into system and data partitions regardless of size. When I get a new computer, I do a clean install and set-up my system exactly the way I want it and install most of the software I am going to use. I then save a disk image of the system partition for future use (Acronis Trueimage works very well). Thereby, I can very quickly restore my system to “mint” condition if my system should fail or become bloated (and I am unable to fix it) by simply restoring the system partition and leaving the data partition on the drive untouched.
     
    jketzetera, Sep 1, 2008
    #17