What's the purpose of HD partitions?

Title says it all. Can someone explain what are the advantages of creating partitions (specifically on Vista)? Does it somehow protect some data on a partition if the other partition fails? aren't partition virtual and share the same physical drive, so if there is a physical problem with the drive both partitions will be affected? Are there any downsides to creating partitions?

 

a partition cant fail. yes it shares the same drive...making another partition doesn't magically put a new drive in your computer...yes if the drive fails you lose both partitions...they are the same drive.

reasons you would use them are to seperate your data from the os (if you reinstall windows or windows crashes you wont lose your data), or if you want to run multiple operating systems to name a few.

 

U are from mars? I know the answer since i was 10 years old.

Windows OS will crash at some point & Sometimes people like to have multiple OS.

 

Actually, they can.
Specifically, something could overwrite the first sectors of the hard disk (even more specifically, the OS partition), wiping the partition table (no big deal it can be rebuilt fairly easily) AND the file allocation table of the first partition.
When that happens, you're in a tough spot.

But subsequent partitions are not touched.
This actually happened to me. Subsequent partitions were untouched, but the OS partition was beyond (a full) recovery: even the second copy of the FAT was gone.

 

so i can make a partition for all 9 seasons of seinfeld lol.

 

Myself since I was 8

 

Well bully for you. Is it REALLY necessary to belittle someone before you give them an answer? It was a really good question that a LOT of inexperienced folks would want answered.

Gary

 

Thanks Gary

 

More than anything, a general and even simpler answer to the question is for organization. You may want to put documents on one partition, games and software on another, and music on a third, etc.

Also, when you create paritions, they act independently. You can format and clean one partition of one drive without affecting any other partitions of the same drive.

 

This is a good question and the reason is not because Windows will crash. Creating a partition or partitions is helpful if you want to install another OS, or just have some extra insurance of your data. For example, I backed up all my data before performing a clean install but having a partition saved me a lot of time to copy files back since my data was already there...on the separate partition.

If you have all your data on another partition and your primary OS crashes, your data is safe...but if your HDD crashes because of a hardware/physical problem, then its probably lost.

 

A Partition on a HardDrive is exactly what it is in real life. It separates space.

These spaces are consider "Drives". Like C: D: E: ,etc

They must be formated to store data on it.

After formating, you can either install an Operating System like Windows or Linux, or you can just store files on it.

I personal have one of my partitions just for data, incase my OS on another partition crashes.

 

No one likes being bullied or being belittled....but I also don't like duh questions...

Questions like "Can i upgrade graphic card on laptop?"


And I did answer!

 

I didn't feel bullied nor belittled, though you demonstrated your own conceit. If you think the question is so "duh" or a waste of time why bother posting - twice!

And by the way your example of a "duh" question - although I know the answer I can guarantee you 99% of the population wouldn't even come close to understanding the question let alone knowing the answer.

 

So I get the reasoning. I always have saved my data in a separate folder (nor partition) on my PCs. Now in having been through various Windows OSs, I have never never had the OS itself die on me. And even if it did, why/how would that prevent me from accessing the data in the data folder? I suppose a partition is that much more acccesibble/immune.

With every single computer/laptop I have had the HD fail - and in that case a partition isn't going to help you.

 

I used to have all my data on a seperate partition so I could do clean installs of my OS quickly and easily without having the need to back up.

 

That was entirely unnecessary.

 

Thanks Ninja

 

Well when you experiment or have a ton of software install, it's more probable for an OS to crash or get to the point where you just want to reinstall.

I save new data on my Storage partition everyday, and I backup to my External hard drive once a week.

 

Whats the answer, then? In certain cases, this is possible, where in other cases its not... Very few questions have a concrete answer and many people have different opinions. The purpose of a message board is to allow someone to see a perspective they'd never thought of before.

 

IMO its more organized having your data stored on another drive and have shortcuts on your desktop pointing to those drives or folders for easy access.

why have several partitions:

1. So that the constant changing of data files would not affect the system files; thus resulting in a less fragmented C drive = retain a fast boot up speed.

2. of course your data is safe if ever the os crashes.

3. I have my page file set to another partition and not on my C drive for that small increase in performance.

 

I have three partitions. One for the OS and programs, one for data and the third one for an image of the first partition. This way if I want to try out some new software I can clone the C: partition to my image partition, play with the new software and if anything goes awry I can roll back from the image partition. All the while my data stays untouched.

Gary

 

Does the following question qualify as a "duh question"? I would to me, I've known the answer since you were like 4 years old.

Oh and guess what Einstein, the graphic card CAN be upgraded on some laptops. So that was a duh answer, I guess.

Gary

 

Some folks like to separate their "System" from their "User Data". I do this for the big hitters (e.g.: Photos, Backups) via external USB Drives. I find a physically separate drive to be more advantageous than a partition.

However, for multiple operating systems, partitions make a great deal of sense.

On a notebook, with only one OS, with only one phsical drive, I only need one partition.

 

Exceptions & that too 1% ...laptops even support SLI graphics as u know ...

Question is how many? Its like finding grass in a snowstorm

And man, listen..I dont have a wide knowledge database like you but what I know is what is know.


P.S. : If u really knew the answer you would ve recommended GParted live for partition... but u were focussed on criticizing me.

 

Fear not, I've been an avid computer/laptop user since 2001 and still to date I never really understand "partritions". Though from reading this forum , I can say I have a better understanding.

So to the idiots that picked on the person who started this thread, seriously it was unecessary.

 

Ok here's a question..

I recieved my laptop with only one drive C:...i've used it for like a week now,installed some programs and made some changes etc...

Is it possible to create partitions now without losing any data?
And what program can i use?I'm using windows vista btw so what program is compatible with it?