Partitioning a hard drive

[Two|Bit]

What exactly is a partition on a hard drive? What are the advantages? what are the disadvantages? How can you partition a drive? Give me the low-down on partitioning

[Cricket]

Hard Disk Partitioning.

Cricket

[Two|Bit]

ARGHH!! Why do people do that. I can obviously do a google search and find many 500 page articles on partitioning hard drives but I don't because I want quick information. Could someone just give me the gist of it... thanks Cricket for your time though

[hobey19]

Originally Posted by Two|Bit ARGHH!! Why do people do that. I can obviously do a google search and find many 500 page articles on partitioning hard drives but I don't because I want quick information. Could someone just give me the gist of it... thanks Cricket for your time though

if you want quick info, google is your best friend. a forum is not instant messaging.

http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/p/partition.html

basically you can divide a HD into different sections, either for different storage places, or if you have multiple OS's installed

craig

[Two|Bit]

When I partitioning a good idea?

[Cricket]

You have to make a minimum of 1 partition on the hard drive before Windows can even use it.

I partition all my own hard drives into at least two separate partitions...the first is for Windows and programs, all other partitions are for data files (digital images, Word docs, Excel workbooks, etc...). That way if I ever have to format and reinstall Windows I don't have to worry about moving my data files out of harms way because they're not on the main partition anyway.

Cricket

[Streamer]

There are many reasons to use hard disk partition software. Partitioning the hard disk makes your life a lot easier and sometimes saves your data and your neck. You can separate your applications into separate partitions and put their data in other partitions. If an application becomes corrupted or is accidentally deleted, it is easier to contain the damage in a single partition. Hard drive partition recovery is faster than having to recover the entire hard disk.
The PC can organize the information more efficiently with smaller directories. Quicker searches for files or directories also result because the computer only has to search a single partition instead of the entire large disk.
You can increase your productivity because you spend your time doing useful work rather than hunting for that letter or spreadsheet or other document.
As for me, I separated my PC to 4 partitions: 1-OS and some programs; 2- other apps and games; 3- media files (audio, video,); 4- my private data (photo, documents and others). All my working space is good organized, I always know where should I search needed info and it is grate to security. (for example: access to my 4 partition closed to anyone accept me)

[Two|Bit]

Cool Thanks! I've heard of Partition Magic, is this good for partitioning?

[hobey19]

Originally Posted by Two|Bit Cool Thanks! I've heard of Partition Magic, is this good for partitioning?

in a word, yes. its all its designed to do, really

craig

[Dangermouse1]

Yes its good if not the best but it does cost, there are probably free progs that you could use.

[Jaggannath]

If you're starting from scratch, during installation Windows can do the partitioning for you