How many partitions do you have and why?

[Unfocused]

I'm talking about partitions on the HDD's you use daily, don't count backup HDD's.

I've got 2: 7GB for Windows and the rest of the 160GB drive (which of course has less space than that) for anything else. I made a separate partition for Windows, as I heard it improves performance and is generally better for defragmenting etc. Tbh, I didn't notice any performance improvement over keeping everything on one partition. I also learned that 7GB is not enough for Windows as alot of stuff tends to install itself on the default (C:\) partition without the option to install it elsewhere. Then there's the pagefile of course and for example right now I've got only 390MB free on C:\. Next time I format (soon I guess) I'm considering sticking to one partition, unless you encourage me to do otherwise.

 

[repiV]

I've got 50 partitions. I find that not having any partitions that are large enough to install anything of note really helps me to appreciate every megabyte of precious space.

 

[DEATHMASTER]

2....cause it made me D:

 

[DEATH eVADER]

I did have 2 HDD; 1 for Windows and Apps, and 1 for gaming.

However one of the HDD went bad so I had to install windows on the other.

I'm hoping to get a 500Gb HDD, and create a partition similar to that of the first setup I had, but just using one HDD

 

[Qonfused]

1. Why have everything separated?

 

[63]

1. Why have everything separated?

Organization.

I have 2, one for windows + vital apps (C), and one for games, apps, etc (D).

 

[nutcrackr]

2
1 for windows and documents etc
Other for games, programs, downloads etc.

 

[Stigmata]

4 partitions in a 320GB drive.

15GB - Windows XP. I'm too lazy to tweak Windows to allow me to change the directory for my Documents folder or anything that manages to take up ungodly amounts of space.
25GB - was for the Vista beta. Never got around to installing it, so it doubles as my porn drive ^_^
20GB - Programs/Backup. Holds install files for every program I have, as well as the install directories for every program I have. Perhaps it's a bit too large, but I'm going to get me some Photoshop and 3DS sometime soon.
240GB - Media. Everything else - music, games, movies, downloads, images - goes here.

[edit] Qonfused: One partition means reinstalling everything each time you reformat

 

[Qonfused]

I like reformatting. Everything is new, clean, crisp and smells good.

 

[PimpinPenguin]

I have got 3 partitions

1. Windows Xp
2. Windows Vista
3. Programs,games,Music,everything else

 

[Asus]

If you have 1 drive with a bunch of files you never really delete but add to (maybe programs) but also have a lot of files you write/delete often (downloads?) partitioning can help with keeping the files that get fragmented often from the ones that don't so you don't loose performance. Also it's a lot simpler to clear one partition without touching the other partition if it's all on 1 drive instead of redoing the whole drive.

I have only 1 partition per drive but I have 3 internal drives (75gb, 500gb, 500gb) and 1 external (400gb). And only 1 OS.

 

[Man|-|unter]

4 partition in 200gb Drive, and 1 external 80GB drive only for movies and songs.

 

[WhiteZero]

1 per physical disk.
Me'ssa got no need for more.

 

[naisanza]

It is crucial to have at least two partitions.

One partition for Windows and programs.

The other partition mainly for data.

When somthing goes wrong inside Windows, it is easier to reinstall windows than than sitting on Google for 8 hours trying to solve it. Although I prefer the latter because it gives me something to do when I'm bored.

The point is if something happens where reformatting needs to be done, reformatting the C drive (or what ever you have it called as) will leave your other partition completely alone.

So something you can do is create two partitions and retarget your My Documents folder and put it into the new partition. To do this just Right Click 'My Documents' then click Move and choose your designation.

 

[Stigmata]

So something you can do is create two partitions and retarget your My Documents folder and put it into the new partition. To do this just Right Click 'My Documents' then click Move and choose your designation.

Oh god DAMNIT. So simple :x

 

[Asus]

It is crucial to have at least two partitions.

Yeah if you just have 1 drive (maybe 2) it's nice to do partitions since it is almost the same function as multiple hard drives. But if you have the hard drives for it then just use each drive for a different use.

Just an FYI, Partitions (also RAID since I'm mentioning this) are not a substitution for backup. For partitions, if a drive actually fails then all the partitions on that drive are gone.

 

[WhiteZero]

When somthing goes wrong inside Windows, it is easier to reinstall windows than than sitting on Google for 8 hours trying to solve it.

And you dont learn anything that way.


I'd say the only real pro to multiple partitions for the same disk, other than organization, is to prevent file fragmentation.

Just an FYI, Partitions (also RAID since I'm mentioning this) are not a substitution for backup. For partitions, if a drive actually fails then all the partitions on that drive are gone.

QFT!
Though if it's RAID 1 or 5 your in far less danger. 0 is another story obviously.

 

[Operational]

3.
One for Windows (makes for easy reinstall).
One for Games and Stuff (eg. My Documents).
One on an external hard drive for general use. Its nearly always connected to my PC since my PC is a laptop I need the space.

 

[Dumb Dude]

I have 2 paritions, one with everything like Windows, apps, games, blah blah. The other one has the "My Documents" folder, which is where I keep everything important.

So when time comes for a format I don't have to back up anything.

 

[99.vikram]

3 partitions - 1 for Windows, 1 for apps and games, 1 for music and vids.

 

[Unfocused]

3.
One for Windows (makes for easy reinstall).

But if you reinstall Windows, then many applications on your other partitions will require a reinstall as well (due to a fresh registry).

 

[Operational]

Windows and Program Files are on the same patition. Yes that means I have to reinstall all my programs but it's not that big of a deal - most of the exe's are on my hard drive and I install on a "when it's needed" basis. I find most games don't have to be installed to run so that's all good too. Also I don't reinstall that often.

 

[Stigmata]

But if you reinstall Windows, then many applications on your other partitions will require a reinstall as well (due to a fresh registry).

Some of my programs and games seem to run fine after a reformat. I don't know how or why, but they do, and it's awfully convenient

 

[CyberPitz]

I had 2, but that proved completely useless....didn't see any plus in partitioning the windows folder or anything, so I scrapped it and went back to just one hard drive.

 

[Asus]

Some programs will function without a registry entry, especially smaller programs like winamp. Although if there is something (such as an update) that requires a registry entry to work off of you'll be sorta stuck. Since there isn't a registry entry for the program, the update will think you don't have that program installed on your PC.

 

[Operational]

Indeed.
Steam is not one of those programs - you can move the folder around all you like and next time you start it it will add/update itself in the registry .

 

[Fliko]

I like reformatting. Everything is new, clean, crisp and smells good.

Aye. Thats the only reason I reformat

 

[WhiteZero]

or u could just backup ur reg and restore it after the reinstall.
Would probably cause issues though .lol

 

[CyberPitz]

Aye. Thats the only reason I reformat

I just like when, after i format, windows starts up within 10 seconds..Now it takes like 30...guh.