spliting a hard drive

[romanstopme]

i have a lap top and i want to reformat my hard drive but im not sure if i should split my hard drive in to two parts one for c drive and another. what do you recommend i do do i just leave it to be one hard drive or partion it witch one will get me the best result for my lap top?

[Number Six]

What size is the hard drive?

[stiltman]

Unless you have software that requires things to be setup by partitions, there is no reason to do it.

You gain no performance/security by having multiple partitions on a single drive connected to a single controller

[makntraks]

But it makes it easier if you trash the OS. Data saved on the other partition is more than likely safe...

That is unless the hardware craps out...

makntraks

[romanstopme]

ok i was just wondering my hard drive is a 160 GB but i have a 500 GB hard drive for my documents so I probably dont need to partion

[Number Six]

If you are going to reinstall the OS anyway, then I would recommend that you do create at least 2 partitions for the reasons that makntraks said. Otherwise, your 500GB drive is more than adequate for your documents.

[creakndale]

IMO, if the 500GB is an external drive, I would partition the 160GB disk with C: set to 30GB and D: set to 130GB.

Put OS and all programs on C:

Make frequent images of C: using Acronis True Image or Norton Ghost.

Use D: for all data, pictures, image files.

Back up D: to the external 500GB disk and store it in a safe place. If laptop hard drive crashes or laptop is stolen you can recover quickly from the 500GB drive.


If the 500GB is an internal drive I would get an external enclosure for it and turn it into an external drive. Then proceed as above.

creakndale

[redwudz]

Be aware that most all laptop HDDs already have two partitions. There is usually a small manufacturers restore partition that holds the restore information and it works with your restore discs. (If you have them) If you repartition you may destroy that restore partition, then your restore discs may not work. But if you are using a regular MS OS disc for the re-install, not really a problem.

But do make sure you have all the necessary laptop drivers available if you do remove the existing partitions and repartition/reformat.

Outside of making restores and defragging a bit easier, there's not much use for multiple partitions for performance on that small of a drive, IMO. They would still use the same channel and the same controller for data access.

[bevills1]

Many desktops also have manufacturer's restore partitions too. This problem can be worked around by making backup image of the drive before the repartition and reinstall. Then just restore the image to the first partition after the repartition and reformat are done.

[Number Six]

If there is a restore partition, you do not have to touch it when you redo the hard drive - just leave it alone and repartition the main large one. Do not remove it and then try to put it back - it probably will not work. Most of the time a restore partition has a special configuration and no drive letter.

[budz]

Be careful though because even the restore partition may have a virus. I worked on a friends laptop months ago who had the viruses in there. Best to get the restore disc from the manufacturer. Then wipe the hard drive clean including the restore partition. Better to be safe. Just my 2 cents!

[edDV]

For laptops I tend to use the partition strategy mentioned by creakndale. The one additional advantage is speed of defragmenting either partition.