How does hard drive partitioning work?

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SilthDraeth

Platinum Member
Oct 28, 2003
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Please direct me to the correct forum, if this one is incorrect.

First, I tried searching the forums for my specific question and I was unable to find the information I need/want.

How does hard drive partitioning actually keep data seperate on the hard drive?


For example:
PC using Windows XP/Xp 64
200GB hard drive:

Example 1: Entire hard drive is single partition. Windows writes data all over the place, because hard drive spins faster than data can actually be written to it. So data is spread across several sectors. (Please correct me on this, or fill in the details.)

Example 2: 100GB partition to install os, and all software, 100 gb partition to save videos, pictures, music etc to. (Does Windows still write to both partitions physicaly, but just tells you logically it is all on one partition? Or does it actually make sure it writes to the correct sectors of the hard drive assigned to that partition? IE running a bootable disk clean utility one could safely erase erase the storage partition, without screwing up the one the OS and programs are installed to, or could that cause corruption?)

I have more questions to ask, once I have the initial question answered.

But basically I was wondering how much of a performance hit, it would create, or if it would be beneficial to overall system health, if I did the following:
1. Create an OS only partition on Harddrive. Only install device drivers, and windows patches to this partition.
2. Create a default download partition, so that everything I download from the web hits one section first.
3. Install every game I want to play, (world of warcraft, Call of duty 2, etc) onto it's own individual partition, (leaving enough room for patches, expansions of course, in the case of games like WoW.
4. All other programs, would each get their own partition.

So using the 200GB drive example:
10GB (OS, and drives.)
100 GB(Downloads, and storage)
18 x 5GB partitions for individual programs, (numbers could be adjusted, I am thinking a program like partition magic)

All the thanks ahead of time, and more to follow, for some friendly discussion, and expert advise.
 
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shoRunner

Platinum Member
Nov 8, 2004
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with 2 partitions, one can be formatted without worrying about losing data on another. i really don't think there'd be any difference in terms of performance if you did or did not partition.
 
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SilthDraeth

Platinum Member
Oct 28, 2003
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Originally posted by: shoRunner
with 2 partitions, one can be formatted without worrying about losing data on another. i really don't think there'd be any difference in terms of performance if you did or did not partition.
Click to expand...


Is that, by formatting strictly within windows. Or does that apply to using a program like nuke disk to wipe a partition completely clean, while preserving the main partition?
 
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Bobthelost

Diamond Member
Dec 1, 2005
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From the brief skim i had of your post i'm afraid your grasp of how HDs work is still maturing in places. There's a good short history of HDs at storage review that's worth a read.

There is no performance advantage to leaving each game a different partition and none in particular for having a special downloads section.

Example 2 is good, although i'd have your OS partition at around 50gb or less. You can wipe one partition and not the rest with ease.
 
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SilthDraeth

Platinum Member
Oct 28, 2003
2,635
0
71
Originally posted by: Bobthelost
From the brief skim i had of your post i'm afraid your grasp of how HDs work is still maturing in places. There's a good short history of HDs at storage review that's worth a read.

There is no performance advantage to leaving each game a different partition and none in particular for having a special downloads section.

Example 2 is good, although i'd have your OS partition at around 50gb or less. You can wipe one partition and not the rest with ease.
Click to expand...


Got a link to that storage review? I will try to find what you are talking about on my own.

Any yes yes, my grasp is limited, and is maturing. I am usually pretty good at scouring information, to figure out how to fix particular problems I run into, and utilizing that information down the road. Right now I am just speculating, and trying to get information presented in layman's terms, without going into the scientific's of it all.

Thanks again for opinions, facts, etc.
 
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Stas

Senior member
Dec 31, 2004
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Originally posted by: SilthDraeth

Example 1: Entire hard drive is single partition. Windows writes data all over the place, because hard drive spins faster than data can actually be written to it. So data is spread across several sectors. (Please correct me on this, or fill in the details.)
Click to expand...

No, data is not written "all over the place" and the hard drive does not spin "too" fast. It's written into consecutive clusters. With time data becomes fragmented but that is when something gets overwritten.
 
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JimPhelpsMI

Golden Member
Oct 8, 2004
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Hi, To simplify, Partitioning is pretty much the same as making a new FOLDER except for the way you make it. The new "folder" pretends to be another Hard Drive. The advantage is that if you have problems you can format just the partition with the problem. So it's not called a physical drive as it really is just part of the logical drive. Hope this helps a bit. Luck, Jim
 
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