how many partitions for a 42GB HD?

[aUt0eXebat]

-I was thinking, 3 partitions, and C: would have 20GB, d: and E: have 11GB
-or how many partitions would you recommend? and what sizes for each?

I have Win98, alot of games, and office 2k, and visual studio. I might put Win2k on one, but I am not sure yet.

 

[aUt0eXebat]

^^^
|||

 

[Radboy]

Partitioning is a personal thing.

Personally, I'd do this:

C: 6GB for OS & apps
D: 7.9GB (14GB running total)
E: 15.9GB (30GB total)
F: 10GB (40GB total)
G: whatever eremains (~2GB)

 

[geoff2k]

My partitioning scheme goes something like this:

partition 0 : OS - FAT16 - 2 GB
partition 1 : Program Files/Games/Etc - FAT32 - half of (total_size - 2)
partition 2 : Data - FAT32 - half of (total_size - 2)

If I'm in a multi-boot situation, I will have a second "shared data" partition that is 4 GB FAT16 to allow for data sharing between the OS's.

 

[BigToque]

I would make a 6gb partition for your OS (3 is fine - but with 42, what is 6 gigs). Then make a 2nd partition 36gb for everything else.

You can install your OS and all your applications and make a fully working system, then image the partition and back it up.

 

[Eli]

Hmm. I'm going to have to think about how I want to partition my new drive when I get it. This idea of putting the OS in a seperate small partition is intruiging

 

[Radboy]

Makes it easy to image your boot drive.

 

[Rigoletto]

I like to use as many partitions as I can. This is what I have on my smaller 13Gb

WinME 4.4Gb
Shared applications and backups between 2000andME 2.2Gb
Old data 2.5Gb
Free 2Gb ( used as a CD burning buffer. waiting for Linux if I can make this partition boot)
Win2000 1.5Gb NTFS(I don't use win2000 much)

I believe you should keep serious apps off the gaming partition (lots of installs and uninstalls will fragment the HD more). I also like to keep copies of important data, and have a separate partition for very big files like photos and CD things. Basically when your OS partition fs up you don't want your only data locked on it!
I have found defragmenting a big waste of time. It never makes a noticeable difference.

 

[randypj]

I have found that running Norton Speed Disk on Win9x is not a waste of time, however, I have partitions through O: A couple large storage partitions that I don't care if they are fragmented, and the others are smaller and only take a couple minutes to defrag. Seems a bit peppier after a defrag of my boot partition.
--Randy

 

[AMB]

This is how I have set my computer up for Win Me:

C - System - 8Gb
D - Games - 15Gb
E - Data - 15Gb
F - Temp - 1Gb

 

[WoundedWallet]

I think that a minimum ogf five partitions is important.

1 - OS partition(2GB is plenty for W98) (Another one for W2k, 3GB will do)

2 - Swap file partition(1GB is enough)

3 - Programs partition(That's up to you, 15GB will fit a lotta stuff)

4 - Personal data partition(That's also up to you, 5GB may be overkill)

5 - Downloaded stuff(That depends on your apetitte, 16GB may not be enough...)

That's all.

WW

 

[xiper]

This is what i have:

C: system (2GB)
D: the rest (28GB)


The computer shouldn't write much to the system (C) as it gets fragmented.
I've put the desktop dir and temporary internet files on D:

BTW, what is best, too put the swap file on an own partition or config it
whit a static size

 

[davidkay]

Just got my new Maxtor 41GB HD, this is how i have set it up!

C 6GB Programs for Windows ME
D 6GB Programs for Windows 2000
E 5GB Games (Windows ME)
F 6GB Network Users
G 7GB Multimedia
I 11GB ISOS Storage

 

[ktchong]

Here're what I've learned or heard:

-FAT32 uses 4k-cluster size for maximum efficiency. If you want use FAT32 4k-cluster for any particular partition, you must assign less than 8-gig to that partition.

-For faster boot-up, reserve a small FAT16 partition (2 to 3 GB) just for operating system (i.e. Windows.)

-assign a sufficiently large partition just for program files, or several if you want to organize your programs into different categories.

-If you want to burn CD from hard drive, create a partition for storing CD data. Assign a size that is the multiples of 650 to 800 MB to that partition.

-some people move all the swap and temporary (including internet) files to a special partition in the outermost (fastest) track of the hard drive to maximize performance and isolate fragmentation. Personally, I don't know how this can be achieved since Windows must boot from C drive.

-Create a small partiiton in the innermost (slowest) track of the hard drive for backing up all the downloads, patches, fixes, upgrades, etc., so next time when you reinstall your Windows, you can recall those files quickly without going through the long download again.

-If you need a "private space", use partitioning utilities (e.g., Partition Magic) to create a hidden access-restricted partition. Put all your personal fave pics and files in there and lock them away from your girlfriends/wife/kids.

-You'll probably want to create other partitions for data storage, data backups, etc., as well.

 

[davidkay]

So your telling my i wont be able to have the 11Gb partition for my ISOS?

 

[xiper]

um.. FAT32 workes fine with partitions >8GB

 

[ktchong]

Sorry, my bad. Should've said it's FAT32 4k cluster.

 

[randypj]

xiper--

Best for speed, is to use a 2nd, equally fast physical drive, and put a static swap on a partition of its own. This partition should be the first partition on the 2nd physical drive.

For me, if I only had one drive, I would make a FAT16 boot partition with 32K clusters (largest could only be a bit over 2 gigs). My next partition (D would be FAT16, 32K clusters for only my static swap file. Static to avoid fragmentation.

The above is assuming you are single booting to Win9x.
--Randy

 

[aUt0eXebat]

<< Create a small partiiton in the innermost (slowest) track of the hard drive for backing up all the downloads >>



-how do I tell where Im putting the data on the inner and outermost parts of my HD?

This is what I decided to do for my setup:

C:\ 4 GB for Windows (WIN98 or WIN 2000)
D:\ 19 GB for Games (I have alot of games)
E:\ 19 GB for Apps

Im not sure if I want to devide E:\ into 2 parts one for backups. Cus I can put backups on a CD, not sure yet...

 

[Mday]

20 2 GB partitions ;-)

6 to 8 GB per partition is fine ;-)

anything more than 8 and the cluster size is increased, so slack increases.

 

[SUOrangeman]

There is no such thing as a perfect partitoning scheme. What may exist is a partitioning scheme that better suits your needs as a user. How do you intended to use this hard drive?

Want some ideas other than what's already been posted? Read the sig.

-SUO

 

[oldfart]

Its a difficult question, especially with a drive that large. Here is a recent thread regarding partitioning. As partitions get larger, cluster sizes increase. After 32 Gig, they go to the incredibly inefficient 32k size. For this reason, I would not make any partition that large.

Windows 95 OEM Service Release 2, Windows 98, and Windows NT 5.0 default FAT32 cluster sizes

Partition Size (GB).....Sectors Per.....Cluster Size
...............................Cluster
0.256-8.01..................8...............4 KB
8.02-16.02.................16...............8 KB
16.03-32.04................32..............16 KB
> 32.04.......................64..............32 KB

I setup my 30 gig drive like this:
c: 3 Gig Win98
d: 13 Gig programs
e: 13 gig data (bulk storgae)

The fastest part of the drive is on the outer tracks. Keep your OS and Swap residing there. Next, goes the program files, and at the end (slowest part of the drive) bulk storage.

For you...maybe

c: 3 gig Win98
d: 3 gig Win2k
e: 20 gig programs
f: 20 data storage

That's a big honkin drive. Adjust per your requirements.

 

[aUt0eXebat]

how big should the swap file be? and can &quot;Program Files&quot; be on a different drive?

 

[Rigoletto]

wow we're actually learning something here!
Still it's not quite clear what the best option for the windows virtual memory is. With lots of RAM, should we disable it altogether? Can we place the swapfile on a non-boot partition without any problems? Is the last (innermost?) partition the fastest for this? etc.
Frankly my mind BOGGLES that people should want partitions bigger than 8Gb...um, isn't it a bit hard to find things in such an organisation?

 

[aUt0eXebat]

how big should the swap file be? and can &quot;Program Files&quot; be on a different drive??

and

If I dont have to machines, how do i use partition magic? or partition them besides fdisk? or would fdisk be good enough? (for telling what sizes i want for each partition)