this got insanely rambly, was excited to discover someone as into aprtitions nad hard drive usage partition-planning
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j2j663 :
So from the information I have read from your posts so far I have a few pieces of advice.
1. 100GB is way too big for win7 if you are planning on putting programs on a different partition (which it sounds like you are). Personally I would recommend anywhere from 40 - 60GB depending on how careful you will be with making sure programs don't get installed onto your C: Drive.
YES!! I love discovering soemone who's not a wanker AND who is very advanced with it tech!!
OKay that's SOOO helpful, mate! Good to know. For my internal drive setup (and this is unfortunately about 2 months away because of failing SMARt status on crapimac and wanting to build my own rig) but once I get the drives mobo and rig setup I will DEFINITELY want to put win7 on it's own partition (and I got a lot of flack from, imho, imbeciles who said to use "Folders". The WHOLE point of partitions is so I can reinstall windows or whatever OS every month if I want and it would take only a few hours because only the OS would be on the partition (with everything else on diff partions)!
50GB. helpful. for size necessary for win 7.
But why not just use 100gb so you don't have to ever run into "not enough partition space"?? I'd rather have too much space for an OS than run out of space and have to redo ALL the partitions/resizing!
in any case, that OS size estimate is very helpful for future reference.
2. There are a tiny minority of programs that will NOT let you chose where you want to install them, so you should have no problem getting the majority of programs onto a partition you designate for your program files. As for the registry comment, yes the majority of programs will have quite a few registry settings they either create or change. You have no reason to worry about this, it will not increase the space windows takes up and it will not decrease performance in any way, it is completely normal and invisible.
hhmm I expected and have encoutnered that. You seem like an EXPERT of juggling with partitions.
Sweet! about not decreasing performance and not increasing win7 OS size!
Have you figured out how to put most program files on seperate drive with proper registry configurations? Other than one or two progam files (like steam, which still has obnoxiously scattered data files in various places (like My Docs, and user folder at times) . What are some of those "tiny minoirty programs"? like notepad or something?
How would I update the registry so most apps were successfully on an program_files partition?
HAHAHA I just envisonted how IMPOSSIBLE (and therefore ridicuous and fail) setting up the separation of program files the way I want would be on apple (their OS is locked down and fail. can't stand it) anyways. even if it were possible. not interested. only interested in win7 and linux_ubuntu
3. About Linux: I would not recommend running Linux inside a VM, that will be a pain the ass to mount the drives all the time to get at your windows files. I am currently running Linux as a dual boot. If you go into the "My Computer" equivalent, which is just Computer (sorry to point that out as I am sure you know it from already using Linux), all of your HDD partitions will be there. Some of the names may default to a generic term (I have 137GB HDD for a couple of mine) but they will all be there and be accessible to you. Obviously some of the windows files in them won't be useable in Linux but you will be able to see and find anything.
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Thank you!! I thought that was absolutely absurd and ridiculous for many many reasons:
I prefer linux to win7 so emulating my preferred OS would be just, simply, dumb and stupid and inefficient. As far as I'm concerned, linux is more of a "core" os than win (And unfathomably more "core" than mac os) so emulating it is just preposterously wrong, imho.
Wow, your boot setup and partitions sounds similar in some ways to the setup I will have on my own rig (but different in some ways). Mainly, thanks for finding and responding to this thread!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Some of the windows files won't be useable.....THAT's where emulation can come in with wine haha. (which often doesn't work, but w/e).
4. As you did, I thought out a partitioning scheme ahead of time for my computer. I am sure that some will say that it is a bit overkill for what is actually needed and in fact it probably does do some things that could be similarly done with folders. But when you get down to it partitioning is someone's own way of organising. So ultimately what you want to do comes down to your personal preference. That being said I think that you have put some good thought into your partitioning scheme and have come to some good conclusions.
EXCELLENT!!!! okay totally adding "as friend" if can do that (not sure if can but w/e haha) Yeah I've had data on (roughly calculating all computers and laptops...) well over one-two dozen hard drives (externals, internals etc) and I ALWAYS was like "wow that partition setup would be nice, but it was such a headache to reinstall os and everything. Well I finally took 1-2 weeks (off and on) to fully map out external hard drive partitioning (internal hrad drive partitioning will be even more useful/complex,intricate/customized!)
I'm so glad you shared your partitions because I KNOW I want at least
OS win
OS lin
int files
ext files
prog files win
possibly prog files linux
scratch disk
at least 7 partitions well at the very least the first 4 for sure. but most people don't plan and aren't as intelligent?/positively meticulous/forward-thinking/not sure most people ()like I did) just dump data on drives, when partitioning saves so much time and peace of mind (with reinstallations and keeping certain data separate and the like)
but seeing all your partitions REALLY helped validate my 4-7 internal (and 4 external) . I for example have a dropbox folder (which acn never be more than 100gb) and was storing that with other files,but realized a separate (encrypted) parition for it of exactly 100gb would be prob better. I may set that up next time I partition external (or internal)!
That being said I think that you have put some good thought into your partitioning scheme and have come to some good conclusions.
Thanks for the encouragement and acknowledgement!! I know I'll enjoy accessing reading/writing to and from my data (now categorically partitioned and appropriately partitioned) with a lot more grace and peace and efficiency, knowing that I've devised a possibly elegant, at the very least, "well-thought out " and planned partitioning scheme!
So instead of trying to explain to you how I partitioned my system I will just show you. I put quite some time into this before hand because it is always easier to do ahead of time than try and change partitions afterwards. I have had my computer for a bit more than 6 months now so I can see some of these partitions getting resized.
-Windows may get a bit more space for updates (especially SP2)
-Programs will probably lose some space simply because I have more than I need and after 6 months there are not a lot of new programs that I am installing. I have 100 + programs that I have already installed and can't even see myself doubling that any time soon.
Total size of hard disk(s) 3304 GB
Windows (C)------------5 GB Free (40 GB Total)
Encrypted (E)-----------132 GB Free (176 GB Total)
Fast Files (F)------------28 GB Free (146 GB Total)
My Backups (G)--------129 GB Free (205 GB Total)
My Music (I)-------------115 GB Free (322 GB Total)
Programs_0 (J)---------166 GB Free (176 GB Total)
Programs_1 (K)--------230 GB Free (264 GB Total)
My Downloads (L)-----71 GB Free (117 GB Total)
My Documents (M)----141 GB Free (264 GB Total)
Backup_1 (N)-----------183 GB Free (283 GB Total)
My Pictures (O)---------93 GB Free (117 GB Total)
Paging (P)---------------7 GB Free (12 GB Total)
Backup_2 (R)-----------124 GB Free (283 GB Total)
School Files (S)--------141 GB Free (146 GB Total)
Backup_3 (T)-----------114 GB Free (283 GB Total)
My Videos (V)-----------225 GB Free (469 GB Total)
OKay first off, Your paritions are FRICKIN AWESOME!!
I thought I was getting hitech with 4. AHAH!!
how many drives does that span. OMG that's frickin 'so awesome!!!!!!!!! Wow.
One thing I like doing is calculating exact numbers like
300 gigs is really 307200 mb (1024*300) for solid numbers ( a personal prefernce)
WOW you totally opened awesome doors to the type of partitioning I wnat to do!1
Do you ahve problems with all those partitions? Someone else was recommending using folders. I've USED folders and can't stand them. This way can reinstall OS or whatever without other data effected.
You REALLY have all those partitons HAAH THat's awesome1!!!
For my external (my internal may have around half as many partitions as you do) I've got
300gb (exactly, 307200 mb) internals (incrypted) all my internal files, vids, photos, docs, and main core files
200gb (externals) all exteranl vids and files (like master and commander flick or MIT open courseware computer class and whatever) stuff that I could reacquire if lost
300gb (random stuff not yet determined)
100gb (proposed linu parition)
OKAY that's internal
but I AM wnating to proplery setup internal partitiongin.
That's SOOOOOO helpful knowing exact size needed for JUST windows OS. (50gb max prob) is that for win7?
Bottomline (as you said it):
I put quite some time into this before hand because it is always easier to do ahead of time than try and change partitions afterwards.
that's EXACTLY what I've done.
You do realize I'm doing
external partitioning of 1tb (current project, almost complete, actually is complete thanks to variety of forums, and planning and mapping out and whiteboard lol)
internal paritition of future hard drives (for rig not yet built)
I would go with larger partitions because it's much better to have more space than too little space (not enough space results in having to redo partitioning scheme) too much space is often reassuring and relaxing and more elegant in my humble geeky opinion.
anyway, thanks for annihilating the notion of 4 or more partitions is too excessive. You may have some unnecessary partitions but I like seeing someone else who has put that much time into proper hard drive usage/partitioning. awesome!
you don't have to answer these as you've been helpful enough but just random questions thoughts.
Windows (C)------------5 GB Free (40 GB Total)
awesome, I would make this on mine 100gb (yes it's too big, but then never have to worry about running out of space)
Encrypted (E)-----------132 GB Free (176 GB Total)
encryption ftw!
Fast Files (F)------------28 GB Free (146 GB Total)
what's this? like a scratch disk? is this like SSD or something? are they acessed more frequently?
My Backups (G)--------129 GB Free (205 GB Total)
My backup is the 300gb and 200gb of the external 1tb. you don't have that much backup space for 3TB!
My Music (I)-------------115 GB Free (322 GB Total)
wow. that's a lot of tunes 200gb+. I was just looking through mine and I've got a condensed 38gb set of artists, soundtracks, (most of those two categories are rubbish) but then Voice (audio books and spoken) and Calssical which I like. I want to whittle down my "amext" (audio media external) I call it because it indicates the media type AND it's source (it's external stuff). I greatly prefer my own naming schemes like amext to "My Music" (which is atrocious naming for cross-filesystems (probs with case-sensitivity and spaces) So i've put enormous thought into proper naming of files/partitions/folders (any good computer scientst does) to ensure cross-filesystem compatibility and that the names indicate purpose and/or contents . I may get into OS design (or sort of already am in a sense lol, on abasic level in some areas)
Programs_0 (J)---------166 GB Free (176 GB Total)
definitely something I want to setup. How did you do that with registry?
Programs_1 (K)--------230 GB Free (264 GB Total)
My Downloads (L)-----71 GB Free (117 GB Total)
hey you keep downloads on seperate partition? Aside from having to copy those files to other partitions (hassle?) that's smart I like the idea of that and may implement that on my own parititions.
My Documents (M)----141 GB Free (264 GB Total)
Backup_1 (N)-----------183 GB Free (283 GB Total)
this is where your partitions seem excessive (or oddly planned) how different from other backup?
My Pictures (O)---------93 GB Free (117 GB Total)
interesting setup. I keep all my "internal files" (docs, photos, videos) in their same location
Paging (P)---------------7 GB Free (12 GB Total)
paging??
Backup_2 (R)-----------124 GB Free (283 GB Total)
yeah, I don't see why you have what looks like 4 backups. I mean I use cloud and then well here's my backup scheme
100gb cloud (always backedup to servers)
External 300 - encrypted Double backedup of what's on the external 1tb 1st partition
external 1tb 300 - encrypted internal files
external 1tb 200 - - unencrypted external files) (usually few vids and audio media)
So I basically have ONE main local backup location (partition 1, 300gb, of my 1tb ) and then that data is doubly-backed up on another 300gb external drive
and ONE server backup.
I like that simplicity (if you could call that simple)
While I LOVE how you have tons of partitions, I don't like how you have what looks like 4 backup things 9why not just 1 or 2)? Well I guess If have 4 (int files on external 1tb, in files on external backup, int files on server, and ext files on 1tb external, and partioally on double backup 300). so I guess that is simpilar
My backups are pretty extensive but it seems more organized than just backup 1,2,3,4.
mine are
100gb dropbox (backedup on any hard drive that has dropbox AND server) - this is all my important
amint audio media internals (like thousands of recordings I've done, some just notes, some welleditted and on podcsts)
do (document files) of all types for past books, for ALL school files. in fact I was delighted to see your school files (I keep those simply in a folder though and don't have any reason to keep them in diff partition (they aren't an os, they're just 2,051 files (and almost no directories, I use extremely elaborate, but helpful and informative file naming so I avoid nested folders. the result is splended with quick access of all data.
but everything I learn these days is autodidactic and I blog the notes so I don't see myself adding to do_school (documents school) so having it the way it is is good. I also have over 12,000 internal images (some are document photos, but mainly normal photos of people and places and/or things or locations) all really organized ) my piint (pictures internals) is mainly just the main, then material possessiosn (matpos) and then papers (5,000 of those) . I'm delightfully a minimalist so I am in the process of eliminating all (or 40 or less) paper-based books and while I have tens of thousands comuter doc files, I can't stand hardcopy, so have most of that on hard drives. Thus, my backups and partitioning is pretty secure and it makes sense for me to have (advanced?) well planned and thought-out partitions!!! I love having so much data (for utor memoryies) all organized on comapc hard drives! so mch more elegant way of living and working imho.
bloody hell this got massively rambly
okay so dropbox is core backup
local backup is
partition 1 300gb of 1tb external, encrypted ntfs, all INT files and important
partition 2 200gb of 1tb external, unencrypted ntfs, ext files
300gb second external hd, encrypted ntfs, all int (and a few ext) files.
the partition sequence may change a bit.
this sounds complicated but in a nutshell
my important files are backedup at least
1 - server
2 - external main 1tb
3 - external main 300gb alternate double-backup drive
and then whatever other hard drives have the server software will have another backup copy. three minimum, one of which is always off-site!!!! HAAH!
Soem may say that's insane and time-consuming, but it's completely not and more intelligent than having hardcopy files and hardcopy photos (wtf???) infect one's life.
additionally, because the backups are instantaneous (on server) or very organized and planned, I have zero anxiety with dataloss, and the important data is encrypted, so basically, I have everything I could ever need on a few -organized/partitioned har d drives!
Okay this got WAY too rambly. Much of this might be incoherent. Was excited at finding someone who paritiions as extensively and plans their hard drive usage.
School Files (S)--------141 GB Free (146 GB Total)
Backup_3 (T)-----------114 GB Free (283 GB Total)
My Videos (V)-----------225 GB Free (469 GB Total)[/quotemsg]
My vids that I made (are video media internals and are backed up externsilve) my vids that are not mine (like tutorials or enternds are backedup on one partition of external hard drive (video media external is not that impuse they're relaceable, and often rubbish )
Anyways, wasn't too certain about sharing all this. I've been lemanagement naming and system for years and REALLy planning and thinking out proper partitioning is my recent evolution. Thanks for encouraging and helping with that!
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