2-Disk Partition Question

[vadaar]

Hey folks!

I've got a question regarding optimum HD partioning. I've currently got a WD 80 gig 7200 rpm with an 8 meg cache. I have just purchased another WD drive, a 200 meg. It has the same drive speed and cache. I would like to have a few partitions: one for the OS, one for games and applications that I add/remove a lot, one for more permanent apps (like Office, Photoshop, etc), and one for documents and media (which will be shared on a network).

What's the best/most efficient means to do this?

Thanks!

 

[arkus]

I have a setup w/ 6 HDs like this:

WD Raptor 37gb
- OS
- DATABACKUP
- MISC

WD Raptor 37gb
- DATA
- OSBACKUP
- MISC

2x WD Raptor 37gb (RAID 0)
- APPS
- GAMES

WD 120gb
- MUSIC

WD 120gb
- MEDIA

IMHO the biggest benefit having more than 1 HD can give you is the capability to backup your OS & data. You can also place your swap file on the non-OS drive if you think it'll get used a lot, but don't place it on a different partition on the same drive. Other than that the setup is best determined by you, as you know how much space you'll need for each category. Of course, it could be a PITA if you set all the partitions and then realise you don't have enough space on one of them later down the line.

IIRC the first partitions on the drive will be marginally faster than the last ones, due to the position of data on the platters.

And if you want to know the 'how to' bit it's simply:

Start>Control Panel>Computer Management>Disk Management

<A HREF="http://forums.btvillarin.com/index.php?act=ST&f=41&t=2765&st=0#entry21597" target="_new">My Rigs</A>

 

[sjonnie]

Just make one partition of the 80G for your OS and all applications, there really is no advantage to putting applications or games into a different partition.

Then just put all your documents /porn on the 200G drive.

I have
<pre>WD740GD - 16GB partition OS/APPS
- remainder backup/temporary files

Maxtor 120GB x2 RAID0 - file shares and donwloads

Maxtor 40GB x6 RAID5 - data
</pre><p><A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/myanandtech.html?member=114979" target="_new">My PCs</A>

 

[dbentley1267]

Hear is what I run on my "music/software/image" server at work

Dual P3 Xeon 800 512MB RDRAM
Onboard SCSI 160

HDO 18.2GB SCSI 160
5GB system (OS only)
Rest of drive (programs)

HD1 18.2GB SCSI 160
Whole drive (data)

HD2 18.2GB SCSI 160
Whole Drive (backup for first 2) (network backup for my laptop)

HD3/4 18.2GB SCSI 160
Mirrored pair (dynamic disk) music videos

HD5 9.1GB SCSI 160
Whole drive for Pagefile and Temp

HD6/7 81GB IDE
Mirrored Pair (dynamic disk) this is the MP3 drive

HD8 160GB IDE on ATA 133 controller
76GB System Images partition 76GB Software storage partition
(working on 2nd 160 to mirror) (I hate losing data)

Home system
Dual P3 1.0GHz
HD0 40GB IDE
5GB (OS)
5GB (programs)
18GB (data)
Rest of drive (hidden backup partition)

HD1 30GB IDE
Whole drive (games)

HD2 6GB IDE
whole drive (Pagefile and Temp)

hope this gives an idea of things to do

duane