Win 7/HDD setup- separate partition for data?

Need advice on Windows 7 64 install/HDD setp - separate partition for data?
Background, ect:
- 500GB HDD (Dell Laptop)
-
- Main goal: Backup/Restore versatility and ease, as well as performance considerations
--> I frequently install a lot of software and want a simple way to restore os if software slows down or conflicts with system...

* First, not quite 100% clear on some basic fundamentals...
Q1) Do programs get installed on boot partition or data partition?
Have read some guides that are suggesting programs go with data partition.
Wouldn't that defeat the purpose of isolating user data so OS could be restored easily?

Q2) With 500GB (notebook) and 750gb usb back up device
What sizes would you guys recommend I make the partitions?
Q2a) Is there ANY way to resize a given partition if running out of space on one of the two? (Use backup maybe to restore following repartition? Lotta hassle, no?)

Q3) Windows 7 Disk management capable and ideal to handle partition jobs?
If not, what software do you recommend and why?
* I do have access to Acronis Disc Director and Paragon disc manager

THANKS!!!

I agree with Karlsnook pretty much. Keep the programs and system together on the C: drive.

Evidently, 60 gig is a pretty good number for the C: drive. I was going to say 100, but I don't run the 64 bit version. You want to keep some extra depending on how much software you install. Even if you left 150 gig for the system drive, that leave 350 for data. That's a LOT of data!

I have found that Win7 Disk Management usually is sufficient. But, if you have been using the machine for awhile, you might not be able to free up the other +-400 gig because a file has left a portion of data on a sector near the end of the drive. In that case, you would need the Acronis Disk Manager.

It's a personal choice, but I always install programs to the Windows partition (Microsoft reckon on 40GB minimum for Windows x64, but between 100-200GB is more practical) and then keep all my personal stuff on a separate data partition.

You mention you install and uninstall programs on a regular basis so you might want to consider a third-party uninstaller such a Revo, which scans the registry afterwards giving you the opportunity to delete any file fragments left over. You can download the free version here: Download Revo Uninstaller Freeware - Free and Full Download - Uninstall software, remove programs, solve uninstall problems

I can't comment on Acronis or Paragon as I haven't used either, but Windows disk management will do pretty much anything you want in terms of partition sizes if the configuration is carried out during the Windows installation.

When Windows has been installed, the disk management tool becomes less effective.

Karlsnook has given good, practical advice.

Hi there

Tip -- W7 usually makes a small 100 MB (not GB !!) system boot partition - which some people consider a nuisance when they want a nice easy simple image to backup their OS on.

Here's how to re-partition and get rid of it WITHOUT re-installing Windows.

So what to do in this case is

1) BACKUP existing system and data with something like acronis. Ensure you have the BOOTABLE stand alone recovery program as you are going to restore from the bootable media.

2) Boot partition mamager from USB / CD / ext Disk.

3) CREATE A SINGLE PARTITION FOR THE WHOLE DRIVE and format it --- note we aren't going to leave it like this but for this phase it will prevent windows from creating the system 100 MB hidden partition.

4) Restore the backup you made in step 1 -- just RESTORE the C partition to the whole partition -- ignore the hidden system partition and any DATA partitions backed up in step 1.

ENSURE ALSO THAT THIS PARTITION IS SET TO ACTIVE by the recovery program

If you don't do this then it won't work and you will be hosed up. If your recovery software doesn't allow you to set the partition as Active THEN AFTER YOU'VE RESTORED THE "C" DRIVE ( REBOOT the partition mamager and set the partition to active).

5) Now boot windows -- it will fail because W7 won't find the boot partition -- tha's OK because we then re-boot using the W7 install / recovery disk where it will create boot info on the "C" partition without creating another hidden partition.

6) finally boot Windows after the repair to check that it boots normally ---- we haven't finished yet as you don't want the entire disk to be a single "C" partition.

7) reboot the partition manager to shrink / resize the "C" partition to what you want --suggest around 50 - 70 GB is ample even for quite large W7 installations.

8) create "D" and any other partitions you might need and format.

9) re-boot windows and restore your data partition(s) (you can also do this after step 8 with the bootable restore program if you haven't got a windows version of it.

10) Job done.

Note you should always keep the OS in its own partition AWAY FROM USER DATA such as music etc -- that way re-installing the OS means you don't have to recover your private data.

Cheers

jimbo