| Windows 7: Multiple partitions? |
06 Apr 2010
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#1 | | |
Multiple partitions? Hello everyone,
I recently purchased an Asus Desktop PC with Windows 7 and I've realized that the computer came with two partitions - Drive C and Drive D.
Drive C - 372GB with all of Windows and my data stored on it.
Drive D - 550GB and is nearly empty.
I am wondering what the reasoning for this is, what the benefit is, if I should keep it and how it should be used?
If anyone can shed some light on this for me, I would appreciate it.
Thanks in advance,
Alex | My System Specs |
| System Manufacturer/Model Number Asus Essentio CM5571-BR003 OS Windows 7 Home Premium CPU Intel Pentium Dual E5400 @ 2.7Ghz Memory 6GB DDR3 Graphics Card Onboard Video Monitor(s) Displays 24" Asus LCD |
06 Apr 2010
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#2 | | Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, clean install, upgrade disc CT |
That drive is reserved for backup. Probably reserved for system image and restore points.
Keep it one day you will have a problem and you will be glad that you did. | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number Dell XPS 420 OS Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, clean install, upgrade disc CPU Intel Core2 processsor Q8200(2.33Ghz 1333FSB) Quad Core Tech Motherboard Dell Memory 6 gb Graphics Card ATI Radeon 256MB HD3650 Sound Card Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio Monitor(s) Displays Dell SP2009W 20" Keyboard Dell USB Keyboard Mouse Dell Premium Optical USB Cooling Fan Hard Drives 640 GB Serial ATA Hard drive Internet Speed DSL 2.85 |
06 Apr 2010
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#3 | | Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, clean install, upgrade disc CT |
Here is a recent thread with the same question. What's the point of a partition? | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number Dell XPS 420 OS Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, clean install, upgrade disc CPU Intel Core2 processsor Q8200(2.33Ghz 1333FSB) Quad Core Tech Motherboard Dell Memory 6 gb Graphics Card ATI Radeon 256MB HD3650 Sound Card Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio Monitor(s) Displays Dell SP2009W 20" Keyboard Dell USB Keyboard Mouse Dell Premium Optical USB Cooling Fan Hard Drives 640 GB Serial ATA Hard drive Internet Speed DSL 2.85 |
06 Apr 2010
|
#4 | | W 7 64-bit Ultimate The Lowcountry |
Hello ahstanford, welcome to Seven Forums!
In the start menu right click computer, manage, disk management, post a snip of disk management so we can see it. A Preferred Method of Uploading/Posting Screen Shots | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number * BFK Customs * OS W 7 64-bit Ultimate CPU Intel Q9550 Yorkfield Motherboard ASUS P5Q Pro Memory 8GB Dominator 8500C5D Graphics Card ATI : XFX 5870 Sound Card Realtek HD Audio 7-1 Monitor(s) Displays 1x 47" LCD HDMI & 3x 26" LCD HDMI Screen Resolution 1920x1080P & 1920x1200 Keyboard Microsoft 500 Mouse Razer Diamondback 3G PSU Corsair 620HX Case Cooler Master RC-690 Cooling Tuniq Tower 120, 2x 140mm and 3x 120mm case fans Hard Drives 1x 80GB Intel X25-M G2 SSD : 1x 500GB & 1x 640GB WD Caviar Black(s) Internet Speed 14 Mb/s Other Info 1x Koutech 3Gb/s SATA HDD Hot Swap Rack |
06 Apr 2010
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#5 | | Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8 Florida in winter, Black Forest/Germany |
Did you ever open D to see what's in it. It is too big for the traditional recovery partition. Also, if you look a Disk Management as BFK suggests, you may even find a 3d partition that is only 100MB. | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number HP, Dell, Gateway, Toshiba - 4 laptops and 2 desktops OS Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8 CPU from 1.6GHz Duo to i7 Monitor(s) Displays 2x HP w2207 Keyboard with trackball - no mices Mouse Trackball mice Hard Drives 5x HDD, 7x SSD, 12x Externals Internet Speed DSL 6000 |
06 Apr 2010
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#6 | | |
Bill's post over there was very helpful, thanks! http://www.alexstanford.com/partss.jpg 
Quote: Originally Posted by whs Did you ever open D to see what's in it. It is too big for the traditional recovery partition. Also, if you look a Disk Management as BFK suggests, you may even find a 3d partition that is only 100MB. Yeah, the link to the Disk Management screenshot is above, and it does seem to show a smaller third partition of 8GB.
It is showing 931.51GB total HDD size, but I thought it came with 640GB or 750GB. Weird. | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number Asus Essentio CM5571-BR003 OS Windows 7 Home Premium CPU Intel Pentium Dual E5400 @ 2.7Ghz Memory 6GB DDR3 Graphics Card Onboard Video Monitor(s) Displays 24" Asus LCD |
06 Apr 2010
|
#7 | | Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, clean install, upgrade disc CT |
Glad that I was able to help. | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number Dell XPS 420 OS Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, clean install, upgrade disc CPU Intel Core2 processsor Q8200(2.33Ghz 1333FSB) Quad Core Tech Motherboard Dell Memory 6 gb Graphics Card ATI Radeon 256MB HD3650 Sound Card Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio Monitor(s) Displays Dell SP2009W 20" Keyboard Dell USB Keyboard Mouse Dell Premium Optical USB Cooling Fan Hard Drives 640 GB Serial ATA Hard drive Internet Speed DSL 2.85 |
06 Apr 2010
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#8 | | W 7 64-bit Ultimate The Lowcountry |
Hello again ahstanford.
Use D: to store all the data you don't want to lose so if/when you need to reformat and reinstall C: you don't have a potential loss of date; as a wise old indian once told me, NEVER store anything on C: you can't afford to lose; get in the habit now of making regular backups.
BTW, never molest the recovery partition in any way. | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number * BFK Customs * OS W 7 64-bit Ultimate CPU Intel Q9550 Yorkfield Motherboard ASUS P5Q Pro Memory 8GB Dominator 8500C5D Graphics Card ATI : XFX 5870 Sound Card Realtek HD Audio 7-1 Monitor(s) Displays 1x 47" LCD HDMI & 3x 26" LCD HDMI Screen Resolution 1920x1080P & 1920x1200 Keyboard Microsoft 500 Mouse Razer Diamondback 3G PSU Corsair 620HX Case Cooler Master RC-690 Cooling Tuniq Tower 120, 2x 140mm and 3x 120mm case fans Hard Drives 1x 80GB Intel X25-M G2 SSD : 1x 500GB & 1x 640GB WD Caviar Black(s) Internet Speed 14 Mb/s Other Info 1x Koutech 3Gb/s SATA HDD Hot Swap Rack |
06 Apr 2010
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#9 | | |

Quote: Originally Posted by Bare Foot Kid Hello again ahstanford.
Use D: to store all the data you don't want to lose so if/when you need to reformat and reinstall C: you don't have a potential loss of date; as a wise old indian once told me, NEVER store anything on C: you can't afford to lose; What is that little 8GB partition used for? 
Quote: Originally Posted by Bare Foot Kid get in the habit now of making regular backups. How do I go about that?
Don't I need a second HDD for the backups? | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number Asus Essentio CM5571-BR003 OS Windows 7 Home Premium CPU Intel Pentium Dual E5400 @ 2.7Ghz Memory 6GB DDR3 Graphics Card Onboard Video Monitor(s) Displays 24" Asus LCD |
06 Apr 2010
|
#10 | | W 7 64-bit Ultimate The Lowcountry |

Quote: Originally Posted by ahstanford 
Quote: Originally Posted by Bare Foot Kid Hello again ahstanford.
Use D: to store all the data you don't want to lose so if/when you need to reformat and reinstall C: you don't have a potential loss of date; as a wise old indian once told me, NEVER store anything on C: you can't afford to lose; What is that little 8GB partition used for? 
Quote: Originally Posted by Bare Foot Kid get in the habit now of making regular backups. How do I go about that?
Don't I need a second HDD for the backups?
The "little partition" is the recovery partition and will be needed if you ever have to do a "Factory Recovery" of the OS.
The other partition is the place to use as storage; have a look at the tutorial at the link below. Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number * BFK Customs * OS W 7 64-bit Ultimate CPU Intel Q9550 Yorkfield Motherboard ASUS P5Q Pro Memory 8GB Dominator 8500C5D Graphics Card ATI : XFX 5870 Sound Card Realtek HD Audio 7-1 Monitor(s) Displays 1x 47" LCD HDMI & 3x 26" LCD HDMI Screen Resolution 1920x1080P & 1920x1200 Keyboard Microsoft 500 Mouse Razer Diamondback 3G PSU Corsair 620HX Case Cooler Master RC-690 Cooling Tuniq Tower 120, 2x 140mm and 3x 120mm case fans Hard Drives 1x 80GB Intel X25-M G2 SSD : 1x 500GB & 1x 640GB WD Caviar Black(s) Internet Speed 14 Mb/s Other Info 1x Koutech 3Gb/s SATA HDD Hot Swap Rack Multiple partitions? problems? All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:20 PM. | |