Windows 7 - Having a separate Data Partition?

Well last week on Saturday I reinstalled Windows 7. I completley didn't even think about having a different data partition, but thinking about it today, it seems like a better idea, so that way I can keep both the System and my data separate. Is there a easy but safe way to do this?

Edit: I have included an image of Disk Management

Hello again.



To me the ideal way would be to first shrink the right of C: using Windows disk management then create an Extended partition from the unallocated space you create.

Then as many Logical drives as there are available drive letters can be created within the Extended partition to be used for storage; have a look at this tutorial at the link below.

Partition / Extended : Logical Drives

How much should I shrink the drive? Or a better question would be how much should I give the System Partition?

Half should do but only you know how much data storage you need.

As small as you can get it using Windows 7 disk management.

I see you are using 50Gb at present. So it depends on if you have finished loading all your programs. If so I would go between 60 and 80 Gb to leave room for future installs. It can always be expanded in the future.

Jim

Depending on how much personal data you have in there now, I would make the OS partition 80GB.

So once I shrink the partition, then what would I precede to do? Should I check out the tutorial about moving User Folders?

Well, it seems like Windows does not want me to shrink it at all, it gives me 0 mb of shrink space I am running the Disk Defragmenter right now to see if that gives me any space to shrink... my computer shouldn't be that defragmented as I keep up with defragmenting it.

Edit: Disk Defragmenter says 0% Fragmented... Running it anyway... It kept freezing on Pass 3, defragmented with Auslogics Disk Defrag... Still 0 mb of Shrink Space

Try using free Partition Wizard bootable CD to do the shrink so System Files are not running at the time. Rightclick on C to Resize, slide the right grey border to the left as much as it will allow or as you want.

If this fails, I use Perfect Disk 10 trial version to defrag for compactness, followed by rightclicking on C to Offline defrag System files.

The benefit of having a separate data partition is that it keeps your OS/Programs partition backup image lean so that if it becomes irreparable you can quickly reimage it and your data is waiting and current in it's own separate partition "vault." User Folders - Change Default Location

I thought you was only suppose to use Windows 7 utilities to mess with the Windows 7 partition? I only feel safe using it's native tools, is there another way that it will let me shrink the partition?

I have attached the Disk Defrag Report file... I believe it lists the files that are defragmented, unmovable (which causes Windows to not want to shrink I believe), and other useful stuff (I think)

Edit: Is their a way to disable (temporarily) these files that won't let me shrink Windows?