My planned partitions for 1TB Drive

BarrieNoodles · 27 Aug 2010

Here is a list of the partitions I was planning to put on my 2nd drive, a 1TB Seagate. Am I micro managing the partitions and should stay with Directories? What do you think?

Drive: K - Windows 7 OS 100GB
L - Page Files 15GB
M - Temp Files
Temp Internet Files
Downloads 100GB
N - Programs 200GB
O - Documents & Data 200GB
P - Utility Programs 100GB - I'm a Utility junky, like to try out new Utils so I
was thinking of keeping them together
R - Pics - Videos - Music 285GB - the balance

pparks1 · 27 Aug 2010

I would go with directories. What is the desire to create so many partitions?

BarrieNoodles · 27 Aug 2010

To keep the OS on it's own partition and cut down on defrag. time.

The other option I was looking at is
K - for Win 7 OS
L - Page Files
M - Temp Files
N - All other files

pparks1 · 27 Aug 2010

Keeping the OS on it's own partition makes sense. Windows 7 pretty much defrags in the background. I rarely, if ever defrag a drive.

stormy13 · 27 Aug 2010

BarrieNoodles said:

To keep the OS on it's own partition and cut down on defrag. time.

The other option I was looking at is
K - for Win 7 OS
L - Page Files
M - Temp Files
N - All other files

A partition for the pagefile on the same drive is a waste of time as it won't help with performance, and if anything will hamper it.. If something has to be written to the pagefile and it happens at the same time as something else is being read from another partition, it will slow everything down. The only way that can provide any benefit when moving the pagefile is if it is to another hard drive, and then only if the other drive is the same speed or faster (and then you want it set as the first partition on the drive.

karlsnooks · 27 Aug 2010

I second Stormy and PParks.

Putting the page file in a separate partition on the same drive will actually slow your system down. If you want to put it a DRIVE which does not contain your system files, then you can get a slight benefit.

Make a 100GB partition for your system. Everything else can be lumped together into one partition. With the handling of directories/folders and libraries by Win 7, then all of your partitioning is an unneeded complication to you and your computer. Forget the XP ways.

Lemur · 27 Aug 2010

Agreed. Unless you wanted to dual boot, it's decent to keep the os on one partition and programs/data on the other.

karlsnooks · 27 Aug 2010

Actually, he is much better of always installing programs to the OS partition and with 100 GB he will have plenty of room for programs and system. I've never been able to use more than about 20 GB. Right now with everything except for my iso files which I keep in a separate partition then I'm only using 23.2 GB. That 23.2 includes \documents, \music, \video, \picture libraries plus another library of .docx files

Wishmaster · 27 Aug 2010

I too Agree.

Win 7, PageFile and all applications/Software together.

2nd Partiiton for all other DATA (Pictures,Music, Videos etc)

--Ideally, a second HD would be nice for Backup/Imaging Purposes.

But, if this is your only one, you may consider 1 other partition at the very end of the drive, For System Images.

Granted, being on the same drive you will not be protected from a HD failure, but it will have OS images in case other trouble arises. And its better than none at all.

By keeping DATA on the 2nd partition, it would be easier to back up.

Something Like [C-OS] [D-DATA] [E-Backups]

But, if at all possible, just the 2 partitions and backups on a separate Drive or External Drive.

eldinv · 27 Aug 2010

I agree with most for the most part, OS you should on its own partition and a DATA partition on the primary drive.

paging file should be left alone!

Create a DATA partition for things like My Documents, My Videos, My Pictures, etc....
Data Partition - Windows 7 Forums

Something Like [C-OS] [D-DATA] [E-Backups]

That's exactly what I had up until I get a secondary drive. Although my OS partition is huge and will probably NEWER come close to being full, I just made it easier for myself. LOL

Then I created two more partitions [E-Backups] [F-DVD ONLY] in case that something goes wrong with the first drive all my backups and as well as my DVD-Ready files are on the secondary drive.

Good Luck with your move to Windows 7, it will be FUN!

Once you set everything up, I would create a system image backup using Macrium Reflect Free Edition. Once all drivers, windows updates applications are installed create another system image back.
Imaging with free Macrium - Windows 7 Forums

This will save you from having to re-install Windows if something goes wrong.

Take Care,
Eldin