How to best partition Windows 8

[karfera]

Hi,
I'm a newbie in Windows 8, linux, Partition....
I would like to use my new laptop with windows 8 pre-installed to the following:
- Create a Dual Boot Windows 8 / Ubuntu
- Create on my C drive (unique drive on my laptop):
*a partition for the system
*one for Windows 8
*one for Data and
*last one for Ubuntu OS
My aim is :
-to install VmWare on Windows 8 and run Checkpoint Splat with virtual machines to perform CCSA labs.
- to install GNS3 on Ubuntu for CCNP labs but with GNS3 accessing files in the Data partition

I have a Toshiba Satellite with 750Gb and 8 Go RAM.

According to you what's the best size for my partitions?
Is there a better way to partition my C drive regarding my aim?
Best Regards

***I don't know if it's the right section, sorry for that. Feel free to move this thread in the appropriate section***

 

[indianacarnie]

Perhaps this would be a better place for this question.( Just click on the link) Windows 8 Forums

 

[Anak]

Hi karfera, welcome to 7F!


You may receive some help here on 7F, but you would do much better if you try your question over on our Sister Forum: Installation & Setup - Windows 8 Forums

***I don't know if it's the right section, sorry for that. Feel free to move this thread in the appropriate section***

Due to security concerns I believe you will have to register to use 8F because your present log-in to 7F will not cross-reference into 8F. Register at Windows 8 Forums then re-post your question there.

I have a Toshiba Satellite with 750Gb and 8 Go RAM.

It would also be very helpful if you included as much information about your machine, like the model number of your Toshiba, this would come under System Specs.
It is amazing how much a seemingly trivial matter as the make or model of the HDD or whether you use a mouse pad or external mouse can make a difference.

You will most likely be asked to provide a Screenshot of your HDD, here is a sample of mine:

To get there you can follow the first four steps under Here's How .

I do visit 8F at times and find that it is almost a mirror image of 7F's layout, but I can not find it because I do not have a membership there yet and it would only be visible to members, but I would believe it would be very similar to 7F's, such as: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/180324-system-info-see-your-system-specs.html

The more you can tell us, the better we can help you.

Windows 8 Forums FAQ

 

[karfera]

Thank you very much. i'll check those url.

 

[Anak]

Your welcome.

If you think of it, post back a link to your 8F thread here, I would be interested in following it.

You could even post a link to this thread over there, it would make it easier to refer back to your original thoughts.

I found your thread over at 8F and asked for more help over there, so hang in there.

 

[gregrocker]

Co-posted at Windows 8 Forums. This is the latest we have on the mess that Secure Boot and UEFI BIOS have made:

The partitioning process is the same as Step 3 in Dual Boot Installation - Windows 8 and Windows 7 or Vista - Windows 8 Forums

You'll need to disable Secure Boot on a Windows 8 PC to install Linux in a Dual Boot unless it has been allowed: HTG Explains: How Windows 8′s Secure Boot Feature Works & What It Means for Linux - How-To Geek

If it can't be installed in UEFI mode then check your BIOS settings to see if there is Compatibility Support Mode (CSM) for Dual BIOS/EFI mode so you can install Linux in normal BIOS mode to an MBR disk.

If not then try installing Linux in Legacy BIOS mode which may or may not allow Win8 to boot depending upon the BIOS - this is why you need a Dual mode setting. Otherwise you may need to follow the same steps as here to Bypass UEFI to Install WIn7 for both OS's.

There is more reading here about Secure Boot to understand it better: Microsoft Secure Boot Could Ban Windows From PCs | Wired Enterprise | Wired.com

Here is more about UEFI: The 30-year-long Reign of BIOS is Over: Why UEFI W... - Input Output
Technical Note: UEFI BIOS vs. Legacy BIOS - YouTube

Finally, the easier part: I'd make a middle data partition to copy your User Folders for both OS's backed up to the cloud or externally. Then from each OS rightclick the User folder to add to it's related Library - Include a Folder - Windows 7 Forums. Leave the corresponding empty OS drive folders in the Library so you can see if anything writes there and drag it over to data partition easier.

 

[Anak]

karfera,
Your request for help is unique and you should notice gregrocker has posted an identical answer to both your 7F and 8F threads. Greg is topnotch and is very knowledgeable in these matters.

Follow his instruction to the letter, and if something doesn't seem clear enough to you, ask before you do anything on your own, otherwise you may cause a problem that is irreversible and you will have to re-install.

 

[karfera]

Thank you all,

Isn't it too much 200G for Windows as i will on ly install VMWARE Workstation 9 for lab purposes and possibly a few softwares.

VMWARE installed on Windows will require 2 GB + 1 GB per host (i will use approximatively 15 hosts).

Checkpoint products will be installed on VMWARE that is installed in Windows :
- disk space needed for 3 Checkpoint gateways: 3*37 GB
- disk space needed for 2 Checkpoint gateways management servers: 2*10 GB


On Linux I'll install GNS3 with 10 GB disk space required and a few softwares.

I've got a Toshiba stellite computer with Windows 8 pre-installed.
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-3210M CPU @2.5 Ghz
RAM: 8 Go

64 bits OS, processor x64

See below the screenshot

I've taken screenshot of my partition (below).

* Don't take into account the disk 1 (E) partition

Can u confirm that in Disk o, partitions with 450 Mo, 260 Mo and 9.48 Go are for recovery system?

I am planning to let the recovery partition as it is and divide the TI30985500A (C) partition (688 Gb) into:

- 200 Gb windows partition
-100 Gb Linux partition
-388 Gb data partition


What do you think about this partionning regarding the informations i've provided above?

Greets

 

[theog]

Secure boot: technical types spreading half-baked information

Linux distributions are making slow progress on implementing measures to ensure that their images available for download are bootable on hardware that has secure boot turned on.


Secure boot is a feature of the UEFI, the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface, a replacement for the BIOS.

Microsoft has implemented this feature on hardware certified for Windows 8 in a way that requires the exchange of cryptographic keys; since the company controls the key-signing authority, anyone who wants to create a bootable medium has to necessarily obtain a key from Redmond.

Misinformation is rife about secure boot, simply because people confuse UEFI with secure boot and think that support for the former means support for the latter. Many so-called technical types are as guilty as others of spreading wrong information.

mjg59 | Secure Boot distribution support

“Microsoft's real aim is to kill the aftermarket in used computers that have Win 8 installed by not allowing you to install something other than Windows”

Microsoft could just have refused to sign UEFI bootloaders. They didn't. That doesn't really fit in with what you're claiming.

 

[karfera]

Here are screenshots :

Regards