Partition 640gb drive... or not???

[somecanadianguy]

I see a lot of people on other sites recommending using 3 partitions...
One for bootfiles and page file, one for windows, and one for data.
How does that sound?
Is that pretty simple to do?

[3 of 7]

Just go with 2, one for OS and "core" programs like av, office etc and put everything else ( including your docs ) on the larger one.. When you install programs just change the C: to a D: and leave the rest of the string as it is.

[somecanadianguy]

What about 3d programs and stuff like that?... "work" stuff...
Is there any benefit to putting that type of stuff on a seperate partiton?
They tend to make things pretty messy and fragmented.

[3 of 7]

I'm not a big fan of more than 2 partitions, too hard to keep track of everything and you'll wind up with one partition that's right full and other ones that have a ton of space left in em. Stick to 2 and defrag from time to time.

[somecanadianguy]

I understand most of what you're saying, and I'm certainly not trying to argue.
I'm just trying to decide what's going to be best for me.

2 will probably work just fine... even 1 would really.
How do you normally decide what programs to install on which partition?
If you're going to install any on the one with the OS... why not just install all there?

If I'm going to put PSP, Blender, and all my other work stuff seperate from my OS, I may as well just keep them seperate and make a 3rd partition.

[3 of 7]

If you install all your programs on the same partition as the OS it will be too large to back up. I put small progs that update like java,flash antivirus etc on the OS partition.
Anything large (games etc) go on the second partition. You could certainly make a 3rd one for work programs, but I see no advantage over a work folder.

[somecanadianguy]

Thanks for the input.

I'll likely go with 2, but maybe 3...
If I mess something up I'll just try again.

Another question about the HD...
Is it necessary to sit through a full format? Or is quick format ok?
I don't know how long a full format of this drive would take, but I'm guessing more than a few minutes.

[3 of 7]

Originally Posted by somecanadianguy

Thanks for the input.

I'll likely go with 2, but maybe 3...
If I mess something up I'll just try again.

Another question about the HD...
Is it necessary to sit through a full format? Or is quick format ok?
I don't know how long a full format of this drive would take, but I'm guessing more than a few minutes.

I like to do a full format the first time around I've read that it's a good idea because it'll mark bad sectors ( If there are any) and you get the desirable sector size.. I may be working on outdated ideas here and I'd also like to hear the other guys opinions on this.

[somecanadianguy]

I'm still wondering about the quick format vs. full format.
I see a lot of people recommending just a quick one, and saying that a full is not worth the time. I will probably do a full format just to be safe, but is it really worth it?

[3 of 7]

Sata drives format fairly quickly on a modern machine. I do a full one first time around and just go have a cup of coffee.