Why partition large HDD?

[Platypus]

I've noticed that new computers with one large SATA disk installed, often partition the drive into say 250GB of 'System Disk' (the C: drive) and 250GB of 'Data' (the D: drive).

Why do they do this?

Is there some disadvantage in having one large (e.g. 500GB) C: partition?

[Addanc]

I've noticed that new computers with one large SATA disk installed, often partition the drive into say 250GB of 'System Disk' (the C: drive) and 250GB of 'Data' (the D: drive).

Why do they do this?

Is there some disadvantage in having one large (e.g. 500GB) C: partition?

When you need to reinstall windows to C: after it corrupts its self, you don't lose all the user data on D: that isn't there but was on C: anyway ...

HTH

[Clippy]

Years ago, I used to partition disks as you describe and keep my data and swapfile on the D:\ partition.

About 5 - 6 years ago, I started to stick to just the one partition as I now keep all my data on an external USB drive.

Recently, I bought a new laptop with a 320Gb SATA HDD which, again, was partitioned as you describe. I am keeping it like that for a couple of reasons - 1) My Samsung laptop has a 'hidden' partition which has various system utilities installed which would be lost if I was to reformat the drive into one partition and can only be re-installed by Samsung 2) The laptop comes with a drive imaging utility for backup purposes which places the image file on the D:\ partition. As I don't use this partition for anything else and there is plenty of space, it is handy.

Like you, I am not convinced of the merits of having multiple partitions.

[Durbs]

Is there some disadvantage in having one large (e.g. 500GB) C: partition?

No, theres no performance advantage either way as its the same disk, as said its mainly to have the 'disposable' stuff on C: i.e Windows and your program files then you can theoretically blow it away and reinstall Windows without affecting your real data on E:

Then you suddenly realise that you somehow forgot to backup C:\inetpub\wwwroot and have just lost all your web development stuff and also all those photos that you'd put on C: for some reason last month, oh, and the stuff from your 'my documents' too.

[AtW]

OS is best to be kept on a small expendable disk, small partition - this way recovery is much easier.

[Fred Bloggs]

Now that HDD's are cheap I'm using 2 x 500Gb HDD's, one for windoze, one for data. No need to have "My Documents" on the C drive. It can be on any drive you want.

[AtW]

Now that HDD's are cheap I'm using 2 x 500Gb HDD's, one for windoze, one for data. No need to have "My Documents" on the C drive. It can be on any drive you want.

If I were you I'd use them in RAID1 mode, with regular backups onto non-magnatic media.

[stek]

/var on a separate slice, you don't want your logs filling up root.

Windows really is utter pants...

[gadgetman]

Only reason I partitioned was when my RAID array went above 2TB and Windows couldn't cope.

Got myself a smart new NAS box now which uses a Linux FS and is quite happy with a 3TB partition.

[doodab]

It can make for quicker backup and restore, depending on how you do your backups, and I find it makes it easier to keep track of things. I also find it helps performance for some things if I use a large(r) block size on my "data" partition.