Hard Drive Partitions

[MWE]

I recently purchased a new computer from Dell and encountered some difficulties partitioning the hard drive. Dell has stored all the stuff previously provided on CDs in a special area on the hard drive. I talked with Dell about how this really does not help if you have a REAL hard drive crash, but the telerep just did not understand. Then I asked about repartitioning the hard drive and whether I should leave the special area at the end of the drive (as it came) or put it at the front of the drive. The telerep quoted Dell's policy that no hard drive should have more than a single partitionhttp://vbaexpress.com/forum/images/smilies/102.gif. I ignored them, took a deep breath, and repartitioned the drive into the standard 4 HD partitions I have used for 25 years. Everything is running fine.

Any opinions about single partitions vs multiple partitions? I see lots of advantages to multiple and none for single, but ...

[xCav8r]

Because the boot sector of several of my larger drives (250+ gigs) kept getting corrupted, I created FAT32 partitions on each as boot partitions with OS + essentials. The rest of the each drive is a single NTFS partition. I like the extra drive letters now, because it helps me stay more disciplined about where I install and store files, which keeps my ghost images in the manageable size range.

[Anne Troy]

Actually, I just bought a brand-new Dell (from eBay) and the memory went bad, and I was able to boot to that Dell partition and run a test, which told me the memory was bad. Now, that might look bad on Dell, but in actuality, the eBay seller CHANGED the memory because the system was sold with 256MB according to Dell, and that's all they'd replace under warranty. The eBay seller is supposedly going to send me a new 512MB. We got the PC with Home on it, and immediately wiped to put Pro on it. At that time, I wanted to wipe that partition, but didn't. Of course, now I'm glad I didn't. I do hate, however, all the CRAP that is put on their PCs (and everybody else's).

[Desert Piranha]

Hi,

I like four partitions, on my main desktop. Skiping # 3 for my other computers.
1- Operating system and mfg's software
2- 2nd Operating System or the software that i add
3- Storage Graphics and Audio (a lot)
4- Storage my files

Definately want my files on a diferent partition from my operating system. I have only lost one hard drive, BUT i have lost 3 operating systems in which case i can reformat the partition and reinstall the OpS, and all my files are still Ok. With one partition everything on the drive is ^$$&$#*^%$. (Of course my files are backed up someplace else also.) :)
Dave

[MWE]

Hi,

I like four partitions, on my main desktop. Skiping # 3 for my other computers.
1- Operating system and mfg's software
2- 2nd Operating System or the software that i add
3- Storage Graphics and Audio (a lot)
4- Storage my files

Definately want my files on a diferent partition from my operating system. I have only lost one hard drive, BUT i have lost 3 operating systems in which case i can reformat the partition and reinstall the OpS, and all my files are still Ok. With one partition everything on the drive is ^$$&$#*^%$. (Of course my files are backed up someplace else also.) :)
Dave
I have long believed in "separation of code and data" or opsys/progs and data. Thus I have used a "standard" hard drive architecture for 20 years:



C:\ op/sys and program files (except some network stuff)
D:\ data for all appls (except some network appls)
E:\ network appls, related data (incl all email stuff)
F:\ local (short term) archiving
About 5 years ago, I standardized CD/DVD drive letters:

G:\ CD/DVD # 1
H:\ CD/DVD # 2
I:\ CD/DVD # 3
and removable media drive letters

R:\ removable media gen purpose drive (typically ZIP drive of some form)
V:\ removable media backup drive (presently Rev35)
Three years ago I purchased a large external drive for backups and standardized that:



W:\ native format C
X:\ native format D
Y:\ native format E
Z:\ native format F and compressed backups

Over the years I have had dozens of crashes including some that completely wiped out the hard drive. Like most people I backup like crazy after a problem and then let laziness takes its course. Until this past June, I have NEVER lost anything of any real value. I now do an incremental backup every day.