Partioned Hard Drives

[Shades]

It appears that my hard drive has been split...local disk C and local disk D.
Local Disk C shows 40.0 GB...of which I only have about 3% left.
Local disk D shows 425 GB...of which I have about 100% left.

Questions...why is one written as 40.0 GB and the other 425 GB? Have I really got another 425 GB available?

How do I get access to D? Can I remove the partition? Right now my computer is slowing down as it is running out of space and I don't even have enough space left to defrag....It needs 8% space and as I said I only have 3%.

Thanks....in advance....
Cheers
S

 

[WoodPeckr]

You have to free up space in C drive.
You can simply drag & drop files from C drive to D drive.
Once you drag enough files over to D you will be able to defrag C.

My XP partition is only 20GB. The rest of the drive's partitions are used for storage. Vista would need a bigger partition like 40GB, then use the rest for storage.

Use D for storage.
It's easy to move between partitions.
I'd keep the setup you have.
It's faster to defrag 40GB than a larger 400GB partition.

 

[Shades]

Okay...thanks for this quick feed back.
But I really am not terribly computer literate...how do I get my two drives displayed simultaneously so I can drag and drop from C to D?
I'm operating windows xp
S

 

[WoodPeckr]

Double click on My Computer.
This will display your drives.
Then click on C & D drives to open them, resize and set them up next to each other. Then drag and drop whatever you want from C to D.

Create and name whatever folders you need as you go along.

 

[Shades]

Thanks Woodpeckr....much appreciated.
S

 

[terpene]

xp

Okay...thanks for this quick feed back.
But I really am not terribly computer literate...how do I get my two drives displayed simultaneously so I can drag and drop from C to D?
I'm operating windows xp
S

right click on your desktop, from the drop-down menu select: new> shortcut and in the window which will open paste the following:

EXPLORER.EXE /e,C:\

then click next and so on. You can now click on the new desktop shortcut and see a listing of your computer's contents, more easily than the default crap which is "My Computer"... and you can drag and drop from right to left or vice versa, top to bottom, just as you like. It's computing power in your hands...

 

[Shades]

Thanks Terpene...I will try this....

 

[Rockslinger]

Then click on C & D drives to open them, resize and set them up next to each other. Then drag and drop whatever you want from C to D.

Does he have to do this every time C is remotely close to 40GB? What a pain in the butt! Also, if C crashes, does it also take D down with it?

 

[tboy]

Yes to both rock.....that's why it is best to have 2 separate drives instead of 1 partioned into 2 virtual drives.

I don't think there is a way to increase the c: partition without reformatting. I know seagate and WD make apps like Partition magic but I don't know if you lose data when you move a partition.

This is a great example of why I ALWAYS tell new computer owners to set up their computer to 60/40 (60 being storage). You should NEVER use your primary drive to store data that could be lost or is readily accessed.

This helps in backing up data in so much that you don't have to back up your applications, just the data that you can't afford to lose.

Since it seems like the op hasn't accessed the D: yet I suggest he do the following:
Set up a master folder called: ahem....storage.
Set up folders before that for:
Word documents
Email PST file (if using outlook)
Photos
Videos
Spreadsheets

That way if you're looking for a particular type of document, it is easily found. Plus when it comes to backing up your data, you can backup the really important stuff (like I have customer files and drawings etc) you don't need to back up all your porn.

Same as if you have kids and baby pictures etc, keeping them separate you can easily back those up more or less often as you see fit.

Think of the D: as a file cabinet. If you dump everything into the one drawer, you'll never find it again. If you get organized now, it will make your life so much easier in the long run......

 

[Rockslinger]

....that's why it is best to have 2 separate drives instead of 1 partioned into 2 virtual drives.

I have an internal HD and an external HD for backup stuff. That way if the internal goes down, I am assuming that it won't take the external HD with it.

 

[Rockslinger]

My XP partition is only 20GB. The rest of the drive's partitions are used for storage. Vista would need a bigger partition like 40GB, then use the rest for storage.

Sorry, what is the rational for partitioning a HD again?

 

[tboy]

Sorry, what is the rational for partitioning a HD again?

so you can separate your c: which normally contains your operating system from your storage drive where you would save all your documents, videos, pictures, etc in.......

Kind of like a filing cabinet: you don't just have one drawer, you have a few, with hanging folders in each, with folders with tabs in each of those. So you can find stuff when you need it. Too many people just click save click save click save then can never find anything......

Another example of a folder is: manuals. I keep PDF copies of all the manuals for my tools, tv, dvd player, table saw, etc in a folder called "manuals". Kind of hard to NOT find one with a folder by that name. For eg: I want to reprogram my remote control. I don't have to find where I put the actual manual that came with it, I just look on my D drive under manuals and woop there it is.

Same as photos: I don't just lump them all together. I have one for vacations (then which trip), one for photos of my work, photos of women, photos of family members, etc etc.

I have one for customers. Then a sub folder by customer name. Then sub folders for: drawings, accounting, emails, faxes, letters, quotes etc

Same as music: I file the mp3s under the band name. Otherwise it is just one big melting pot and who knows what's there?

 

[Hobbyer]

Sorry, what is the rational for partitioning a HD again?

Also, to help prevent massive fragmentation

I usually leave a large enough partition for Windows AND Programs. Then, I have a relatively small partition for (~ 10-15GB) for the "Scratch" drive that is used for Internet temporary files, Windows Temp folder (you have to know how to move this), and for CD images, ripping, saving downloads etc. Basically anything that is temporary in nature goes here. Windows creates a zillion temp files all the time.

The reasoning is that these types of files are the ones the mess up your hard drive (fragmentation) the most and therefore speed up the need to defrag. On the other hand, program files almost never change once installed, and storage doesn't change much either. So save your porn downloads to the Scratch drive, MOVE your internet temp file location to the scratch drive (any browser allows this), and remember to save everything to the Scratch Drive first. Then when you decide what to keep, file to the appropriate Storage location.

If you do this, you will notice that only the scratch partition gets fragmented to any significant degree whereas your OS/Programs and Storage partition stay relatively clean.

 

[too2shy]

Simply have your drive C resized. You've likely got a 500gb drive. So yes you really have 425gb free on drive D: Partition magic will allow you to resize without loss of data. Or if this is something you're not comfortable with. Take the PC into a local repair shop. This will cost you 1/2hr labor for 35bucks or so. That's likely the best solution. If your computer is ''slowing down'' significantly a defrag won't do wonders.. reinstalling the OS or.. i should say. Having your OS (Windows) reinstalled will restore the speed to when you bought it. You can have this done whilst getting your partition resized. If you're not very computer literate, you may have installed a number of fairly useless applications, antivirus. anti spam. etc etc that frankly the only solid cure for is to reinstall.

 

[wollensak]

More Windows BS

I love this crap. Every piece of software downloaded to Windows arrogantly loads itself into your startup menu. This includes all the crap you did not knowingly download as well. That way, when your machine starts up, Windows will take forever to load all this crap even if you are not planning to run these applications. If there are broken links IE missing components Windows will search your ENTIRE hard drive looking for them!! Imagine how long this takes on an unpartitioned 400GB harddrive!!

Eventually you will have to reload Windows! I hope you had the foresight to partition your drive, with your data in a different partition, so you won't lose it. I also hope you have your Windows install disks. Oh - you bought a machine preloaded with an OEM copy of Windows - too bad you are boned!

OR you could load UBUNTU as a dual boot and avoid all this nonsense!

 

[thewheelman]

Small System partition/ Large Storage partition ?

Your home folder and application data should have been configured to use the large partition.

Windows already has provisions for relocating your Documents folder. Just go to the properties of your "My Documents" or "Documents" folder (right-click on folder)and then open the Locations tab. Type in a new path like D:\Documents" to move the contents and all future docs to the D drive.

Next, set your browser's temp directories to a folder on drive D:, so all the temp files don't chew up space on C:

Don't forget to use CCleaner to delete all the useless files.

 

[Anynym]

Sorry, what is the rational for partitioning a HD again?

Beyond the reasons given above, it's much easier to create a backup of your entire "D:\" drive, with all of your data, than it is to back up your OS and your data all mixed together.

If you need to rebuild your system, you can reinstall the OS (which goes on C:\), reinstall your custom applications, then restore your data (to your D:\ drive).

If your applications and data are all mixed together, rebuilding your system gets complicated quick. (Note that some applications like to put their data into your C:\ Drive; those, you simply have to reconfigure (if possible) or give special treatment to.)

 

[WoodPeckr]

Does he have to do this every time C is remotely close to 40GB?

No.
You can send whatever you want to save directly to D drive from the C drive.
My 20GB 'C' drive only has OS and programs mainly used and temp files and downloads that I'm not sure are worth saving. Anything worth saving goes directly to D drive.
This also speeds up defragging, since I only have to defrag my main work drive 'C' in my case 20GB, instead of having to defrag the entire HDD. There is no need to defrag storage partitions.... I've never had to.

What a pain in the butt! Also, if C crashes, does it also take D down with it?

If the HDD fails you lose everything. That's why I still use an External drive for backup.

But if Windows farks up and has to be reloaded that just effects C drive and D drive is left undamaged with all files stored there safe. You just reinstall Windows on the same C drive partition you had before. This never touches D drive.

 

[WoodPeckr]

Sorry, what is the rational for partitioning a HD again?

The advantages I agree with are in posts #9, #12, #13, #17 and #18.

I feel it makes storages easier and more organized and speeds up defragging when you don't have to defrag the entire drive. I just defrag the C-drive.


PS: Since I mainly use Ubuntu now there is NO need to defrag at all.
Windows requires routine defragging.
Linux requires NO defragging, it just runs worry free...

 

[Shades]

Thank you one and all....as usual TERBites come thru with the goods. I've moved all my data files over to the D drive and this freed up good space on the C drive for the programs. I feel a few GB lighter in my C's

Now, if I may, one other question....

Ubuntu. Lot's of references above on this...something I should try, as a neophyte, now that I have some space to play with? I assume it is free ware...
Will it make a big difference over IE and will it be something that I have to learn?