Whether to break HDD computer or laptop into partitions or not? I must say right away that the question is rather controversial, since it cannot have a definite answer. There are pros and cons anyway.
First, you should keep in mind that you can partition a disk without losing files - modern disk management programs quite successfully cope with partitioning a disk into parts ( logical drives or partitions), saving all available data (naturally, if there is enough free space on the disk).
Main motives for breaking down hard drive there may be several parts on the part .. Of the positive points (in favor of partitioning the disk), it should be noted:
- separation of system and user files (to complete the picture, you should configure the storage of user files - the desktop, my documents, etc. - separately from the system files, i.e., for example, on the D :) drive
- reducing the partition with the system - a large partition with constant adding and deleting files will be fragmented more often;
- the system disk is easier to set up (more precisely, the backup will take up less space) in a situation where it does not contain gigabytes of movies and music. Important user data should also be saved on a separate medium;
- installation of several operating systems (Windows and Linux, and it is not recommended to install two Windows OS on one partition) is simply impossible without partitioning the disk .. it would be convenient if the shared data was separate from the partition with Windows (in fact, a partition with another system may not be mounted on Linux);
At the same time, everyone evaluates the degree of convenience of partitioning a hard disk into sections in their own way - it is convenient for someone to allocate movies and music to a separate disk, someone, on the contrary, tries to store them in “my documents” so as not to interfere with other computer users.
However, when partitioning a disk, you should leave enough space on the system partition(when calculating the space, do not forget about) so that there is no situation when the space on the system disk is almost over, and less than half is occupied on the “music disk” (D:, for example). Also, in this case, it makes sense to install voluminous programs or games with a lot of graphics/sounds/videos on drive D:
Basic principle of data organization: data is organized according to a certain structure necessary for effective data management.
And if it is convenient for someone to copy the entire screw to the reserve, another may consider that it is enough to save only the system. "word-e".
Recently, laptop manufacturers have often begun to install a second, faster disk (SSD) “from the factory”, however, it is sometimes recommended to use it not for installing the system, but for caching frequently used files.
As a short summary, I will try to summarize: If you understand, should i partition my hard drive, and most importantly - why - break. If there is no clear understanding, it is better not to break it up, but leave it “as is” (from the factory / from the manufacturer). Pros and cons (or rather, features, because the assessment here is too subjective), I tried to summarize above.
In an environment where progress is progressing by leaps and bounds, and new items are constantly appearing on the market for computer components, more and more users prefer to eventually replace the hard drive with a new larger one. If until recently the capacity of the hard drive was not very large, the lion's share of the space was occupied by the system, and very little space was left for personal use. And when the hard disk is large, it makes sense to divide it into sections. The easiest way to do this is during the reinstallation of the operating system.The usefulness and necessity of partitioning a hard drive into sections is not only due to convenience, but it is also important from a security point of view. For example, it is advisable not to save any other files to the system drive C except for system files, especially those downloaded from the Internet, since you can never be completely sure that the file is not infected with some kind of virus or that the OS will not be lost when the OS fails. It will also be very convenient if you have several disks on the hard drive, each of which can be used for specific purposes, when splitting, you can give a name to each disk. For example, drive D will be for installing games and will be called Games, drive E will be for storing other important files for work. This makes it much easier to quickly find the desired file or folder. I recommend creating only 2 sections C and D. C - system, D for everything else.
After you have decided on the number of partitions, you need to correctly consider the distribution of the volume of the entire hard drive into partitions. For the system drive C, it is desirable to allocate 70-120 GB (depending, of course, on how much the total volume of the hard drive allows), because in addition to the system itself, all programs are installed on drive C, in the process of working at a computer, from time to time it becomes necessary to install new programs , and the more space there is on drive C, the less likely it is that one day you simply won’t have enough space there to install the next program. Also, there should always be free space on drive C, because the system copies the necessary files to this drive to a temporary folder during operation. You can already distribute the place on the remaining sections depending on your own wishes.
Sometimes there are reverse situations when it is necessary to merge previously partitioned partitions on the hard drive. There will already be a little more work here, because the already created sections store information that you saved during use. In order not to lose it, it is necessary to save all the files and folders stored on them before combining the disks, this can be done either on virtual disks on the Internet, or temporarily written to regular disks.
Many users since the days of Windows XP have become accustomed to the fact that there are two disks in the system - a disk C And D. With the advent of new operating systems from Microsoft - Windows 7 and Windows 8, users have a lot of questions about this, since most laptops with Windows preinstalled have only a disk C. Someone reconciled and trusted the choice of the manufacturer, and someone wondered why there is no familiar D drive and how to create it without losing data?
I got tired of explaining and telling this to each of our clients and decided to take this question in order:
What is a disk C and disk D?
All stereotypes come from phraseology. The fact is that Windows uses the word "Disk", which misleads people and initially creates confusion. The word "disk" is used to refer to 1 storage device. It can be a floppy disk or, as in our case, a hard disk (Hard Drive, it used to be called a hard drive, colloquial slang - "screw"). Disk C And D is the partitioning of a hard drive. Notice the tautology? And the whole point is that C And D- these are not disks, as we used to say (I sin on translators), but sections disk. And now it can already be explained that a partition is just a mark from which data recording begins on the same (most often the only) hard disk.
So when you say drive C And D- you are talking about the same disk, which looks like two in the system.
What is drive D (partition D) for?
First OS were much simpler than modern ones, and before Windows 7 we could not reinstall the system over the old one without losing data. This, of course, could be done, but in non-standard ways, which are used by connoisseurs. A normal user could bring the hard drive into Out of Service. Therefore, the functionality of the section is as follows:
- Speed up the reinstallation of the system (otherwise, they usually transfer the data, then install the system with formatting, then return the data to its place).
- Reduce the risk of data loss after system reinstallation. During installation, only partition C is formatted, the data on partition D remains intact. Crooked hands can still confuse them or format both.
The inconvenience of partitioning a disk into partitions C and D
- Sooner or later section C will start throwing windows at you that the place on it has ended and extort more, more and more.
- If you are not an experienced user, then either you don’t know that you have section D, or you know but have no idea where it is, or transferring something to it for you is a long, difficult and confused procedure.
Why is the disk split into C and D?
Partitioning is useful only in advanced organizations where there are already configured system images, as well as for those who have experience using Acronis boot utilities. There is no way to format it - I cleaned the partition C and uploaded an image to it along with programs and settings - a lot of time was saved. All the rest simply did not think, or others thought for them.
Why is the laptop sold with one partition?
Yes, because more is not needed! People because of house building habits are not able to accept the new. How easier mechanism- the more reliable it works. Moreover, many do not know the main thing:
All versions of Windows 7 and older do not require formatting and are easily put on top of the old one!!!
This was stated by the developer himself. now at Windows installation you can simply select the partition on which the system will be installed. after which you will see a window in which it is reported that the files and folders of the old Windows will be moved to the folder Windows.old, in which you will find the Windows folder (old system files) and a folder with the username (user files - everything that was on the desktop and folders "Documents", "Pictures", "Videos", etc.). To delete the old system go to the start menu and search for "disk cleanup". In the window that appears, check the box next to "Previous Windows installations".
Conclusion
The first commandment of the system administrator says: "Does it work? - don't touch it!" Therefore, if everything suits you, do not complicate your life because of the advice of narrow-minded people.
