Partitioning Hard Drives

[Carskick]

I've heard of people on this forum and others partitionbing a single hard drive having, 1 for the OS, and a few for other stuff. It seems this would be useful if multiple users use one computer, but what other advantage does this have? I currently have 2: 1 is an HP backup partition, and the other has everything else. Would I benefit from partitioning further?

[query]

The major advantage of a separate partition for data is that if you ever have to reinstall the operating system, you don't lose your data at the same time.

[Carskick]

O I C. Thanks.

[johnamazing]

Partitioning needs to be done prior to installing the OS.  I run two Windows 2000 Pro on the dual boot, as it is called.
Only the master hard drive is bootable. If you want to increase your chances of access, set up a dual boot.
If one OS fails, you can boot to the other. Files from the other partition are always accessible from either boot. That way, at least you are not locked out of your computer while you run the repair fix.  
The extra boot parition is useful for your restricted use downloads, too. Once the usage or time limit is over, format the partition, install the OS and the program (from, the stored executable download or the CD) and use it again for another period.

[trav]

Can you make different partitions in MaxBlast? How?

[Wade777]

just use fdisk for partitioning. it works.
As for the advantage of having 2 HDD's:
I looove storing all my ripped movies/.mp3's on one HDD and all the programs/os's on another.  Actually, I tri-boot w/ Windows XP, Mandrake 9.2, and Gentoo.. having 2 HDD's is very useful.

[Carskick]

just use fdisk for partitioning. it works.
As for the advantage of having 2 HDD's:
I looove storing all my ripped movies/.mp3's on one HDD and all the programs/os's on another.  Actually, I tri-boot w/ Windows XP, Mandrake 9.2, and Gentoo.. having 2 HDD's is very useful.

LOL. :D

Of course having 2 seperate hard drives is great, but I was talking about the advantages of patitioning a single hard drive. My plan is not to buy a new hard drive until mine is almost full, or my current one dies. ;)

[Wade777]

errr. I'm stupid :)
What I was getting at is 2 HDDs and 3 O/S's.  The only reason I have a crapload of partitions is because I need a separate one for each one.  

If you had 2 HDDS .. one with your bootloader and windows, the other with data, It would be the same as having 1 with 2 different partitions.  If you ever have to reinstall your O/S, you wont lose any of your data on that second partition.