I've just upgraded my laptop HDD from 40 GB 4800RPM to 120GB 5400RPM. So I've heard about partitioning and finally I've read up abit on it. After going through many webpages on how-to and benefits of partitioning, I've come to a dead end.

I've found no solid data on whether partitioning give me a performance boost or not. So is it true that by partitioning my disk, accessing files will be faster? If so, by roughly how much?

My second problem is, I use a recovery DVD-ROM from Toshiba to recover my computer if my computer becomes too messed up, problem is, it will delete all partitions then only recovers my computer to it's original state. No the benefit of recovering just the OS part of the partition etc is not applicable for me dy.

I've got a CD burner, a DVD burner and a 40 GB external HDD to back up my files. So making a backup partition is not applicable for me as well.

I plan to set up my computer nicely, programs, setting and all, and then create a ghost file which will serve as my new recovery disc.

So is there any other benefit partitioning my disk gives me? If not I do not want to go through the hassle and risk of partitioning my HDD.

Yes, there is benefit. If your windows is struck by viruses or corrupted. You can easily format your C: partition only leaving the D: partition untouched. This means you dont need to back up if you plan to format/clean install your windows.

I don't there will be any significant boost to your system's performance. The only reason I kept a separate partition is so that I can keep my data files separately. That way whenever I screwed up something I can reinstall the OS without having to back-up to a separate media.

Yes, if you use a recovery DVD it will wipe out all your partitions. Use an actual OS Setup DVD or CD to do your OS installation instead of your recovery DVD to avoid this.

^Right. But in my case that doesn't really work. I do not have the Windows CD, infact there is no CD for Windows XP Tablet PC Edition. Only way is to use the recovery CD. Recovery CD won't allow my to reinstall windows on it's own, it will have to wipe out everything, delete all partitions and recover everything back to how it originally was.

In this case you can use third party sofware. Norton Partition Magic 8.0 will do. split partition or merge partition.

Yeah this might work...

Not for performance improvement. But as somene else already mentioned there are many benefits:

Let's say you have C: and D:
(1) iF your C: gets wiped out by virus, your data still in D:, you can just restored a recovery image like Acronis, Norton etc.

(2) If you have an E:, you can do multi O/S partitioning.( I put Vista on my E:)

(3) If you change mobo, you can back up an image of the old mobo to D: (very important), format the C:, re-install for your new mobo, and your data and hard disk image in D: still intact. In fact, i've been doing so much of this shit previously coz I change my mobo and it has problems and i keep restoring from my D: drive to my C: drive to identify the problem (which is finally solved, not sure what happens, but most likely a dodgy windows update).
Now, imagine if i only have 1 partition....restoring from DVD's takes forever while restoring from hard disk only takes minutes.

My advice: if you only has 1 HDD, partition it!!!

This post has been edited by Matrix: Dec 30 2007, 08:29 AM

but wouldn't the recovery disk from your laptop wipe out all the partitions when you use it?

my old compaq laptop recovery disk basically wipe clean the whole physical HDD(with 2 partitions) and make it to default factory settings....

I was sad...

You use those "Recovery CD" that comes with ur notebook...which is more like "Destroyer CD"!!!

if you use software like Acronis, you can do:
(1) Just backup image of C: drive, when you restore, just restore C:, without touching D:. In fact, you can boot up from the Acronis boot CD and restore the image from D: to C:.

(2) You don't even need a CD. If you have enuff space, create an Acronis secure Zone ( a hidden partition that can't been seen in the O/S), backup ur image there. When u boot up, press F11 and it'll boot to Acronis and you can restore your PC from the Secure Zone. In fact, i've made one on my laptop.

(3) Another advantage. You install ur PC with all the neccessary drivers, additional drivers and software (say MS OFFICE) and backup it up. Next time you restore, u basically have a ready to go PC in minutes without installing anything extra.

i partitioned my HDD in C: D: and E. C: drive is set as small as possible i.e. 10GB only, and E is set to 5GB and d rest goes to D: . D reason is that u can defrag your C: drive faster this way...and yes u can indeed improve your windows performance more frequently. Plus, its more easier/faster to backup all of your OS partition and save d image to drive E: for back up purposes. Install/save all of your programs/games/video/audio files anywhere except C: drive. This way u can backup/defrag faster and more frequently => improve performance!