500 GB HDD - partition

Hi,
I have a 500GB HDD, on many sites I have read that partitioning hard drives offers many advantages.
I read recently that if you partition a very large hard drive .i.e 500GB the advantages are even greater.

What are your reccomendations for the most straight forward and safe way to partition a hard drive into multiple partitions.
Also does this method have a reliable way to 'undo' partitions?

Thank you.

 

Personally, what I like to do on Windows systems is put a single partition so that I have a 30-50GB system partition, and the rest of the drive as storage.

On my system partition, I install Windows, and all my programs. On the storage partition, I keep all my data (pictures, videos, installation files, drivers, program data, etc).

This way, I can scan, defrag, etc my system partition quickly. If need be, I can also format and reinstall windows without touching my data. This way, if I've kept my installation files, I can rebuild the OS fairly easily.

I do this with the Windows setup program, after I've booted from the install CD.
You can repartition afterwards, but it required 3rd party tools AFAIK, and I've never touched them.

 

In the main I also follow the proceedure set out by Mada_Milty ie a Windows+progs partition and a storage partition.

However, depending on your needs these partitions can vary in size ie if you are a gamer for example a 50-60Gb windows+progs partition (primary & active) will not go very far.

In respect of 3rd party disc partitioning software 1. BiNG is good free from terabyte unlimited 2. Partition Magic from Norton is also good but is not free.

I always use 3rd party partitioning software even on a new install and much prefer it that way.

Good Luck