What is the optimal partitions for a 30GB hard drive?

[ktchong]

I have a blank new IBM DeskStar 75GXP 30GB 7200RPM Ultra ATA/100 hard drive. I am going to clean install Windows ME on it this weekend. I have never partitioned a hard drive before, so I would like to hear some suggestions on what are the optimal partitions for a 30 gig hard drive.

Right now I probably want to have one small partition for Windows swap files, one that is around 1 gig for system and major apps, and another one around for backing up files. I have yet to think of a use for the the rest of the hard drive.

The following information would probably help you guys to come up with a partitioning that better suits me. Nowadays I use mostly Internet, productivity, educational, and multimedia apps (Microsoft Word, Money, My Life, Learn Spanish, etc.) I don't really play too much games. As the matter of fact, I am moving away from gaming in general (gaming used to be the sole reason for me in getting new PCs.)

[Variable]

If I were you I would probably set aside
1. Partition for the OS
2. Partition for the SWAP file
3. Partition for Applications
4. Partition for Games
5. Partition for Files (Word/Mp3/etc)
6. Partition for Back-Up OS (Win2K??)

Of course you could also merge partitions 1&2 and also partitions 3&4.

cool°
Variable

[krusty the klown]

Optimally, for a FAT32 partition, you should keep the partitions to 7G max. Above this, the cluster size starts to increase and storage becomes inefficient.

[Erap!]

Actually, it's all up to you. I mean if you wanna split it up, then you decide how many partitions you want. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[OuTpaTienT]

Actually Krusty is right. Keep the partitions at 7GB and under. Once you hit 8GB the cluster size will double (16 to 32) in size and result in much more wasted space.