Hard Drive Information

**sava700** · 04-26-2008, 03:55 PM

Re: Hard Drive Information

RAID - Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redundant_array_of_independent_disks

**=98=** · 04-26-2008, 03:59 PM

Re: Hard Drive Information

RAID rules. It also adds +5cm to your e-penis.

**TheSpark29** · 04-27-2008, 03:18 PM

Re: Hard Drive Information

Originally posted by Sam1990

Been seeing a lot of people talking about how they have one hard drive split into two partitions or RAID 0 and RAID 1. Could anyone explain to me what RAID 0 and RAID 1 is? Also, can anyone tell me how to split your hard drive into two partitions and how that works?

I'm planning on purchasing a 320GB hard drive and would like to have 100GB for the OS and 200GB for everything else. Currently have a 160GB that I will probably wipe out and use for nothing but game installs - would like a raptor... but too expensive.

Quick question - if I have two HD's, do I need to install the OS on both or only one of them?

RAID stand for Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks. The idea is that if you put data on multiple hard drives, your chances of losing data when a drive fails, is lower.
- RAID 1 uses at least 2 disks. If data is written to one drive, it is also written to the other. So both drives will be exactly the same. If one fails, than the other is a perfect copy and no data is lost. EX: You buy 2 500GB drives. Windows only sees one 500GB drive and if one crashes, Windows won't know.
- RAID 0 also uses at least 2 drives. Basically, RAID 0 splits up the data and writes half of it on one drive, half on the other. This is helpful in some situations because two hard drive will be simultaneously giving data. However, "how" helpful this is is highly controversial. RAID 0 isn't a true RAID level however. It offers NO redundancy. That means that if one drive crashes, ALL you data is gone. EX: You have 2 500GB drives. Windows sees 1 1TB drive and if one crashes, you're screwed. :p

Partioning is simple. It just divides a physical hard drive into several "virtual" drives. Windows sees two hard drives, but you only physically have one. Its an easy thing to do, especially if you start from scratch. Lets say you get that 320GB drive you want. (Only 298GB is available) Windows only needs to be installed on one drive. Perferably on the 320GB one. You go to install Windows, do you remember the screen where you format the drive? Well this time don't format the whole thing. Only format 102400 MB (100GB). That makes a 100GB partition and the rest is unformatted for now. After you get Windows working, go to Start-> Right click My Computer-> Manage-> Disk Management (on the left). Look for your Hard drive on the bottom section. (Most likely Disk 0 or 1) You'll see your 100GB partition and the other 198GB of free space. Right click the free space and select format. You want a logical partition. The rest of the wizard is self explanatory. Windows will then format the rest of the drive. In the end, you would have a 100GB partition with Windows on it and a 200GB partition with nothing on it. Might I suggest moving your My Documents folder to the 200GB partition. (Right click My Documents, Properties, Move)

Unless you have more than 100GB worth of games, I'd also suggest not using the 160GB drive. The 320GB will likely be faster and have ample storage space. I'd only use the 160GB drive to make weekly backups of the 320GB drive.

Hope this helps :)

EDIT: You don't want a Raptor. Unless you have money to burn, regular hard drive suffice for nearly all regular tasks. If you do have money to burn, you want a VelociRaptor, which is the new version of the Raptor.

**Sam1990** · 04-27-2008, 06:08 PM

Re: Hard Drive Information

Originally posted by TheSpark29

RAID stand for Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks. The idea is that if you put data on multiple hard drives, your chances of losing data when a drive fails, is lower.
- RAID 1 uses at least 2 disks. If data is written to one drive, it is also written to the other. So both drives will be exactly the same. If one fails, than the other is a perfect copy and no data is lost. EX: You buy 2 500GB drives. Windows only sees one 500GB drive and if one crashes, Windows won't know.
- RAID 0 also uses at least 2 drives. Basically, RAID 0 splits up the data and writes half of it on one drive, half on the other. This is helpful in some situations because two hard drive will be simultaneously giving data. However, "how" helpful this is is highly controversial. RAID 0 isn't a true RAID level however. It offers NO redundancy. That means that if one drive crashes, ALL you data is gone. EX: You have 2 500GB drives. Windows sees 1 1TB drive and if one crashes, you're screwed. :p

Partioning is simple. It just divides a physical hard drive into several "virtual" drives. Windows sees two hard drives, but you only physically have one. Its an easy thing to do, especially if you start from scratch. Lets say you get that 320GB drive you want. (Only 298GB is available) Windows only needs to be installed on one drive. Perferably on the 320GB one. You go to install Windows, do you remember the screen where you format the drive? Well this time don't format the whole thing. Only format 102400 MB (100GB). That makes a 100GB partition and the rest is unformatted for now. After you get Windows working, go to Start-> Right click My Computer-> Manage-> Disk Management (on the left). Look for your Hard drive on the bottom section. (Most likely Disk 0 or 1) You'll see your 100GB partition and the other 198GB of free space. Right click the free space and select format. You want a logical partition. The rest of the wizard is self explanatory. Windows will then format the rest of the drive. In the end, you would have a 100GB partition with Windows on it and a 200GB partition with nothing on it. Might I suggest moving your My Documents folder to the 200GB partition. (Right click My Documents, Properties, Move)

Unless you have more than 100GB worth of games, I'd also suggest not using the 160GB drive. The 320GB will likely be faster and have ample storage space. I'd only use the 160GB drive to make weekly backups of the 320GB drive.

Hope this helps :)

EDIT: You don't want a Raptor. Unless you have money to burn, regular hard drive suffice for nearly all regular tasks. If you do have money to burn, you want a VelociRaptor, which is the new version of the Raptor.

Thanks for the information, helped a lot. Wanted to still ask though, when I split the 320GB into two partitions, can I just simply move the "Program Files" folder to the 200GB partition or will it mess things up? Because I wanted to put "My Document" and "Program Files" on the 200GB partition, so when I install things they go there making the 100GB partition ONLY the windows install.

Also for the partition, when I would click "My Computer" would it show up as "Local Disk (C: )" and "Local Disk (F: )" or something like that?

**TheSpark29** · 04-27-2008, 06:25 PM

Re: Hard Drive Information

Originally posted by Sam1990 View Post

Thanks for the information, helped a lot. Wanted to still ask though, when I split the 320GB into two partitions, can I just simply move the "Program Files" folder to the 200GB partition or will it mess things up? Because I wanted to put "My Document" and "Program Files" on the 200GB partition, so when I install things they go there making the 100GB partition ONLY the windows install.

Also for the partition, when I would click "My Computer" would it show up as "Local Disk (C: )" and "Local Disk (F: )" or something like that?

I'm not sure about moving the program files folder. Not saying it wouldn't work, I haven't tried it. Out of curiosity, why would you make a 100GB partition just for Windows? AFAIK, if you reinstall Windows, you have to reinstall all your programs/games anyways. If you do go that route, at least make Windows like a 10GB partition or something.

Here's a screenshot of my My Computer

The drive letters are completely interchangeable.

**Sam1990** · 04-27-2008, 08:59 PM

Re: Hard Drive Information

Well lets say I leave the Programs Files folder where it is, can I install all my new programs onto the 200GB partition and still have them run?

**Predators28** · 04-28-2008, 06:51 AM

Re: Hard Drive Information

Yes, because thats how i have mine partitioned and everything runs fine.

**Sam1990** · 04-28-2008, 03:08 PM

Re: Hard Drive Information

Originally posted by Predators28 View Post

Yes, because thats how i have mine partitioned and everything runs fine.

How do you have it partitioned? You have the OS and program files folder in like 100GB and you install all your programs into the 200GB?

**TheHeartSmasher** · 04-28-2008, 03:26 PM

Re: Hard Drive Information

Do something like this:
Drive 1 - 320GB
Windows 80GBs
Data/Software/Music/etc. - 240GB

Drive 2 - 160GB
You can use this one for only videogames installs if you like that's how large my current videogames installation drive is and I only have 21GBs left.

You will need the large amount of space for Windows as time goes on the updates will use up more space, plus some software put data on your os partition, even if you don't want it to.

You will not have exactly 320GB probably only around 298GBs but it will all work out once they are formatted and ready.

In order to do raid you want to make sure the drives are exactly the same (model #, space, etc.).

I'd also recommend having one or two external drives that you only use for backups. So when your not backing things up it's powered off and kept in a save locked up place.

**Vash2051** · 04-28-2008, 03:29 PM

Re: Hard Drive Information

Originally posted by Alex98uk View Post

RAID rules. It also adds +5cm to your e-penis.

Which is good for Alex, he needs every cm he can get.

**=98=** · 04-28-2008, 03:53 PM

Re: Hard Drive Information

Originally posted by Vash2051

Which is good for Alex, he needs every cm he can get.

**Vash2051** · 04-28-2008, 05:10 PM

Re: Hard Drive Information

That's one of my favorite pictures!

**Sam1990** · 05-01-2008, 03:12 PM

Re: Hard Drive Information

Well, here's what I want to do as of now:

320GB Hard Drive. The drive will only be about 300GB, so here's how I want to split it up:

Partition 1 (80GB): Windows Vista Home Premium

Partition 2 (220GB): Data, Storage, Video, Music, Games, everything else.

Everything from the OS will be installed under Partition 1. After that though, I have a few questions. When I enter "C:\\Users\username\" I see Contacts, Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Videos, Music, Pictures, etc. Can I move all that to Partition 2 or will it mess everything up?

Is it just better to re-create all those folders on Partition 2 and just start storing everything there and leave the ones on Partition 1 alone?

**TheSpark29** · 05-01-2008, 03:41 PM

Re: Hard Drive Information

Originally posted by TheSpark29

I suggest moving your My Documents folder to the 200GB partition. (Right click My Documents, Properties, Move)

(stupid minimum character rule)

Hard Drive Information

Hard Drive Information

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