On Sat, 22 Mar 2008 00:22:02 -0700, cyberjeff wrote:
Quote:
>I do think that it serves several purposes
>1 - It enables one to save data from a single source. i.e if all my user
>data is on directory D: then when I back up D: it is simple instead of having
>to go to several directories
You could have one data directory and put all data into
subdirectories inside it. Alternatively, backup programs can be
set up such that they back up a list of directories, such that
you don't have to enter them every time.
Quote:
>2 - It does minimise disk fragmentation on C: since most of the changes due
>to more user data are on D:
That's not how disk fragmentation works. A file that is not
changed does not get fragmented.
Another point is that, on a busy disk, you may want to use a
defragmenter, which solves the fragmentation problem anyway.
Have a look at
http://winhlp.com/node/82 too.
Quote:
>3 - I thought that having separate directories increased system preformance
>and I am surprised that you suggest the opposite although you migh know
>better and I would like you to explain why.
Why should I suggest anything against my own conviction?
The reason why partitions can lower performance is that they
increase disk head travel. An example would be a disk split into
two large partitions that are partly empty, with the files being
in the beginning of the partition. Every time a file in the
other partition is accessed, the disk heads have to travel
across the empty space in the first partition.
The worst one can do is to put the page file (virtual memory)
into a separate partition at the end of the disk. If the page
file is actually used, this would nearly maximize the disk head
travel times.
Conversely, on a one-partition hard disk that is occasionally
defragmented, you will have all files in the beginning of the
hard disk, which minimizes disk head travel. Some defragmenters
and Windows' own prefetch mechanism move often-used files
together to minimize disk head travel.
Yet another disadvantage of partitions is that they split the
most valuable asset of your hard disk---its free space. As the
disk fills up and since you cannot determine in advance exactly
how much space you will need in each partition, one partition
will fill up first, while another will still have free space.
Then you'd have to waste your time to resize the partitions.
Hans-Georg
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