SOLVED Formatting/managing partitions and allocation sizes.

[shadowalk]

So I'm gonna re-arrange the contents of my 500GB hard drive. I'm planning to divide into three partitions: the system partition, a partition entirely for games and a partition for various stuff (music, videos, installers of various apps, pr0n, etc.).

I'm already using the system partition but when I was gonna format the other two, I noticed the allocation size options on the formatting window and I hear the allocation sizes affect performance and disk space management somehow. Should I just go for default (4096 bytes) on all partitions or is there something recommended that I should do like say a certain allocation size for my games partition and a certain allocation size for my stuff partition?

 

[Nibiru2012]

Always let Windows set the NTFS file system allocation size. The 4KB allocation size is standard now for Windows 7, so just let it be.

Years ago, allocation sizes were a different matter, also FAT16 and FAT32 used much smaller allocation sizes.

You are fine, so just let it do its thing and you'll be all set.

 

[shadowalk]

Alright, good to have that cleared up once and for all. Thanks mate!

 

[shadowalk]

One last thing though, a bit off-topic and I've always wondered about this. What are the advantages/disadvantages of using the quick format option?

 

[davehc]

A Full format also scans for bad sectors, whilst formatting. Quick does not.
It is also a matter of security.
A Full format will check right through the hard drive from , rebuilding its file structures, and , as I said scans the drive During this process, everything on the hard disk is totally obliterated. All a Quick format does is lay down a blank FAT and directory table without checking for bad sectors. Whilst completing this, it leaves whole, or residues, of files for any future hacker.

 

[kiran1247]

Hi Nibiru,

I was already in the loop of this discussion regarding partitioning the drives.. but i was NOT clear what to do , still in confusion !!

I've taken the screen-shot of currently drives in use of my HP new laptop..

I just want to know couple of things here like -

(1) I want to shrink some space out rather using entire C: drive with 500GB , so though we have already 4 partitions as primary only.. i guess we have delete one primary partition... and make new one.

(2) How to write/burn a drive , suppose take how to burn the Recovery drive to DVDs.. , i dont think this is normal burning to dvds.. , can you provide me steps ?

(3) What's the purpose of the below drives(partitions) :
(C - this is known one as C drive
HP_TOOLS = ?
RECOVERY(d - i guess this helps when our OS corrupts
SYSTEM = ?

Thanks for your help.

-Kiran