What is disk partitioning?

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>Using Windows Disk Manager to create, delete and modify
>partitions. In this case the partitions involved will be erased

...Unless you're using Windows Vista, in which they've updated the disk manager to be able to resize partitions non-destructively.

I have found in the past that if you partition the drive if you put all the information that you dont want to loose onto another partition (not C) and leave programs and O/S on C, then providing that you create a "Downloads" folder on C and scan before moving info to another partition, if disaster strikes, all info not on C is perfectly safe and even after a format to C to reinstall programs and O/S, the information that was kept before is still there and perfectly fine. As viruses etc only attack C and the O/S...(well in my experience anyway)

What I don't understand is I have a Drive E: / C: & D:. Then an apparently separate drive F: for DVD/CD ROM use.
On the E: DRIVE, when I click on it to open any files it may contain, it says "This folder is empty"
However, when I check the properties, it shows that there is 373 MB of space used out of 1.05 GB of space on the drive.
I don't understand what is using 373 MB space if the file shows empty?
Is there a way of finding out what is being used that doesn't show up in the file? And if so, can I either partition it to free up the used 373MB's or will that erase everything on C: as well?

Here's a nice list of free hard drive partition tools

Great Newsletter!

With 1.5 TB disks (which I have external, but my comment applies to much smaller disks like 500 Gb also)partitioning makes all the sense in the world.

With partitions for Programs, Data General, Multimedia Data, Projects it saves A LOT of time looking up things (instead of looking at one big 100 directory list).

Defragging can be applied to the partition where needed most like your multimedia partition so files open faster, you also "loose" less time as you only defrag the partition you want to defrag at that moment. Big difference between defragging 1.5 TB or 250 Mb.

Regards, Denis

Hi Leo,
I was wondering how to make a system reboot in another partition. Say like a 80 gig hard drive with 10 gig partaition for reboot with F10 or Ctl F10.

Thanks

My D drive is saying it only has less than 15% space left. I don't know what to do. I think that could be why I cannot update to a new version of my antivirus. I don't know what to take off, I am a novis. I have plenty of space on C drive and plenty of DVDs. Help!
I don't understand why I've run out of space if D is programs only not data.

Here is my question. How many times can a hard drive be partitioned? I direct answer will be appropriate, thank you.

As many times as you like. Partitions are nothing more than data on the disk.

06-Jul-2010

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