How to partition?

Diamond7

I am just about to build my first PC and run win7(64bit) on it. I was thinking of running Linux or ubuntu at a later stage (dual-boot) to try it out and want to partition my HDD accordingly from the start. The machine will have one 1TB HDD to start with, until I can afford another.

I am thinking three partitions: C) win7, D) ubuntu, E) Storage.?

How much space should I leave for the win7 primary partition(C) including space for a moderate amount of software apps?

How much space for Linux/ubuntu?

Should all partitions be primary or is there an advantage to using an extended partition?

Any tips or thing to watch out for?

Thankx guys!

Capt'n Midnight

install windows first , since it don't like sharing

1TB so 30GB for each of the OS's should be enough

which version of linux ?
linux can read NTFS easily , newer versions of ubuntu using Ext3 with a larger inode size than 128 can't be ready by some windows drivers


linux likes a swap partition , you can setup a swap file and point to it , but partiton is easier - this means you need 4 partitions. an extended partition is on you can fit others in , it's just a way around the limit of 4 primary partition, fine for data but OS's should be in a primary partition if you can

Fysh

For a 1TB drive, I'd suggest ~120GB for each OS and a third partition formatted as FAT32 for storage. This lets you easily access files from both OS without worrying about read/write issues.

The only issue with a FAT32 storage partition is the maximum filesize limit of 4GB.

Personally I tend to go for letting Ubuntu or Fedora choose the disk partitioning for me, though I've heard good arguments in favour of using an extended partition which contains a swap partition and a user data partition separate from the install. I'd always use a primary partition for Windows though.

Things to be aware of - if you do install Linux of whatever variety, you'll need to initially let its bootloader take over from the Windows bootloader. Usually this means GRUB or Lilo.

I'd also suggest printing out this page on how to fix bootloader-related issues for Windows 7 systems. It's also worth looking at this page to create a customized Windows Recovery Environment disc that you can use in the event that something goes wrong.

Stuxnet

for the ubuntu install, your best n00b setup is 3 partitions, a root partion "/", this is where the os itself gets installed, a /home partition this is where your files and settings get saves, and a swap /swap partition, used for memory, helps ubuntu get out of hibernation etc

5-9 gigs is loads for / partition
swap is usually around 4 gigs, or whater ever your ram is, and
/home make as big as you can afford

the idea behind this setup is, if you ever need to reinstall your ubuntu, you just reinstall at /...when you boot up then, all your settings and files were as they were, for your ubuntu partitions, its best format them as ext4

i use gparted live cd/usb, it'll do all you need in the blink of an eye

alternativly you can just set aside one parttion and install ubuntu to that, but will lose the perks

also if your really n00bish and want to tryout ubuntu, without repartitioning, you can install ubuntu like a windows program, it'll give you the dual boot option when you boot, you can easily uninstall through windoze control panel as you would any other program

http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/windows-installer

Diamond7

Thanks for the info and links guys.
Still not sure what way to go. I have never used Ubuntu before and just really want to mess around with it to see what its all about. After briefly reading into swap partitions and swap files I think I might fall into the "really nOObish" category as iPwnage puts it. Maybe running Ubuntu like a program in windows would give me a feel of the thing and if I like it I could repartition later and install it properly.

Alternativly if I partition correctly now I will save myself hastle later on if I do enjoy using Linux/Ubuntu. You guys have different ideas for me, especially over size of partitions. Here's where I'm at so far:
C) Win7 OS >30 <120 GBs
D) Linux/Ubuntu OS >30 <120 GBs
E) Storage >500 GBs (NTFS rather then FAT32 cos some HDMI movies >4 GBs)
F) Swap partition for Linux/ubuntu ??? GBs

Or should it be?:
C) Win7 OS
D) Storage for Win7
/) root partition for Linux/ubuntu
E) Extended partition with:
/swap) swap partition for Linux/ubuntu
/home) for Linux/ubuntu.

Also not sure which version of Linux to use but that can wait.

tman

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

1TB so 30GB for each of the OS's should be enough

30GB is nowhere near enough for Windows 7 unless you want to do housekeeping on a daily basis! Currently using 41GB of mine and I've got sweet FA installed on it (program files and program files (x86) are a combined size of 3.29GB)
I'd usually go with 60 as a minimum and around 100GB to play it safe

I'd say dive in head first now and partition the drive properly + install ubuntu rather than having to do it later on down the line when it'll be more of a pain.
Ubuntu is nowhere near as space hungry as Windows 7, so I'd say go with iPwnage's suggestion and keep maybe 10-30GB for "/home", then format the rest of the drive as something for files which can be accessed by both OS' (Ubuntu can read and write to NTFS partitions without issue these days, so I'd lean towards that over FAT32 tbh)

Seriously, do it now before your PC is fully set up and you run the risk of cocking everything up

Diamond7

Thanks again for the help guys.

A mate of mine is giving me an old 80GB IDE HDD and i'm gonna use this for Linux.

Have to get win7 working first! Having big problems. Gonna post a new thread and see if anyone can help.