Partitions

[macdoug]

I know that this subject has been covered a few times, but I would like some opinions on my particular situation. I have a 677 Mhz G4, 768 MB with a 60 Gig HD. As I am very financially challenged and am legally blink, I am just now upgrading to OSX 10.1 with the appropriate upgrades to OS X 10.5. I will definitely use OS 9.2.2. One person on an OSX list that I belong to suggested 3 partitions with 1 partition for documents of the different applications for easy backup. I am wondering about the size since OSX is such a memory hog and manages memory differently that OS 9.....When I read about the way OSX manages memory I was beginning to have questions plus Randy Singer who I believe is the coauthor of The Macintosh Bible doesn't recommend partitioning because of the was memory is managed.

[lvixen]

If I'm not mistaken, in the directions for install, it states that you cannot install OSX in a drive larger than 8 gigs. You could just break it (your HD) into the two sections, 8 for the OS then the balance for OS 9 and your apps. and documents. I have a powerbook which is 12 gigs and I didn't want to partition since I HATE partioning   , but that's what it said to do.. so I did. If anyone knows how to install without using partioning.. I'd love to know about it. Good Luck with your system!

[Mrious_be]

How did you do that big text

I don't think it was a matter of having no (or yes) a partition on OsX, but i think with smaller harddrives (like my 13Gb) it's best not to.
A 60Gb drive doesn't really matter as long as you don't make the partitions to small AND give the OsX boot partition enough space to work.

That's how i understand it (but wait for more answers).

[Gary S]

macdoug,

Here are a few links:

http://osx.hyperjeff.net/links.html

http://www.osxfaq.com/

http://www.macosxhints.com/

http://www.macattorney.com/tutorial.html

The last one is Randy Singer's site.

You could just partition it in 2 with OSX on one and 9.2.2 on the other.

I have mine on different HDD's.

[Spartacus]

My current 30 GB HD partions look like this:

500 MB MacOS 9
rest MacOS X

I did that because I decided to install all applications on the MacOS X partition even if they're OS 9 apps. That's because a ) almost all of my apps are OS X native now and b ) because I felt it was more sensible to have all apps in one directory rather than split on two partitions.
Hence, all I needed was the space for a OS 9 installation and some spare space for extra OS 9 system components.

Generally, I would stick to 2 partitions. A couple of years ago I had a partition for OS, apps, files/documents, and games. The problem was that it was extremely unflexible. At that time I was still gaming a lot and the HD sizes were smaller (a problem you probably won't face with 60gigs) and I had the problem at some time that one partition was full and the others still had space left.
Ever since I returned to max 2 partitions.

Under OS X it is highly advisable to have a seperate partition for OS 9 and OS X. And the OS 9 partitions shouldn't be too big (it doesn't have to be as small as mine either) since on the long run it's OS X you'll be using.

[Edit] I just had a problem with a smilie. b ) became
was better, I think...

[pendragon]

I'm with Spartacus on this one.

Shortly after setting up my DP 800, I had major problems with 10.0.4. In an ensuing call to Apple, the tech unofficially advised me to put OS 9 on one partition and OS X on another partition. That way, he said, in the event of an emergency, you can easily replace either OS.:whistle:

Since that time, OS X has been updated many times with many improvements in the process. But I still believe the advice was sound and I have never regretted following that counsel. Moreover, it has saved my bacon more than once.

Harv

[Bill]

Won't or can't speak for others,so here is mine.
X on one partition/9 on another partition.
This HD still had plenty of room so I created another partition for apps etc and a storage partition.

As Harv mentioned already ... kind of figure if one goes south I can run off the other not to mention you can reinstall or clear the partition that went south and pop a new one in without interfering the other.
If the whole drive goes bonkers,I've a backup drive.
If both drives kick the bucket .... I'm going fishing!

[kelly]

Partition or not. It's a matter of personal preference.

I always Partition but you don't have to.

lvixen. That 8 Gig or less partition only applies to some machines.

Which one do you have?

[tacit]

Yep, the 8GB partition for OS X is only relevant to certain early New World machines--specifically, beige G3 systems and Revision "A" through Revision "D" iMacs.

There are benefits to partitioning a large drive:

1. It can make backups easier;

2. If you have OS X on one partition and OS 9 on anohter, you can choose which one to boot into by holding down Option when you start up (this works only if they are on separate partitions);

3. If the OS or disk directory becomes so badly damaged that the computer can't find the operating system, it will still boot from the other partition; and

4. You can run disk-repair programs, such as Disk Warrior, that will not allow you to repair the boot volume, without having to dig out the CD-ROm and boot from it.