Which drive should you store your programs so your pc doesn't run out of space? What does partition mean?

Question

I read some where that you can save disk space by partitioning drives. Is that recommended, is it difficult? Can a person mess up their pc if they don't do it correctly? I'm new at this, I just added another 512MB RAM although system properties shows total RAM as 960Mb, I had 512Mb before, I thought 512 + 512 was 1024Mb? I' confused.

Answer 1

Your C:// drive is the hard drive, your CD drive is useually called D:// and if you have more then one hard drive or cd drive it will follow with E:// or F:// (right click "START" and select explore, What drive letters do you see, right click one and select properties, it will tell you how much space you have on it, Pay attention to what the drive is labled
The C:// drive is where you should save your files, (Your my documents folder to be exact). If you have more then one Local Disk, (not cd drive), Then you might want to save the files to the other "Local Disk".

To clear up some space, Uninstall unwanted programs, (Old games, and programs).

To partition means to split the drive. Basicly it splits the drive into two parts, One part people put there important files on, like the operating system and the drivers for the video and sound cards. So if something goes bad, and they have to format, ( erase ) the drive, they have a backup copy of the operating system and all the drivers..

As far as the ram, Your computer probably does not support that much ram. Get cpu-z-138 From http://idatop.com/archives/file/cpu-z-138/23050.htm
It will show you what you have in each slot,

Answer 2

The RAM probably a little different from what you had and so it may cause the computer to see less than 1024. I not sure if it would have more than it see.
The C:\ Drive is your Hard Drive and that where Programs are stored and when it full that all there is. You can Zip and Archive some files and you can Burn Pictures to CD to save on Hard Drive space.
What Partitioning does is divide your Hard Drive into 2 or more Hard Drives. Though it only one Drive the CPU see it as 2-4 depending on how a person divide it up. HP computers come with a partion to store the original backup programs. I not think you can hurt your computer by partitioning but, you can mess up your OS (Opperating System) so you want to make a Recovery Disk and then Defrag before making a partition. Say you have 160 GB Hard Drive. You could partition it into 2-80 GB partitions. You computer will see the original partition as C:\ and will probably make the new Partition F:\ so when you look in Windows Explorer you will find your Floppy; A: CD/DVD; D: and C: and F: BUT, if you have a lot already on the Hard Drive, you may not have room to Partition into 2-80 GB you may need 100 and a 60.
Now, you really not need to partition. Only if you want to isolate a backup or Install another Opperating System and have a Dual Boot. Since I have my Install CD and Programs I use, I not use Backup, I can just re-install. I use an external Hard Drive to backup Pictures and Documents.

Answer 3

You are confused about the types of memory in a computer: the system memory is called RAM ( that the one that you increased by adding a stick on the MB ).

The 960 MB you see is about correct; the rest is used for housekeeping purposes and are not available to you,. the user.

The hard disk drive, or HDD is called disk memory.

Disks can be partitioned into several "logical" drives on the same unit. They are partitioned for ease of use and organization. You don't have to partition your disk if you don't want to.

Partitioning a disk is not difficult, but unless you're quite good with the computer in general, I would not advise doing it yourself -- because, yes, you could mess things up.

Far better to buy an external USB Drive and use that as a second drive instead of partitioning.

Answer 4

your startup programs use some space thats probably why its not adding up to 1'024 mb. partitioning means to split one drive into parts like cutting up a pie.you use alphabeths to assign dirves that you use .Aand B, are reserved for floppy drives. c, is usually for operating systems . d,e, usually for cd roms. the rest f,g,ect is used fo whatever you like.good advice is to read about this go to pc mechanic on the internet and look fot your topic .thats how i learned .good luck