10-26-2006, 12:45 PM

I just ordered my first Mac computer. When it arrives, I'd like to partition the hard drive, since -according to Macworld.com advice- it's the ideal time to partition a hard drive because you won't have anything to backup.

As you see, I'll be new to the Macintosh. I've been doing some research for the past three months about how things work in the mac (the OS, utilities, etc.). According to my research, in order to partition the startup disk you need to:

1. Boot from the OS X installation CD.
2. Select Disk Utility.
3. Determine the name, size and number of partitions you want.
4. And click Partition.

But after that what should I do. I know I will need to install the OS and its software, but do I have to do that for every partition I make. Can you give me instructions on how to proceed after the hard drive is partitioned?

Thanks.

10-26-2006, 01:25 PM

Let me know once you find out, because I'm going to be getting a MacBook Pro soon. Have you read about BootCamp? http://www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp/ I'm not sure if you want to run windows or you just want to partition it for other uses.

10-26-2006, 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by DarkRaven24

Let me know once you find out, because I'm going to be getting a MacBook Pro soon. Have you read about BootCamp? http://www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp/ I'm not sure if you want to run windows or you just want to partition it for other uses.

Actually I'm in no need, for the time being, to be running Windows on my future Mac. Basically the partitions are for other users. I hope someone can confirm that the steps I posted above are the correct ones, and also how to proceed after that.

10-26-2006, 03:10 PM

Why don't you just use the multi user feature of OS X instead?

Anyway, this is how I'd recommend doing it if you really must use partitions:

1) Boot off DVD, Start disk utility and just enter the amount of partitions you need.

2) Finish the installation on the first partition and get everything set the way you want it.

3) Log in and open disk utility and select 'restore'.

Drag the first partition (with OS X installed) to the 'source' area and drag the empty partition to the 'destination' area.

4) Repeat for each partition and then just change any settings you want to personalize for the different users.

10-26-2006, 03:23 PM

Originally Posted by Aptmunich

Why don't you just use the multi user feature of OS X instead?

Anyway, this is how I'd recommend doing it if you really must use partitions:

1) Boot off DVD, Start disk utility and just enter the amount of partitions you need.

2) Finish the installation on the first partition and get everything set the way you want it.

3) Log in and open disk utility and select 'restore'.

Drag the first partition (with OS X installed) to the 'source' area and drag the empty partition to the 'destination' area.

4) Repeat for each partition and then just change any settings you want to personalize for the different users.

So, step 3 and 4 would be like copying the OS and all the software onto the other partition? Am I correct? So in that case each partition will have the OS and the software installed. Is that the way it works?

I'm new to this. Please have some patience. I'm trying to clarify doubts.

10-26-2006, 03:48 PM

Yes. Step 3 & 4 will basically clone the first partition and all installed programs, users and settings to the other partitions.

Again, I think if you want to set up multiple users on this machine, it'll save you a lot of hassle, maintenance and disk space by just using multiple OS X user accounts. Each user still gets their own application settings, home folder etc etc, but you don't have multiple copies of the main operating system and major apps.

10-26-2006, 04:03 PM

It's just that I read this and found myself encouraged to do a partition.

http://www.macworld.com/2005/03/secr...ctor/index.php

10-26-2006, 04:12 PM

But I have another doubt though, I don't know if the software iPartition can do the same with a fresh hard drive right from out the box computer, which will save me some time regarding all the software installation after making the partitions. The guy in Macworld says it's a good software, but I don't know if it's only for external hard drives or something. Do you know that program?

http://www.coriolis-systems.com/iPartition-2.php

Because if it can, that means that I will need to login, install iPartition, make the necessary partitions I want, but without erasing anything.

10-27-2006, 01:54 AM

iPartition is only really necessary if you want to repartition a drive that's already filled with data.

I'd just use disk utility, unless you already own iPartition.

10-27-2006, 10:43 AM

That's what I thought about iPartition.

Is it really necessary to 'clone' the OS to other partitions, or can I use a partition strictly for file storage?

10-27-2006, 11:00 AM

Oh sure... just partition them with disk utility and leave it at that.

I just assumed you wanted to set up distinct user environments...

10-27-2006, 11:12 AM

I would suggest you to use the complete HD as a single partition rather than breaking it in to smaller partitions (unless you intend to install Windows/Linux). When I bought my first Mac I also decided to partition it (Windows Habit) but later ran in to trouble. After reading several artitcles and forum posts I have concluded that there is no greater advantage by doing so. More info on that can be found here.

10-27-2006, 11:19 AM

So when Disk utility is done partitioning the hard drive, does it ask me on which of the new partitions I'd like to install the OS and its software? (since the installation DVD is running). Is it intuitive? (the OS X installation process).

What kind of troubles did you have after partitioning?

10-27-2006, 11:27 AM

Well I ran out of space for my music library and couldn't keep all my other archives(movies, software, etc.,), after splitting the HD. Then I wanted to merge them but tools available for merging didn't do the job properly. As a result I had to do a fresh install.

10-27-2006, 12:33 PM

I also find multiple partition difficult for backups.. you can either do file based backups, which don't give you an external bootable option, or you have to individually back up each partition to multiple partitions on your backup drive...