Best way to format drive?

[JTman]

Journaled or not? Case-sensitive journaled or other?

This is for a new 100GB laptop drive that I'll be setting up a 25GB OSX partition and a 67GB data partition.

Thanks,

Julian

[JTman]

On second thought, I may not partition it - but still wondering the best way to format - this is the first time I've ever noticed the options showing case sensitive - must be new to Tiger.

JT

[mattkime]

don't partition. people rarely benefit from it.

[JTman]

I'd like to keep this focused on which option to format - because I need to do it pretty soon today.

As for partitioning, I've been doing it for a while now, and in fact, it may have come in handy just yesterday because for some reason my OSX volume has become corrupted. Started out with Entourage F** up and then it would not boot, and disk warrior says there's nothing that can be done.

So - best thing to do is to reformat and start another install or clone.

If I hadn't partitioned - I would have had to reformat over all of the documents and picture files I have on the larger partition; as it is, all I have to do is to wipe the startup volume and be on my way.

I realize the disadvantages - but there are definitely a few advantages as well.

having said that, I still may not partition this time around.

JT

[jdc]

extended journaled is fine

get an external drive for backups -- when a drive fails it doesnt matter if you have a million partitions, they will all go

external drives are so damn cheap -- worth every penny

[JTman]

What does the case-sensitive option do?

Thanks,

JT

[mattkime]

hfs+ journaled.

definitely put a backup system in place. you're right that partitions do offer some protection but as jdc says, it doesn't save you from a dead drive.

personally, i don't partition because i'm more likely to fill the drive if i do it. if you only work will small files then this isn't likely to be a concern.

[LyleH]

Here's a link to Apple's discussion area regarding case sensitive. Seems like a case sensitive formatting can create problems.

http://discussions.apple.com/search.jspa?search=Go&q=case+sensitive

LyleH

[rexrzer]

Get a backup system going, and have 1 partition on that tiny little 100GB laptop HDrive, HFS+ Journaled. Nobody uses case sensitive that I know of. You really need to rethink how you're going about "saving data" because if the drive fails, you've lost everything, partitioning be damned.

The only safe way to save your data is to do a daily backup of your HDrive or User folder, your choice. I do a nightly backup at 3AM using SilverKeeper v1.1.4, to an external 300GB HDrive, and it's saved me more than once. With the cost of HDrives and external FireWire cases being so low these days, there's no excuse for not having a real backup solution.

________________

[JTman]

Thanks for the advice - but you are preaching to the choir. I have a few externals and do the dvd thing on a regular basis - so I'm fairly well covered - at least every to weeks or so...

Thanks for the tips!

JT