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Do you have a data partition

Tex-Twil

Tex-Twil

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Hello,
I should recieve my MBP tomorrow and my OSX life will then start. While waiting for this day, I've been reading those forums and learning OSX even before I had a Apple notebook. There is still one question I'd like to ask.

In the PC world (windows/linux) I'm used to have a partition which contains only my data such as mp3, photos, movies, ISOs, downlaods ...

Do you, OSX users, also have a mounted data partition to store your data there ? If yes, which software do you use to manage your partitions ?

If no, what is the OSX way to keeping the data between OS reinstallation ? Ok I know that the reinstallation frequency of Leopard is lower than the one of XP, yet it can happen one day.

Thanks in advance and see tomorrow with my MBP 😉

regards,
Tex
 
You could have a separate data partition if you really want to, but on a mac there really is no need. Apple provides built in tools for disk management located in /Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility.app
 
Typically your user's home directory would have most of your data: music, movies, photos, documents, preferences, mail, library... etc.

I backup my home directory to ensure it safety, and the Migration Assistant with every new Mac you buy allows you to bring everything over to from an old system.

You can do that as well (I believe) if you clone your HD and then wipe/reinstall everything on your system (if you have to for some reason).
 
hiddenpremise said:
You could have a separate data partition if you really want to, but on a mac there really is no need.
Click to expand...

So how do you keep your data between two installations ?


iShater said:
Typically your user's home directory would have most of your data: music, movies, photos, documents, preferences, mail, library... etc.

I backup my home directory to ensure it safety, and the Migration Assistant with every new Mac you buy allows you to bring everything over to from an old system.
Click to expand...

Is it possible to have the /home mounted on a separate partition as on Linux ?

What I want to avoid is the backup of data on an external support (DVD, ext HD)

Anyway, mounting the home is not a solution I want cos usually the home directory has a lot of hidden files that one wants to get rid of while reinstalling the system 🙂

I think I will simply create separate partition and use it for datas.

Thanks,
Tex
 
eluk said:
Bad call. If your hard disc dies you're left with nothing.
Click to expand...
Yes I know, The really important data (photos, personnal docs) I do backup them on a backup server.

I'm talking about data that are huge but not sooo important. For example, I have all my program/games CDs in a iso form so that I dont have to look for and insert the original cd into the notebook. I can mount them directly from the hard disk.

If I reinstall, I dont want to make an external backup of this since it is a huge amount of data. Just leaving it on a partition is the best solution.

thanks,
tex
 
One of the install options is 'Archive & Install'. This saves your data to folder on the fresh install.
 
Tex-Twil said:
Is it possible to have the /home mounted on a separate partition as on Linux ?
Click to expand...

This is possible, I have my home directory located on a separate hard drive from the OS.

In Leopard you copy your existing home directory to the new location and repoint by right clicking on your username in the Accounts section of System Preferences and choose Advanced Options. You can choose the location of your home directory there.

With Archive and Install moving your home directory makes more sense on a machine with multiple hard drives.
 

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Tex-Twil said:
I'm talking about data that are huge but not sooo important.
Click to expand...

If you use Time Machine you will only have to backup these huge files once, then they will only be updated only as required. I have lots of movies in my home folder, the first backup lasted overnight but now it is done they don't backup again.

With Time Machine (with or without a Time Capsule) migration/reinstalling OSX is easy and complete.
 
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