HD Partitioning!

Hello,

I'm planning to buy the new iMac and that will be my first Mac ever! So please be patient! Thanks!

I'm a little confused about HD partitioning. I will talk about PCs (running windows) and you will see what i mean, then.

When i buy a new PC, i get my hands on a windows DVD (or CD), then i will start thinking about partitioning my HD. Let's say i have a 160 GB HDD. I will be thinking: "Umm.. 30 GBs for C: (windows) and 130 GBs for D: (Data)"

Now, i created two separate partitions just in case i wanted to reinstall windows, i wouldn't have to erase my Data and just erase my C:. That way, i saved my data while giving enough space for my applications (on C: )

Now for the Mac. Is it a good idea to partition my HD and have my OS separated from my Data? If i am to reinstall the OS, what options do i get? Upgrade? Install Fresh (Erase HD)? Install Over? Repair?

I'm thinking that way because of what will happen if i had my HD partitioned with only one Volume and i wanted to reinstall OS. Will I have to erase my HD, or is there an approperiate action to do.

Also, i'm thinking when i buy the new leopard. If it was a new version of windows, i'd prefer to format my C: and install the new OS cleanly. That's what i'd like to do with leopard. That is, i want to install it cleanly with no upgrade.

Will I be able to do that with one partition, or will i have to create two partitions; one for System (and Applications); and other for Data? If that's so, what is the recommended size for my System Partition. On windows, i'd say 30 GB.

Thank you so much in advance
And i'm sorry if that caused you a pain in the head

Oh... one more thing, though. I'm sorry for any grammatical errors. English is not my first language!

 

thanks for your replies.

I won't install windows on the new iMac.

About leopard... You said i can easily upgrade, but i'd prefer a fresh install. Does that mean i will have to erase my HD in case of one partition? If that's so, then i'm afraid i will have to create two partitions Am i right?

PS: I'm not planning to buy a backup external HDD at the moment.

Thanks again

 

motulist, how is that possible?

let's just imagine the following scenario, even though it's unlikely.

Imagine that Mac OS X got infected with a deadly virus (let's just imagine!), and i wanted to reinstall the OS to get rid of that virus. On windows, the best way is to format, then reinstall windows. What about on Macs?

motulist, are you talking about the possibility of reinstalling Mac OS "cleanly" without having to erase my one-volume-HD and still be able to get rid of that deadly virus that has infected my kext files?

thanks

 

thanks a zillion, guys. Now i'm pretty confident that i will create only one partition. Thanks to you