Need help setting up OS X for new iMac

[dihakz]

I have two computers at home right now, with one more on the way (the New iMac). One of my machines is the TiBook which is already running OSX. It is configured with three partitions. One for OS9 (and Classic), one for OSX, and one as a 'swap' partition.

I'm looking for advice as to what I should do with the New iMac. Should I set up separate partitions on this machine as well? (I've heard that if something goes wrong and you have to reinstall X, you have to erase the drive!) If there is more than one partition, what OS's should be on them? Should I have 9 on both, or just one? Should I set up a swap partition? (I've not noticed that much of a performance boost with the swap partition on my TiBook.) Finally, what size should each partition be? (This is the iMac's 60 GB drive.)

Will these things really help performance? If so, why doesn't Apple ship these computers with this config already? Will it really be worth my while to go through all this headache to do this when the new computer arrives, with everything already installed?

Any and all help and advice, tips, and more you can give me would be so greatly appreciated!! (Sorry for the long post!)

Thanks!!
Darren

 

[moby1]

Best thing to do is ship the iMac to me...

...and I wil configure it for you!

Seriously, I have settled on a 6 partition scheme, I may go for 8 partitions when my iMac arrives;

1.) OS 9

2.) OS X (yes it's best to put it on a seperate partition)

3.) Applications (makes it easy to transfer whole volume from last comp.)

4.) Utilities

5.) Users (this works quite well with OS X)

6.) Cache (for downloads and such)

and maybe...

7.) Media (I've heard that playing all those MP3's will fragment the drive)

8.) DVD authoring (a way big partition for this - can't wait!)

 

[moby1]

RE: swap

If you have at least 512MB, I wouldn't mess with the swap file.

 

[moby1]

also, "Applications"

I leave the applications installed WITH OS X on the OS X partition. Only subsequent applications go on the "Applications" Volume.
I do this because future updates to OS X applications won't work properly if the apps' are somewhere referenced by a symbolic link (this may change if they rework the OS X installer).

 

[moby1]

Ok more...

I'd then boot into OS 9 and run Norton utilities to optimize/defrag.

Then use TechTool Lite to delete/rebuild Desktop.

Then go back into OS X and run Xoptimize or

"sudo update prebinding /" in Terminal.

* Now your system should fly *

 

[moby1]

p.s.

I always keep at least two OS 9 folders on the "OS 9" partition - just in case.

Conflict Catcher has a neat feature to merge system folders if things go wrong in 9.

and b/u & stuff your '9' preferences & extensions & control panels too.

Anybody know how/what preferences to save in OS X?

 

[dihakz]

Wow!

Thanks for the responses... Are you sure that this is not overkill? When working with partitioned drives in the past (or multiple hard drives) I've found it to be VERY confusing when saving files, downloading files or even locating files (although, your method would help with the latter problem... seems like there would be very little confusion here.)

I think there would be less issues of duplicating files uneccessarily by moving from the desktop to a hard drive since we should, ideally, be using the desktop less.

That all being said, what are the other potential downfalls to having this many partitions?

Also, what sizes should these partitions be?

Thanks again!
DiHaKz

 

[Beej]

Re: p.s.

Originally posted by moby1
Anybody know how/what preferences to save in OS X?

I just save my ~/Library/Preferences

On another note... 8 PARTITIONS??? You're a crazy man! That would drive (note very clever pun) me insane! I have 2 HDs:
20 GB-
Backup (nearly all)
Swap (the rest)

80 GB-
X (60 GB)
Classic (20 GB)

With a bit of maintenance now and then, there is no reason why you can't keep all your OS X stuff on your OS X partition, and all your Classic stuff on your Classic partition.

 

[madamimadam]

What is the value of partitions?

 

[mac15]

What is the value of partitions?



it's easier to optimise smaller volumes

 

[moby1]

6 is good but here's why I may do 8; DVD-R

OK, it's not confusing after you get used to it. I started out with 3 or 4 then went to 6 now maybe 8. Makes defragging faster too.

I try not to use the Desktop at all - keep it nice n' clean and set it to not display the volumes on desktop in OS X - I put them in the dock.

When I get my new iMac I'm thinking that I will have 6 or 7 partitions under 4.7 GB - why - well now it'll be easy to backup a whole partition - to a DVD!

Need to restore a whole partition? Apps'? Utilities? Users? - just stick in that DVD!

Of course I'll still need a very large partition for DVD authoring - that plus one partition to hold the Windows IOS's I use running VPC. So, my present 6 + 2 more = yep, 8.

A Firewire HD might make very good sense here too but then HD's do fail and I'd want to use the FW HD for other stuff. I have been using my iPod to do some backups - works pretty well too.

 

[madamimadam]

Originally posted by mac15
It's easier to optimise smaller volumes

Optimise how and why would you want to optimise only a fragment of your total hard disk?