In this Masterclass, we turn our attention to partitioning with Windows Vista. Here we'll describe how to split a single hard disk into several sections (called partitions), each of which will appear to Vista as a separate drive. Although partitioning a hard disk is not an inherently risky or difficult thing to do, human eltor can result in the loss of its entire contents. As before, then, we strongly advise against undertaking any of the procedures in this Masterclass unless you have an up-to-date backup of your PC. Ifnecessary, experiment using a spare disk first. And should it all go wrong, we will not accept any blame. You have been warned.

Why use partitions?

Splitting a hard disk into two or more partitions pennits a si~gle computer to run more than one operating system: Perhaps two different versions of Windows or a mix of Windows and Linux, with a program called a boot loader asking which one should be loaded every time the PC is started. Partitions also make backing up easier. Using a disk-imaging program, the entire contents of a partition can be copied in a compressed fonnat onto another partition. Even if Windows fails catastrophically, it's possible to boot from a recovelY CD (provided with disk- imaging programs) and replace the damaged version of Windows with a perfect copy from the backup image.

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Another good use for a partition is to store data. By keeping data separate from the paI1ition containing Windows and all its installed software, file management and backing up are greatly simplified, while sharing a pal1ition on a network makes it easy to draw the line between what you want to keep private and what you allow others to see.