Zip Disk Partitions

I got a phone call today. One of my friends just got a MPC 60. He was trying to format some zips and asked me how many partitions he should format it in. I got into explaining it but, it just grew more complicated. I usually set mine to the lowest partitions so I can max the space of the zip. But lamest terms what is the setting for such a case. How many partitions max out a 100 Iomega Zip disk?

He wants no free space on the disks. He said he formatted a couple and the partition max is not allowing free space to be accessed ... 16355K still left on a couple disks. How can he access the entire disk? I sent him to the forum - He is lost as child. So I thought I'd ask around plus it's a good way to brush up on my fundamentals. I'm reading the manual for best verbatim but this thing was written when they barely had information it seems. It just describes function not processing or auxiliary support. How can he get to all of the space on the zip drives ... I wanna set him up right. As well I'm reading through the forum and the manual ... all this verbatim knowledge is not touching the particular points. Finding myself in awe at the information I just readily do can't seem to remember the small details sometimes. This is a key part in putting together your library and I just can't remember myself. So I look foolish for asking but I want to get it right and basic. Help if ya can please let me know ... I just cant remember.

The most partitions you can have is 26.
You set the amount of partitions and the space on your disk (up to 768mb max) get's divided between them.

Your mate would be best to think about how he wants to organise his data and set the amount of partitions based on that.
Like does he want a to divide samples into type( like drums, vocals,etc) or does he want one partition per song or what ?

Any amount of partitions up to 26 will work, but he might prefer just 3 or 4 partitions (max size is around 28mb per partition) or something in between.

Robbinson wrote:How can he get Ro the max space of the zips without losing save space?

The max partition size is 28mb.
It sounds like he has only made 3 partitions if he has 16355K left.
Tell him to make 4 or more partitions.

Thas what it was the 3 partitions. I usually set mine up to 4. He def only has three - yeah and he is trying to chop drums. Saving them in kits as he chops them ... so for that I would say make 4-6 partitions.

Acid Mitch wrote:

Robbinson wrote:How can he get Ro the max space of the zips without losing save space?

The max partition size is 28mb.
It sounds like he has only made 3 partitions if he has 16355K left.
Tell him to make 4 or more partitions.

Thank you Acid Mitch - that's what I was explaining to him. Good looking out - One Love. He couldn't understand what a partition was and I was explaining to him that they are pockets of mb that store on the disk in 28mb intervals. Your disk is broken into parts or folders rather of 28mb information. The more partitions the more space on the disk ... in our case we are looking at 100mb which converts to 100000kb. Each sound takes a max of maybe 75kb. Varying to smaller sized data he should be able to fit at least 100 drum kits on a disk rather. He's barely at 40 he says ... disk won't accept any more saves.

I'm just speaking lame terms ... not saying that these numbers are correct but, just saying the points that need to be communicated. Just so he gets the point that's kinda how I explained it.

MPC60 3.10 Manual wrote:=========== Format Hard Disk ===========
The disk must now be divided into
‘partitions’ of up to 30 mbytes each.
Enter number of partitions: 4 (27 mbytes
each, A - D, for a total of 110 mbytes.)
========================================
<Do it>

The lower portion of the screen warns that the hard disk’s storage space
must be divided into up to 26 partitions of no more than 30 megabytes
each. These partitions are called partition A, partition B, and so on. In
each of the save and load operations, you will be allowed to select which
partition to save to or load from. Regardless of the size of each partition,
no more than 224 files can be saved to each partition.

At this point you must enter the number of partitions to divide your hard
disk into. A higher number of partitions will reduce the size of each
partition; a lower number of partitions will maximize the size of each
partition. If you’re unsure, a safe bet is to select the fewest partitions,
allowing each partition to have the maximum size. When you’ve decided,
press <Do it> to finish the format operation.

What OS is your 'mate' running, as this also has implications for the use of partitions?

Clint wrote:

MPC60 3.10 Manual wrote:=========== Format Hard Disk ===========
The disk must now be divided into
‘partitions’ of up to 30 mbytes each.
Enter number of partitions: 4 (27 mbytes
each, A - D, for a total of 110 mbytes.)
========================================
<Do it>

The lower portion of the screen warns that the hard disk’s storage space
must be divided into up to 26 partitions of no more than 30 megabytes
each. These partitions are called partition A, partition B, and so on. In
each of the save and load operations, you will be allowed to select which
partition to save to or load from. Regardless of the size of each partition,
no more than 224 files can be saved to each partition.

At this point you must enter the number of partitions to divide your hard
disk into. A higher number of partitions will reduce the size of each
partition; a lower number of partitions will maximize the size of each
partition. If you’re unsure, a safe bet is to select the fewest partitions,
allowing each partition to have the maximum size. When you’ve decided,
press <Do it> to finish the format operation.

What OS is your 'mate' running, as this also has implications for the use of partitions?

He's on a MKI MPC 60 running 3.10e OS

If your 'mate' decides to try transferring data between MPC60 (3.10) and PC/Mac, only the first partition will normally be recognised. In this situation, use a dedicated zip disk with a large PARTITION A to facilitate safe transfers. And keep file names at 8.3 characters or less.

Clint wrote:If your 'mate' decides to try transferring data between MPC60 (3.10) and PC/Mac, only the first partition will normally be recognised. In this situation,

Isn't that on Mac only ?

On Windows Xp you need the full version of MPC Editor which seems to be no longer available.
It makes 1 single 30mb partition that can be read by both MPC and PC. Otherwise the PC can't read any partitions on a disk or Cf card formatted in the MPC60 and the MPC60 can't read any partitions made by the PC.

Not much to what he's doing. He formatted the disks wrong. But what does making more than 4 partitions do if the max is still 28 mb? Seems there is only so much a disk can do. Why make more than 4 partitions?

Because you want to keep some files separate from each other instead of having them lumped together in 4 large partitions ?

Acid Mitch wrote:
Isn't that on Mac only ?

I've opened a can of worms.

The answer is too complex for me to post, too many variables.

Robbinson wrote:Why make more than 4 partitions?

Use the partitions like folders, for the reasons Mitch mentioned.

Acid Mitch wrote:Because you want to keep some files separate from each other instead of having them lumped together

Why doesn't your 'mate' join the forum and speak for himself?

He is on the forum ... but I also wanted to know these things. Not much to saving and formatting ... It's the basics however I wanted it clarified for myself as well. After explaining the exact same information you all just dropped ... I confused myself and had to ask for reference.
My disks are fine though. Afterwards ... I've set him straight though.