The Multi-Boot Configuration Handbook

Summary

In designing a partition layout for a multi-OS system, it helps to know something about hard disk technology. The optimum layout strategy depends to a large extent on two disk speed characteristics: the internal data transfer rate (especially how that rate varies over the disk's cylinders) and the fact that head seeks cost time (more time for longer seeks). The second characteristic is the more important in deciding how you should lay out your OSs' partitions. The principles I've outlined in this chapter all derive from these two facts.

In general, you should try to keep partitions that you're likely to access frequently from the same OS together. For any given OS, keep the most frequently accessed partition in the center of that OS's ...