Could someone please explain?

Discussion in 'Software' started by lock and load, Jun 4, 2009.

  1. lock and load

    lock and load Private E-2

    I keep hearing people saying "The trick is to run the OS on another hard drive."

    Why?

    What are the benefits?

    And
    I just purchased a notebook that will use two HDD's any advice, pointer ect..?
     
  2. dlb

    dlb MajorGeek

    I think what these "people" are referring to, is to keep all your documents, pictures, music, etc on a separate hard drive than the drive on which you have your OS installed. In this type of scenario, if/when your OS gets trashed/infected/corrupt, you won't have to worry about backing up anything 'cuz it's already on a separate drive. IMO, installing your programs/software to a 2nd drive is pointless and ripe for problems, but some people do it and I have no idea why. But, like I said (and I practice what I preach), keeping all your 'important' stuff like pics, tunes, docs, downloads, etc., on a 2nd drive is definitely a good idea. I make it a point to reformat and reinstall my OS every 4-6 months regardless of what's going on. Right after I have a fresh install of Windows and my drivers, I install Office and all the other software I use regularly, then I use Acronis to create my own set of recovery discs. This way, when I do a clean install, I boot to an Acronis boot CD, and rebuild by OS and apps from the recovery discs I built earlier. It works great, and offers great peace-of-mind and time savings. Acronis was offering v8 for free awhile ago, and I took full advantage of it... it may be worth it to find out if it's still available. It's a bit light on tons of features, but for basic home use, it's a life-and-time-saver...
    :-D
     
  3. tym

    tym Corporal

    Myself I firmly believe you need to back up your documents, music, your important stuff you Dont wanna loose. IMHO the best way is to back up all your files and such to DVD. After you Burn the DVD with all your important data, Just make sure you can access the files and such from the DVD. Make sure it burned ok.

    Harddrives do fail, If its burned to DVD and the DVD is taken care of you have them forever. When I used to run dual hard drives I always backed up One harddrive and stored it on the other drive. I personally Use Nortons GHost 14.Never failed me once, saved me many times.
     
  4. lock and load

    lock and load Private E-2

    I have also heard it in relation to making the computer run faster. Any thoughts?
     
  5. Buck_nekid

    Buck_nekid Specialist

    I have heard to put your page file one a separate (physical, not partition) drive. I have tried but I couldn't tell a difference in speed. I do as dlb does, with keeping everything separate. I run 3 hard drives, #1 for the OS and installed programs, #2 for my "stuff" and #3 is all music. For the same reason as above, when or if things go bad I am out nothing except some time setting it back up.
     
  6. plodr

    plodr Major Geek Super Extraordinaire

    The only time I've partitioned a hd was to install another OS.
    I do not store important files on my computer because the hd will die. I store on floppies, CDs, and USB sticks. If the files are extremely important, like irreplaceable pictures, then I make sure I have more than one copy burned or stored on different media.
    I regularly "image" my computers using Acronis True Image. I have at least one image for every computer burned to CDs. I also have other images on my external hd. I burn images because if my external hd dies, I can't get to the images. Having an image on CD insures that if the install goes bad or the hd dies, I can resurrect the computer.
     
  7. collinsl

    collinsl MajorGeek

    This offer has now expired.
     
  8. collinsl

    collinsl MajorGeek

    Sorry, for saying this, but surely it is better to store important files on your computer as well as in your backups, because then all your files are in an easily accessible location and you have more backups of them.
     
  9. BILLMCC66

    BILLMCC66 Bionic Belgian

    I have an external drive (1 tb) and all the things i don't want to loose get backed up to that every couple of days or so.
    Applications i use on a regular basis are still on the PC but others that i don't use frequently are deleted thereby keeping the PC uncluttered.
    I also have a bootable copy of the OS that never sees daylight but it's there just in case.
     
  10. bigbazza

    bigbazza R.I.P. 14/12/2011 - Good Onya Geek

    My old (1999) model Gateway Solo 9300 had provision for 2 hard drives, in swoppable bays. :cool I miss it. :cry

    What is the make and model of your new notebook?

    Bazza

    ===

     
  11. lock and load

    lock and load Private E-2

    bigbazza,

    Its a HP Pav dv 7t

    From the pictures ive seen it sounds like your 9300
     
  12. lock and load

    lock and load Private E-2

    The only thing is that its a monster 17" screen. Cant wait..
     
  13. lock and load

    lock and load Private E-2

  14. bigbazza

    bigbazza R.I.P. 14/12/2011 - Good Onya Geek

    Thanks for the quick replies and link. Have bookmarked it. I'll think about it when (and if) I go to a 17" laptop. :cool

    Bazza
     
  15. lock and load

    lock and load Private E-2

    Once mine comes in i am sure ill want to talk all about it let me know if there is anything you want to know the big day is the 15th.
     
  16. Drizzles

    Drizzles First Sergeant

    I would have to agree with collinsl ... believe it or not, CD and DVDs alike are known to eventually degrade, even if stored properly. USB sticks technically shouldn't die but you never know. I have a HDD docking station and multiple HDDs. I have TWO backups of my Entire external drive, so if one dies I still have the other.
     
  17. bigbazza

    bigbazza R.I.P. 14/12/2011 - Good Onya Geek

    I hope your new laptop has arrived. :cool I'd love to know the Windows Experience Rating (WEI). Can you itemise the 5 components rated in the WEI
    for me. I am going to find out pricing and availability, in OZ, of your model.

    Thanks, Bazza

    ===

     
  18. Just Playin

    Just Playin MajorGeek

    http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-vista/get/experience-index.aspx
     
  19. bigbazza

    bigbazza R.I.P. 14/12/2011 - Good Onya Geek

    Just Playin, I do know what a WEI is. I just want to know the readings for lock and load's new toy. ;) Bazza
     
    Last edited: Jun 19, 2009
  20. lock and load

    lock and load Private E-2

    As far as this computer goes its great i love it. It is a lil big need to get a new bag but....

    WEI BASE SCORE:4.6
    Processor: 4.9
    Ram: 4.9
    Graphics: 4.6
    Gaming Graphics: 4.9
    Primary hard disk: 5.5
     
  21. sexyandy81

    sexyandy81 MajorGeek

    I also invested in purchasing a external hard drive (1TB) and I can say there are very handy when it comes to documents, music and games etc. I always save my stuff on my external hard drive when not in use I just turn the external off until needed.

    I would like to point out that external hard drives are now becoming cheaper to purchase now. Floppy's and cd's are becoming old fashioned to save data to, as mini disk's are now available with atleast 140mb storage but you can get different capacity mini disks
     
  22. bigbazza

    bigbazza R.I.P. 14/12/2011 - Good Onya Geek

    Thanks lock and load. :cool

    Bazza
     
  23. BILLMCC66

    BILLMCC66 Bionic Belgian

    If you make several folders on your new external hard drive when you download any programs save them directly to the hard drive relevant folder (games/applications and so on) you will be able to run them directly from your hard drive (as long as it's switched on) thereby saving the hard drive on the laptop from filling up.
     

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