The date and time was Sunday, September 13, 2009 1:16:25 PM, and on a
whim, Ken Blake, MVP pounded out on the keyboard:
This isn't related to the original subject of this thread, but I have
two comments for you:
1. You say you install all programs to a separate partition. Why do
you do that? In the great majority of cases, the people who do that do
it because they think that if they ever have to reformat the drive
Windows is on and reinstall Windows, they will at least not lose their
programs.
I have 6 OS's on this machine (I'm going to retire Win98 and WinMe soon,
but they're still there now).
I have always created small OS partitions (5 to 7 gig) and then install
all programs from all OS's into one programs partition. That way, the
OS and programs partitions are small and easy to back up, and I'm not
backing up multiple copies of the programs.
If that's the reason, it's not a good one. Almost all programs (except
for an occasional small one) have many references within registry and
elsewhere within the \Windows folder. If Windows is reinstalled, all
that is lost, and the programs have to be reinstalled too.
We've discussed this many times you and I. Whenever I backup an OS
partition, I also create a backup of the programs partition also, so
they are always current.
So putting Windows and installed programs in separate partitions is
hardly ever a good idea.
Unless one has multiple OS's. Regardless, if it was only two OS's, I'd
probably do the same. It works well for me, I've been using it this way
for years. Because you don't think it's a good idea doesn't mean it's
not.
2. You say you have backup partitions. Also not a good idea, in my
view. It's the weakest form of backup there is. I don't recommend
backup to a second non-removable hard drive because it leaves you
susceptible to simultaneous loss of the original and backup to many of
the most common dangers: severe power glitches, nearby lightning
strikes, virus attacks, even theft of the computer.
Well, you don't know how I backup, so your view is wrong.
1. I have multiple backups between 3 internal hard drives. Any drive can
fail and the other two have redundant copies of all partitions on the
system. I'm aware of your "common dangers" and I take care to prevent
any of those from happening.
2. I also have backups on 3 external drives. But those are much easier
to steal than the workstation.
3. If non-removable hard drives were the "weakest" form of backup, then
RAID would never have been common in servers today. I still use tape on
networks I admin, but nevertheless, non-removable is far from the
weakest form. Using DVD media is the weakest form IMO.
In my view, secure backup needs to be on removable media, and not kept
in the computer. For really secure backup (needed, for example, if the
life of your business depends on your data) you should have multiple
generations of backup, and at least one of those generations should be
stored off-site.
Strange of you to assume I'm not doing these things. Would you really
think that someone who has their workstation configured as I do, not
know what they might be doing?
I recommend that you read this article I recently wrote:
"Understanding Disk Partitioning" at
http://www.computorcompanion.com/LPMArticle.asp?ID=326
I may not be an MVP, but I've been consulting for 17 years. I was one
of the first contractors to implement a computer in our area. I set up
countless friends and their businesses before moving into it and out of
contracting. I feel I know how to protect data.
Terry R.
