Re: 2 hard drives 2 Windows XP

On Mon, 17 Mar 2008 08:36:02 -0700, matrixmainframe
<matrixmainframe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I plan to add a second hard drive to my computer (not yet decided on internal
or external) to back up all my music and other files from my primary drive.



If you're planning on an internal drive, I urge you to reconsider that
backup plan.

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.

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.

You can read my general advice on backup in this article I recently
wrote: http://www.computorcompanion.com/LPMArticle.asp?ID=314



All licensing issues aside (I've read the threads) can I install Windows XP
on the secondary drive so that if the primary drive failed I could boot from
the secondary drive without, as I suspect may be the case, having to open the
computer and changing the jumpers so that the surviving secondary drive can
be made the primary and vice versa.

Also, having never had a drive fail on me this may be a stupid question but,
if the primary drive failed and I got the secondary drive up and running as
the primary, would I still be able to see all folders and files on the failed
drive?

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Clone vs. Image
    ... I don't recommend backup to a second non-removable hard drive ... entire computer and cxrashing both drives. ... In my view, secure backup needs to be on removable media, and not kept in ... The clone I use is only in the laptop when I'm creating ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.customize)
  • Re: How to recover user profile and files?
    ... a new OEM version of Windows XP Pro on a shiny new 300GB WD VelociRaptor hard drive ... my thoughts on your plan of using that drive for internal backup. ... In my view, secure backup needs to be on removable media, and not kept ... My problem - I would like to simply move or copy my old user profile, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support)
  • Re: Large HD Partitioning - Why?
    ... Phil W wrote: ... The system needs a really secure backup - not necessarily ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Making A Secondary Hard Drive Private
    ... past the protection. ... And, most important, it protects the backup. ... In my view, secure backup needs to be on removable media, and not kept in ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Upgrading to Windows XP from 98 SE - copying email setup
    ... Backup & Restore OE Data ... (Please read the caveats about Outlook Express) ... > I am planning to upgrade my PC from 98 SE to XP Home. ... > - Import individual email accounts into separate Outlook user accounts ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6_outlookexpress)
Loading