Re: Partition help


"mag" <the1mag@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:DvudnaSyO7zgp0XanZ2dnUVZ_oaonZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

We're about to take delivery of a new (actually a Dell refurb) computer
with a 320 hard drive and XP Pro pre-installed. I've always previously
had
a small C drive for the OS and programs and a large secondary drive,
called D, for data, so a single hard drive of this size is making me
nervous! I think it probably should be partitioned but I have no idea
how
to go about doing it. Should I get something like Partition Magic? One
friend suggested wiping the hard drive, reinstalling the OS and
partitioning at that point.

Any advice will be appreciated.

Maggie


"mag" <the1mag@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:Xcqdndy-5vTl2UXanZ2dnUVZ_rmjnZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ken,

I just read your article, thanks, and you've mentioned the reason I said
maybe I "should" partition the drive, which is that we backup the data
to
an
external hard drive every day. I thought having a partition just for
data
would make the process easier but perhaps it doesn't really matter.

I'm thinking now that if I'm going to wipe the hard drive anyway, maybe
I'll get a smaller hard drive and continue with what I currently do, ie
have the OS and programs on a small C drive and the data on a large D
drive.

Thanks,

Maggie


Anna wrote:
Maggie:
Let me give you another point-of-view to consider...

You are certainly correct in your objective to "backup the data to an
external hard drive every day". Not only is this a worthwhile objective,
it really should be your *primary*, if not exclusive objective. And when
we use the term "data" in this context, consider that this "data"
includes
*everything* on your day-to-day working HDD, i.e, your XP operating
system
(OS), all your programs/applications, as well as your user-created data.
So that by a comprehensive backup of your data you can, in effect, have a
copy of your HDD. A precise copy whereby should your day-to-day HDD fail
or your
system becomes unbootable because of a corrupt OS, you would have the
wherewithal to restore your system to a bootable, functional state with
a
minimum of fuss. What better backup system can one have?

You can achieve this through the use of a disk-cloning (or disk-imaging
program). A comprehensive backup program that you could use on a daily
basis should you want.

There are a number of disk-to-disk cloning programs available. The
program
we greatly prefer as a disk-to-disk cloning program is the Casper 4
program - see
http://www.fssdev.com

It's extremely simple to use even for an inexperienced user, reasonably
quick in operation, and quite effective. There's virtually no learning
curve in undertaking the disk cloning process as one navigates through
the few
easy-to-understand screens with a final mouse-click on the button on the
screen which will trigger the disk-cloning process. After undertaking one
or two disk-cloning operations it should take the user no more than 20
seconds or so to get to that point.

The significant advantage of the Casper 4.0 disk cloning program compared
with other disk cloning programs that we're familiar with is its ability
to create *incremental* disk clones following the creation of the
original
(first) disk clone. Employing what Casper calls its "SmartClone"
technology the program can create subsequent disk clones of the source
HDD usually at a fraction of the time it takes to create a "full" disk
clone. This results in a decided incentive for the user to undertake
frequent complete backups of
his or her system knowing that they can create "incremental" disk clones
in a relatively short period of time. Understand that this "incremental
disk
clone" is a *complete* clone (copy) of the "source" HDD.

So, for example, in your case where your interest would be in backing up
your system on a daily basis, following the first time you clone the
contents of your internal (boot) HDD to your USB external HDD (USBEHD),
it
would probably take no more than two or three minutes each day to
thereafter perform the disk-cloning operation. Again, bear in mind that
your USBEHD would contain the *complete* contents of your internal HDD.
While the USBEHD would not ordinarily be bootable in an XP OS, it would
be a simple matter to clone the contents of the USBEHD back to a internal
HDD should a restoration of the system be necessary. Again, what better
backup system can one >> have?

The Casper 4.0 program is also capable of scheduling the disk-cloning
process on a daily, weekly, or other time period selected by the user so
that should you prefer you could arrange for automatic backups at
pre-determined times.

There's a trial version available (see above link) although it's somewhat
crippled but it will give you a good idea as to how the program works.
And I can provide further details about using the program should you be
interested.

The downside to the Casper 4 program as compared with the Acronis and
most other disk-cloning programs is the cost of the program which comes
to $49.95 for the program + $9.95 for the "Casper Startup Disk" (the
program to create the bootable CD containing the Casper program). So it's
more expensive than the others. But in our view, well worth the
additional cost considering its overall effectiveness and the fact that
one will be using the program many, many times over the weeks & months
ahead. AFAIK, the program is available only through download from the
developer.

Another possible downside to the Casper 4 program (depending upon your
interests) is that it's really not designed to create "generational"
copies of your system. Some users like to maintain complete copies of
their system at various points in time. To that end a disk-imaging
program is more
practical since to accomplish that objective using a disk-cloning program
such as Casper 4 the user would obviously need a fair number of HDDs to
serve as the recipients of the clones at these various points in time.
But
based on our experience I would say that the vast number of users (and I
would assume you are one of them) are basically interested in only
maintaining a current up-to-date copy of their system and have little or
no interest in maintaining "generational" copies
of such. But that may be a consideration for you & others.

Anyway, all of the above is predicated on the basis that you're seeking a
reliable program to backup your *entire* day-to-day booting HDD,
including
the XP OS, all your programs & applications, and your user-created data,
in short - everything that's on your "source" HDD. And you want an
effective
simple-to-use program to do this on a systematic routine basis and do so
reasonably quickly. To that end we've found this Casper 4.0 program
really
fills the bill. So I would suggest you take a look at it.

I really don't think there is any significant need for you to
multi-partition your HDD. There's no reason why you can't work
effectively
with a single-partitioned HDD that includes *all* the data on your HDD.
And simply create the files & folders to organize your work on that
single
partition. This is especially so should you use a disk-to-disk cloning
program such as the one I've suggested. In our experience this supposed
additional security one gains from separating data through partitioning
is
more myth than reality in the day-to-day world of personal computing.
While there's no terrible harm in multi-partitioning your 320 GB HDD
should you
want to go that route, I honestly do not feel it's of any real value to
the vast majority of PC users.

So, in summary, my advice would be to think more in terms of establishing
& maintaining a comprehensive backup system along the lines I've
suggested
rather than multi-partitioning your HDD.
Anna


"Bill in Co." <not_really_here@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:uUzfFpLhIHA.944@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I want to add to this that when I suggested partitioning, it was not to
separate all program data into into its own "data" partition, but rather to
create room for a backup partition, and perhaps use a separate partition
for huge work files - like video work.

That's what I have done. I've never used a separate partition for
programs, and another one for user data, preferring to keep them together,
so that when I back it up, it's ALL together and easily restorable and
updateable, in a one shot operation.


Bill:
I really believe it's a serious mistake for most users to create a "backup
partition" on the same physical HDD that one is backing up, assuming that
partition (or any other area on the disk) will serve as the *only*
repository of the backed-up data. How will a user be able to recover/restore
his or her system should the HDD become defective which I'm sure you're
aware is not a particularly rare event?

Is it not more prudent to store one's backup data on another HDD -
preferably an external HDD or under certain circumstances another internal
HDD?
Anna


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