Re: Partition help



"Anna" <myname@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:Os#EWzRhIHA.4164@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx:

>> "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

Anna,

I have a 1TB HDD and an external case for it. I want to clone the C and D partitions from the computer's 500GB HDD to the 1TB HDD. Of course, there will be some unused space on the external. Can I put additional folders/files onto that external drive without compromising the clone?

Thanks,
LeRoy

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