Separating "system" and "data".

[ErikAlbert]

What does it mean in telegram-style ?

Partition-C = Windows + Third Party softwares and their settings, but no data.

Partition-D = all data-files, like documents, spreadsheets, bookmarks, emails+addressbook, everything you don't want to lose.

 

I've done this a longtime ago and it has nothing but additional advantages, I never had before.

What bothers me the most is that some users are AGAINST this separation, it's nonsense, unneccesary, ... they even claim that it makes Windows instable, but they never tell why.

 

Did I really miss something as a newbie years ago or are all these comments nonsense ?

Edited September 14, 2010 by ErikAlbert

[Jelly Bean]

I have three hard drives.

 

One main C drive.Two external drives.

 

As C drive could fail or your D drive could.Keeping data on a second/slave HDD or external USB HDD is a good idea.If your main drive failed you would not loose all your data.

 

Installing and uninstalling software on your C drive can cause corruption.

 

I download all my software and files to an external HDD.This way I scan the files for any infection and when found to be clean I can then open and use the file,transfer it to C drive if I wish.If the file was infected I just delete and rescan with my AV.Doing this can help stop your main C drive getting infected wich could cause you to spend many hours having the infection cleaned or having to reinstall windows.

 

Ok I could go on and on and on why I think storing data on a second drive is a good idea but I am not going to.

 

You in my opinion are doing the right thing store all your data on a second drive.

 

Just be aware the second drive could fail and all data could be lost so run regular chkdsk on both your hard drives.

[ErikAlbert]

@Jelly Bean,

I have indeed two internal harddisks and one external harddisk to backup both "C" en "D".

So I'm ready to survive any disaster-scenario like a disk-crash or a killvirus-attack. :)

[Dalo Harkin]

Any data would be better moved completely away from the system so onto DVD/tape or backup shares if possible.

It's all well and good having all your data backed up, but if something happens to your backup drive (and it will one day as its mechanical) your back at square one.

 

You need to invest in a more robust system, I have a server that duplicates data across more than one drive and there are also backups incase the server eats all the disks (as has been known to happen) and I have important stuff stored off site in the cloud :D

 

Backup in itself is a very softly softly broached subject as people either think they dont need it (until something goes wrong) or they have it and think its a be all and end all