Adding New HD

I have had a couple threads about this in the past, but have more questions. ==
I currently have one 160 GB HD which only has my C: partition. It is my OS, programs and docs. I would like to buy a 500 GB HD so I can backup my files. == I was thinking on the 160 GB to make a C: and D: with my OS and programs on C: and my Docs on D:. With the 500 GB, I would divide it into and E: and F:. I was thinking though that it would make more sense to have my Docs on the larger HD and backup to the smaller, but leave the OS and programs on the smaller and backup to the larger. Does this sound like the right way to do it? Thanks,

FWIW, with the huge size of Hard disks today, 500 gigs is about the minimum that is available in the stores.
My recommendation would be to format the D drive as one drive. create folders for your data and move your existing data from your c to make sure you have plenty of free space. Assuming that you have an external backup device, or if not you can create an image of the C drive onto your D drive with the ms backup image program. With Terabyte hard disks getting to below $100 or so. 500 isn't that much anymore. <GG>

I also recommend getting a commercial program like Acronis home backup. Cheap and allows you to create system images onto a external device. I have used it extensively for a few years and it allows me to have a warm fuzzy when I install some wonderful program that I had to have and it crumpted my system.
You can boot with the cd that you create from within acronis and selectively restore your system quite fast and easy. I buy mine thru the user group relations store ugr.com and if your a user group member, the price is very cheap for the piece of mind that you have.

I don't have any financial interest but just like good reasonable programs.

PS: I have 4 external Esata small drives that I create my images on which I have had to restore a few times

Rich

My recommendation would be to get at least 1 external hard drive and backup to that. If possible, keep it offsite. Otherwise if you mobo gets fried or your computer stolen or your house burns down....you might lose both of your drives and thus your data.

mjf said:

I know there are individual financial constraints. But I'd recommend at least 2 external HDDs if possible. It still is the luck of the draw with these devices IMO.
Given high precision, mass produced, low cost, poor ventilation devices I don't expect a long life out of them.

Are internal HD more dependable than external?

There is always the chance of failure of the electronics & power supply in an external unit.

Getting back to my original post, if I use two internals, does the method I outlined sound like a solid way to set them up?