Some on here have their OS and Programs in one partition and the Docs in another. They then backup those two partitions to a separate HD with two partitions. I can't understand the reason for separate partitions. If you used only one partition and made a system image to another HD you could restore just as easily couldn't you?
It's better to put your User folders on another HD if you have one, along with a stored image of just the OS/Programs partition.
This way if your OS becomes irreparable or needs reinstall, you can reimage the leaner OS/Programs partition in 15 minutes and your data is waiting and current in its data partition vault on a separate HD not tied to the OS partition, and which won't fail along with the OS HD.
The answer to your question why not just save an image of OS/Programs/User files is because User files change daily or even hourly so an image is not a practical way to back them up so they can be restored to current.
User Folders - Change Default Location
Last edited by gregrocker; 28 Oct 2010 at 21:48.
For me it is a matter of convenience. My system drive that I create a backup image of regularly is only about 40GB while my data drives contain hundreds of gigibytes of photos, music, documents, etc. If I must restore from my image to get the system up and running again it is only 40GB not 2TB.
I store nothing at all on the OS partition, it makes a clean install very worry-free and I create an image of the 'new clean' install with just the basics added so it's even easier to recover after I mess something up.
That is how I am setup. I've got an 80GB SSD for my system. Then, I have a 1TB storage drive on the box.
However, in situations where I don't have 2 physical drives...I always setup with a partition. This way I can reload or reimage the OS on C...without losing any of the data on D. And I don't have to take the time to make a backup of that date to an external drive.
Anything can be installed wherever you like and have the room for it, it doesn't have to be installed to the "Program Files ..." forders.
Since a picture is worth a thousand words ...
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