Dumb Q re: keeping your data OFF the C: (OS partition)

[JimLewandowski]

Since we now have W7's create disc image (new to me as I knew nothing about W7 as I had XP previously), is there any reason whatsoever to keep your data off the C: partition?

Since you can backup the whole smash (meaning, if all your data is on C: and you create disc image C:, it DOES backup 100% of C drive, correct), who cares where you data is any more? Obviously, this implies you keep a short-term backup of your whole C: drive. However, you do need another partition to back up TO, so you'd still need another HD partition (or use a dead-slow USB2 external thumb/HD).

Comments?

 

[dajogejr]

Assuming you're getting quality backups (that you've tested, of course.. ) there is no reason for a separate data partition.

However...
If the backup file(s) or image(s) become corrupt...or if you have a physical drive/mechanical failure, then you'd be at a loss.

I keep my data on a second HDD and once every month or so backup what's important to me (mainly pictures from over the years) to a few DVDs.

Just good practice.

 

[ultraplanet]

.... However, you do need another partition to back up TO, so you'd still need another HD partition ....

Comments?

Just keep in mind that a second partition on the same physical drive will not protect you against hardware failure. I believe dajogejr mentioned that too.

 

[JimLewandowski]

.... However, you do need another partition to back up TO, so you'd still need another HD partition ....

Comments?

Just keep in mind that a second partition on the same physical drive will not protect you against hardware failure. I believe dajogejr mentioned that too.

Understood. I should rephrase...

I have a 2nd hard drive that I can use for backups. Hence, there really is "no" need to separate the OS and data since I can simply image the whole C: drive to the 2nd internal hard drive. It seems people are still in XP-mode-thinking (myself) such that they're worried about their data should they have to restore their OS.

 

[Staple Head]

.... However, you do need another partition to back up TO, so you'd still need another HD partition ....

Comments?

Just keep in mind that a second partition on the same physical drive will not protect you against hardware failure. I believe dajogejr mentioned that too.

Understood. I should rephrase...

I have a 2nd hard drive that I can use for backups. Hence, there really is "no" need to separate the OS and data since I can simply image the whole C: drive to the 2nd internal hard drive. It seems people are still in XP-mode-thinking (myself) such that they're worried about their data should they have to restore their OS.

it is still best to save any pictures, downloads, docs, etc............. to a separate drive. you should never leave items on c that you cannot afford to loose. plus there is the added advantage of not having those files scanned during bootup. even 7 scans every folder and file on c to make sure that it loads everything. the less on c the less scanned.

 

[JimLewandowski]

it is still best to save any pictures, downloads, docs, etc............. to a separate drive. you should never leave items on c that you cannot afford to loose. plus there is the added advantage of not having those files scanned during bootup. even 7 scans every folder and file on c to make sure that it loads everything. the less on c the less scanned.

I don't follow the last part at all: Files scanned during bootup? What do you mean? What is W7 going to scan at bootup?

 

[Staple Head]

it is still best to save any pictures, downloads, docs, etc............. to a separate drive. you should never leave items on c that you cannot afford to loose. plus there is the added advantage of not having those files scanned during bootup. even 7 scans every folder and file on c to make sure that it loads everything. the less on c the less scanned.

I don't follow the last part at all: Files scanned during bootup? What do you mean? What is W7 going to scan at bootup?

7 just like xp and vista is designed to scan every file on the drive / partition your os is on during bootup as not to miss anything that is needed for the os and your startup programs to run properly. the less you have on your os drive / partition the less that is scanned.

 

[JimLewandowski]

7 just like xp and vista is designed to scan every file on the drive / partition your os is on during bootup as not to miss anything that is needed for the os and your startup programs to run properly. the less you have on your os drive / partition the less that is scanned.

This makes no sense whatsoever. Why would an OS "scan" every file? It KNOWS what it needs to start Windows 7. It knows what is in RUN/RUNONCE and STARTUP to launch those processes. This is way out in left field.

 

[Staple Head]

actually microsour has not yet created an os that does not scan every file on the os drive / partition yet. why do you think a lot of users will create two separate partitions. one for the install of windows and the other one for program files.

 

[JimLewandowski]

actually microsour has not yet created an os that does not scan every file on the os drive / partition yet. why do you think a lot of users will create two separate partitions. one for the install of windows and the other one for program files.

You are not making any sense whatsoever. Windows doesn't scan anything. Otherwise we'd be seeing recommendations to move or delete every little from your OS partition to speed up the boot process.

Um, users create a second partition for data so if they restore their OS partition, their data is intact.

 

[Staple Head]

actually microsour has not yet created an os that does not scan every file on the os drive / partition yet. why do you think a lot of users will create two separate partitions. one for the install of windows and the other one for program files.

You are not making any sense whatsoever. Windows doesn't scan anything. Otherwise we'd be seeing recommendations to move or delete every little from your OS partition to speed up the boot process.

Um, users create a second partition for data so if they restore their OS partition, their data is intact.

windows does scan every file on the os drive / partition during bootup. i'm not the one trying to bs people. two reasons to create that second partition. first to keep windows from scanning those files during bootup, second to protect that data during a reinstall of windows.

 

[whs]

Apart from the scanning problem, there are good reasons to have a seperate data partition.
1. It allows you to image those partitions at their own pace and the imaging is faster. Not every system image requires the data to be imaged too and vice versa. You just set them on their own individual schedule.
2. If you use the Win7 imaging facility (in lieu of a proper imaging program like e.g. free Macrium), you have to jump thru an awful lot of hoops in order to mount the image in case you want to recover the files only (or just a few files). Importing the data partition image (in lieu of the whole system image) becomes an attractive alternative then.
3. Even with 2 internal disks, from time to time, you should image to an external disk that you can disconnect. A malware attack can get to anything that is running - but not to an external disk that sits in the drawer.

 

[JimLewandowski]

windows does scan every file on the os drive / partition during bootup. i'm not the one trying to bs people. two reasons to create that second partition. first to keep windows from scanning those files during bootup, second to protect that data during a reinstall of windows.

What's the point of scanning every file? It knows what's need at startup and the whole point of the NTFS directory is so you don't have to scan anything.

I don't recall reading anything like this in Russinovich's Windows Internal book. If you could link something up, that would be nice. I just browsed Chapter 5 in his book that explains the boot process in detail. I see no reason nor mention of any scanning of any kind.

 

[neo101]

Does staple head mean 'Search Indexer'?


"By default, the Search Indexer in Windows 7 indexes the most common locations where your files would be stored, i.e. all libraries, everything in your User folder, and e-mail. If this is not enough, you can add or remove index location really easily.
That means you can tell Windows 7 to index and return results from files and folder on network drives or external hard drives"

Windows 7 File Search Indexing Options

 

[JimLewandowski]

Does staple head mean 'Search Indexer'?


"By default, the Search Indexer in Windows 7 indexes the most common locations where your files would be stored, i.e. all libraries, everything in your User folder, and e-mail. If this is not enough, you can add or remove index location really easily.
That means you can tell Windows 7 to index and return results from files and folder on network drives or external hard drives"

Windows 7 File Search Indexing Options

I don't see how you can search Internet Explorer History save for takeown/icacls.

http://www.sevenforums.com/general-...options-search-internet-explorer-history.html

 

[Loganman67]

Nothing but OS stuff on the C: partition is something I've always done just from a backup perspective, if the OS goes, I can easily reload without worrying about data loss (barring a complete HW failure). Other than that there is really no reason you can't keep things on the C: partition. That being said, one thing I have always done was to move the Page file off of the C: drive and put it on a separate drive (not a different partition on the same HD); that can speed up HD performance.