Enhanced Write Filter (EWF) in Win-7

[bawldiggle]

Enhanced Write Filter (EWF).
Is EWF (or something like it) available in Win-7 ?

According to a post I have just read ... in Win-XP EWF can increase the life of drives. (HDDs ?)

My browser/email laptop is used extensively all day. I use an external USB HD ...
1. make my data portable (backed up onto another HD each day)
2. Hopefully to extend the life of the laptops HD.

As I understand it files are not immediately written/rewritten until a certain criteria is reached.
Somewhere I also read EWF can be risky ... like lost data !

My rigs are all multiple HDs, but the laptop has the default single HD

Any constructive comments would be appreciated

SPECS:
Toshiba Satellite C665
OS:= Windows 7 Home Premium (32-bit), sp1 (Build 7601) OEM
UI:=Classic Shell Start + Classic Explorer
Windows Indexing = disabled

 

[A Guy]

If I'm not mistaken, it was meant for Windows Embedded, so the data is written to another source rather then the original. It could then just be discarded, keeping the original source as is. If you lost power, or any windows hiccup, you'd lose all that data. In searching it looks like people are trying to limit writes to the HDD (SSD), but if you wanted all changes, I'm not sure one big write is preferred to many small writes? I found this, it seems likely more trouble then it's worth frankly.

EWF on Windows 7 32-bit or 64-bit (Enhanced Write Filter)

EWF (Enhanced Write Filter) for Windows 7

A Guy

 

[bawldiggle]

@ A Guy
EWF idea sounded interesting, but when I read through the links, I started to glaze over at about post #2 in both. Appears to be risky particularly possible loss of data, and tweaking is way above my level of expertise.

As an experiment 12 months ago I had a rig built (by a guru) that included SSD for OS/programs plus an internal HD for data.
The boot times are outstanding, but I am at an age when bicycle delivered telegrams were a big deal, so patience came with those times.

With gamers I think I can see where nano seconds count, so there might be a place for SSD.
But I find games rather boring and futile ... but to each his own.
To contradict myself I am using a USB stick for portable apps and another to store code snippets on txt files. The latter gets a flogging.

As I live with SSD and pickup clues here and there, my next rig will be all spinners.
One 3 year old rig has dual spinners, boot time is nothing like SSD but 30 seconds is not life or death.

With EWF I thought (maybe) their might be a trick for my single spinner Laptop.
WD have a "new" combined SSD/HD for laptops, I am toying with the idea for a spare lappy I have.

I must learn to build a rig ... and so much to learn ... life is not boring

Thanks again for your thoughts and links, much appreciated.

 

[A Guy]

I believe for a desktop, OS on SSD and HDD data drive(s) are the way to go. Even the larger SSDs are showing decent prices these days, and the difference a SSD makes is very noticeable to say the least. SSDs will prove to be long lasting, and have their advantages. It's likely one day geeks will be talking about the days when their drives had spinning platters in them, remember?...

A Guy

 

[bawldiggle]

One problem for SSD is many programs don't offer an option to customize working folders, so working files are dumped on "C:\". I recently deleted 600+ working files in the bowels of "C:\Users".
Some developers are ignoring the fact that SSD is here to stay.

... the good old days ... that weren't totally good.
Running a business without PCs ... no thanks !
I could do with fewer wrinkles, but a facelift would put my navel under my chin !