How do you organise your HD & files?

Aiadi

isofa wrote: »

Re the Truecypt via Aiadi - do you backup the files unencrypted, or just backup the encrypted containers? Just concerned that if the container file became corrupt and also the backup, you'd not loose one file, but potentially all files (although hopefully you'll have a backup history), whereas a separate file backup, although more insecure, would be more robust.

For initial backup creation, I copy the whole containers. Further incremental backups are then done from one mounted container (drive) to the other which would ensure the containers are viable on both sides and maintain the security of the files.

bookduck

if you plan it right, you can fit all for your boot dos c: drive (boot partition) and d: drive (system partition) backed up onto 1 dvd, So when you get a virus or infected or something gets really messed, it is very easy to re-ghost without loosing any data.

For friends/business I always create 1 partition, Have to admit with USB drive it is getting a bit pointless having more than one.

[Deleted User]

I have:

C:\ 74GB Raptor with my operating system and applications
\ 74GB Raptor with my games
E:\ 500GB Drive for stuff
F:\ 500GB backup of stuff
G:\ DVD R/W
H:\ Virtual Drive
I:\ Virtual Drive

It gets confusing sometimes.

esuhl

superscaper wrote: »

Don't see any point to having partitions except when installing multiple operating systems...

I would *nearly* agree with you, but the (old) version of Acronis TrueImage that I use will only back up complete partitions, so it makes sense for me to use separate partitions for my personal data and the OS.

Also, if the OS gets b****ered, it's a lot easier to just wipe the OS partition completely and re-install...

Nilrem

I always partition my hard drives (and have multiple drives) - too many bad experiences with the OS dying or the drive failing

At the moment on my main machine i've got
500gb drive (main) partitioned as
100gb OS (Vista) and apps
100gb Games
300gb Documents/downloads

250gb secondary drive with one partition for back up documents, additional download

160gb third hard drive for more downloads and games

It sounds like a lot of space but it gives me multiple backups on the machine (in addition to monthly DVDR backups of emails/docs/pics), and i've got most of the games patches etc i've downloaded over the past few years.

I'm adding another 500gb as soon at it arrives back from Scan (it was RMA'd 6 weeks ago*) - that will be set up as a mirror of the main one (but without the OS installed on it).


The partitions are then sorted with base directories/folders depending on what's in them roughly for example my E: drive (docs/downloads) has

Assorted camera pictures - digital camera pics, with further folders for subject
My documents (moved from the default location on the C: drive)
My Music - sub folders for genre/artists/album
Apps - anything applications i've downloaded and found handy (everything from freeware stuff to things i've bought online).
Drivers - with sub folders for OS and type of device
Scans - with sub folders for what type of scan they are (photo/slides etc).
TV/Films - things i've recorded with the TV card

The secondary drive then has copies of the
Documents, Pics, Scans, Emails, Bookmarks in subfolders by date (with names such as "backup 180508").

I've also got a couple of flash memory devices that I use for anythig really important.

In some ways it's overkill as I don't have much vital work, but I've had problems in the past and hate the downtime caused by a failed disk/os install and try to keep it to a minimum (I had 3 drives from the same batch die in the space of about 6 months).

I would however strongly recommend at least two partitions on any machine, one for the OS/APP and one for the data, as that way you can if need be wipe the OS partition without losing data.


*I'm not overly happy that they lost the faulty one in their warehouse and it's taken multiple calls to get it sorted (I think the replacement was finally sent last night).