RE: [PCTECH] Multiple PC drives - From Weird Dell Windows XP problem

["Rick DuVall" <R_C_DuVall@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Rick,

        I have come to use two drives.  I install windows on my primary (usually
small ~ 40G) and install all else on my secondary.  I can then use Norton
Ghost to back up my primary drive to an image on another drive or a dvd.  If
I defrag my windows drive and write zeroes to all unused space, I can get
the image file down to about 1.5gig originally and keep it small enough to
fit on a single dvd downstream.  Each time I add software or make any
significant changes, I re-image the drive to dvd.

        When windows finally fails, as it always does, I just overwrite my 
primary
drive with the last stored image and everything is back.

Regards
Rick ;)

Rick DuVall
Systems Manager
Dealer's Auto Auction Of Okc, Inc.
(405) 947-2886 #143
Rick@xxxxxxxxxx

Subject: [PCTECH] Multiple PC drives - From Weird Dell Windows XP
problem



I am interested in more information about how others handle the multiple
drive setup on their PC's.  I have three systems, each with two drives.
Currently I have only the operating system (W2k) on one drive and install
programs, change My Documents link, and attempt to store everything else on
the second.  The drives are also on separate controllers whenever possible.
The thinking was to eliminate as much drive contention and waiting as
possible.

After my daughter brought hers home from college with a boot device failure
I'm starting to wonder if there is a better setup.  If the boot drive fails
I still have the "data" drive but all the registry entries would be lost and
I would probably need to reinstall everything anyway.

I am especially interested in the comments about dual boot drives and
separation of programs and data.