Duaine, For anyone who backs up their data (which should be everyone!!), this is really a non-issue. The data is backed up, so even if the hard drive fails they restore from the backup. When doing the backup with Windows, you simply back up the entire "users" folder. If windows becomes corrupted and has to be re-loaded, the first effort is to simply repair the existing copy of windows, or use the original disk to do a system restore to the day before the problem happened. Many times this solves an OS problem, but not always. If the OS and applications needs to be reloaded completely, then you simply re-load it into a new folder. This doesn't delete the user data at all. Once Windows and the applications are up and running again, you delete the old Windows folder. So there is not much practical difference between having the OS and data on different partitions, and having them in different folders. But the backups are the most important thing! Hard drives do fail. Don Mannino - User of Ubuntu since 2004.10 on my laptop (dual boot) and spare home computer Current also using Windows XP (work), Vista (laptop) and 7(home) -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Duaine Hechler Sent: Saturday, April 24, 2010 8:07 PM To: pianotech at ptg.org Subject: [pianotech] OT: Windows drive C: - vs - Linux (probably Mac) Speaking of viruses, crashes, mirroring, backing up your files ..... In a default Windows environment, you have drive C: (One partition on one drive => a whole pie) It contains EVERYTHING (Windows OS, extra software - AND - your personal data files) but in separate directories (in the same partition => a whole pie). This in turn leads to your problems when you have a crash. Somehow - if you can get to them - you have to do a backup of all YOUR personal data files. Then put them back after you have reloaded your system. Now, Linux on the other hand, by default has a separate partition for your OS - and - a partition for your personal data files The OS and other "system" software goes in "/" or "root" (Windows = C: => First 1/2 of a whole pie) Your personal data files go in "/home" (Windows = D: => Second 1/2 of a whole pie) So what do all this mean - this means that ALL your personal data files are SAFE from being deleted or needed to be backed up if the OS crashes. You can reload the OS and extra software as many times as you want and your personal data files will still be there - and - untouched. (Unless the whole hard drive goes) Duaine -- Duaine Hechler Piano, Player Piano, Pump Organ Tuning, Servicing & Rebuilding Reed Organ Society Member Florissant, MO 63034 (314) 838-5587 dahechler at att.net www.hechlerpianoandorgan.com -- Home & Business user of Linux - 10 years
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