-=PCTechTalk=- Re: Rose's Completely Simplified Organizational Method

Rose,
    Well, since we're now on this subject, I might as well allow this 
situation to lead me into one, make that several, of my suggestions for you 
to consider.

    Your initial reason for keeping them off of the main drive (boot drive) 
is understandable and hardly deserves a "Wart" classification, but it would 
have been a worthless effort if you couldn't get into the OS for any reason. 
For one thing, it generally takes an OS to get to the shortcut or executable 
for the utility in question.  Worse yet, most utilities require access tot 
heir registry entries before they'll work. No OS = No registry = No joy.

    My simple solution to nearly everything that surrounds this problem and 
many other related situations is to set up a dual boot system.  Your Primary 
OS would have all of its Program Files on a separate partition just like 
you've been doing, except that the utilities would be there, too.  The 
second OS (in your case with the new Vista computer) would be a second 
install of Vista (if possible) or perhaps WinXP and would have all of your 
favorite utilities installed directly to it's own D: partition.  If anything 
ever goes wrong with your main OS, boot into the second one to have access 
to whatever tools you need to try to fix it (or to simply copy off of the 
drive anything you wish to save before formatting C: and reinstalling 
Vista).  In other words, the second OS exists primarily to provide back door 
access your main OS drive (unless you find that some other things run better 
on XP, of course).

    I'll further suggest that you install the second OS onto a separate 
physical drive than the main OS and copy over the files it would need from 
C: in order to become bootable by itself, just in case the first physical 
drive fails completely at some point.  You then have the option to remove 
the failed first physical drive from the system, make the second drive the 
Master and boot directly into the second OS in order to assist in the 
recovery.  This suggestion will provide you with numerous ways to get 
everything back in order once the failed drive is replaced. Of course, 
everything important that was on the failed drive will also be on a CD/DVD 
backup as we'll discuss later in this thread.

Peace,
GMan

"The only dumb questions are the ones that are never asked!"

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tech Rose - LoveBytes" <TechRose@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2007 10:31 PM
Subject: -=PCTechTalk=- Re: Rose's Completely Simplified Organizational 
Method


> Wow!  You did good...again.... Gman... spelling this all out, and asking 
> the
> perfect first question.
>
> Question 1:    Do you have a specific reason for separating your Utilities
> from the rest of your Program Files?
>
> When I was laying all this out for you, I was tempted to move the 
> Utilities
> to the Programs Partition as a sub directory, and not share this wart... 
> but
> I decided to be 100% honest.
>
> Your first question..is one I have NO answer for.
>
> First, MY definition of Utilities is something that keeps my computer
> running better or can fix computer problems..or..is used by all
> programs...sort of like the Swiss Army Knife.  I consider programs like 
> Win
> Rar, Win Zip and email backup programs. Tweak UI, Partition Magic, Go 
> Back,
> etc. as Utilities.  They help me keep my computer going and in my (sick)
> mind do not fall into one of the other categories for which I have created
> partitions.
>
> The Utilities Partition. I believe was the first specialized partition I
> created.  I had followed the sheep and instructions and always installed 
> my
> programs in my C::.
> Then, I had a problem and I could not get to the Utilities I needed to fix
> the problem, or at least research it.  So, When all was said and done, I 
> had
> to reinstall Windows and when it came to reinstalling the Utilities, I
> decided  I would not put myself in that position again, and created a
> partition on another drive for my Utilities.
>
> As time when on, I started thinking I should not put some other things on 
> my
> C: and I just left Utilities on its own.
>
> The Utilities Partition SHOULD NOT be a partition on its own.  It should 
> be
> in the Programs partition.
> By the time I realized what I had done, the die was cast so to speak.  I 
> did
> not want to have to reinstall those programs again, so..I left it as it 
> was.
> I have even messed myself up when going to install a new Utility;  When I
> went to install an update to WinRar, I went to
> Disk 2   Programs
> looked for a sub directory for Utilities!
>
> That was when I smacked myself in the forehead and said..I should have put
> the Utilities here!  grrrrrrrrr!
> But, I was too lazy to reinstall everything..so I did not.  NO EXCUSES!
>
> Now that I am moving to a new computer and have to reinstall everything, I
> will put the Utilities in the Programs Partition (F:) as a sub directory.
>
> Good eye and mind Mr. GMan.
> Thanks,
> Rose 

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