I've often heard that the OS should be on a drive (logical drive) by
itself so that, when it gets a problem, you can just re-install a new
copy of the OS on that drive. However, isn't the OS modified when you
install programs? Where would you install them? Can someone explain the
procedure for this and how it works? It has always confused me and, if
if works as I understand, I'd like to try it.

In message
was claimed to have wrote:

I've often heard that the OS should be on a drive (logical drive) by
itself so that, when it gets a problem, you can just re-install a new
copy of the OS on that drive. However, isn't the OS modified when you
install programs? Where would you install them?

Some programs install DLLs or make other OS level changes but many do
not. It takes a bit of knowledge and experience to know which
applications can survive an OS reinstall and which cannot.

As a rule, I'd install programs on the OS drive and expect to reinstall
programs.

On Thu, 22 Jul 2010 10:09:14 -0700, Dave Warren
wrote:

In message
was claimed to have wrote:

I've often heard that the OS should be on a drive (logical drive) by
itself so that, when it gets a problem, you can just re-install a new
copy of the OS on that drive. However, isn't the OS modified when you
install programs? Where would you install them?

Some programs install DLLs or make other OS level changes but many do
not. It takes a bit of knowledge and experience to know which
applications can survive an OS reinstall and which cannot.

As a rule, I'd install programs on the OS drive and expect to reinstall
programs.

Yes, I'm beginning to understand and I believe you're right.

In message
was claimed to have wrote:

On Thu, 22 Jul 2010 10:09:14 -0700, Dave Warren
wrote:

In message
was claimed to have wrote:

I've often heard that the OS should be on a drive (logical drive) by
itself so that, when it gets a problem, you can just re-install a new
copy of the OS on that drive. However, isn't the OS modified when you
install programs? Where would you install them?

Some programs install DLLs or make other OS level changes but many do
not. It takes a bit of knowledge and experience to know which
applications can survive an OS reinstall and which cannot.

As a rule, I'd install programs on the OS drive and expect to reinstall
programs.

Yes, I'm beginning to understand and I believe you're right.

That being said, I would highly recommend not doing that at all anyway.
I wouldn't ever recommend partitioning a single OS installation, and
instead would recommend a proper backup regimen.

wrote:
I've often heard that the OS should be on a drive (logical drive) by
itself so that, when it gets a problem, you can just re-install a new
copy of the OS on that drive. However, isn't the OS modified when you
install programs? Where would you install them? Can someone explain the
procedure for this and how it works? It has always confused me and, if
if works as I understand, I'd like to try it.


You're quite correct in your thinking. There's very little point
in having a separate partition for applications. Should you ever have
to reinstall the OS, you'll still also have to reinstall each and every
application anyway, in order to recreate the hundreds (possibly
thousands) of registry entries and to replace the dozens (possibly
hundreds) of essential system files back into the appropriate Windows
folders and sub-folders.

However, placing data files on a partition or physical hard drive
separate from the operating system and applications can greatly simplify
system repairs/recoveries and data back-up.


--

Bruce Chambers

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