Random question. Do any of you guys back up your whole hdd somewhere so if it gets FUBAR from too many crashes you can just copy the stuff over and be right back up? And i don't mean just copying the whole hdd to an external hdd - if you copy it back after reinstalling, it doesn't actually reinstall the programs i found out.  I think the term that i am trying to describe is "ghosting" your hdd, thought that could be wrong.

There are back up applications that will take an "image" of your OS.  I don't use one.  I can be up and running in about 30 min with a fresh install of windows.  All my vital data is on a separate internal HDD.

nateman_doo

daddy is getting it colder tonight...

Got the bong hooked up for the chipsets, and the chiller running the vids/cpu. 

AND i got BOTH windows open.  All my temps should plummet. 

Your wifey ain't gonna like her bedroom windows open!

Q56_Monster

There are back up applications that will take an "image" of your OS.  I don't use one.  I can be up and running in about 30 min with a fresh install of windows.  All my vital data is on a separate internal HDD.

How exactly does that work? So the Windows files on the one hdd, and then all the data/program files on another. How can you designate which stuff goes to which hdd though? And, how does a fresh Windows install recognize the programs and data on the other hdd? So you don't reinstall any programs though?

my bong cooler temps are 46.1°F   heh....  ambient room temp is 52°F  love it... humidity is "Lo"

No, I reinstall them.  I have most of the application executables and all drivers on the separate drive.  And I install other apps that are on the original cd/DVD's as I need them.  I keep it all pretty organized, so it goes quick.

nateman_doo

my bong cooler temps are 46.1°F   heh....  ambient room temp is 52°F  love it... humidity is "Lo"

Sweet! Get some nice benches in before the temps are gone.
 

Q56_Monster

No, I reinstall them.  I have most of the application executables and all drivers on the separate drive.  And I install other apps that are on the original cd/DVD's as I need them.  I keep it all pretty organized, so it goes quick.

So you essentially have all the installers for all the programs on a seperate drive?

I feel so accomplished.  I just got a 45.2K.  Is that sad? 
830/1210 @ 1225mV

hey rabid google acronis I think thats what your looking for

pretty much...some apps no.  ms office and a few games are the only things not on the HDD

Just a few days ago I went from the win 7 rc to a retail version.  I have all the bench apps, tweeks software, drivers loaded, A couple games (I bench way more than I game...way more, so I installed these a few days later), browser bookmarks, e-mail address book file,  MS office (CD), adobe 9.0 standard, media server apps so I can stream to my TV, video editing software, apps and drivers for my video equipment.  I use Thunderbird for e-mail, so I just copy my entire thunderbird directory back-up to the new application data directory, the list goes on and on.

I have a prioritized list developed for what I use my system for.  I just go down the list.  Some things I don't get to for a few weeks I use them so infrequently.