Why does my hard disk have a ‘backup’ partition?
My hard disk (with a ‘k’ not ‘c’!!) has a 60gb partition in it called ‘backup’. Surely if my hard disk fails, BOTH partitions will fail - because aren’t HDD failures usually due to power problems (serges etc.), meaning that should my HDD fail, i will lose both the original data AND the ‘backup’ data?
At the moment, i use a networked, external disk drive - but it is not very good (it was made by netgear)
Any ideas much appreciated.
I don’t understand how backing stuff up to this partition can make my data any mores secure - because whatever i lose from my main parition (due toa hdd failure) will surely get lost from the backup partition at the same time.
what is the point??
The question has answer itself. It’s used to backup data. Nothing under the sun is perfect, you gotta realize that. It’s only a procedural thing to use to minimize the risk of data loss.
Yes, I also prefer to backup data on an external disk. And my boot drive is a one and will-be one partition forever, I never divide my drive into a several partitions, it’s too risky. I’ve had enough trouble with bad sector that’s ruined the partition table. This way I minimize the risk of data loss.
The idea is that you backup your data to that partition and then backup that entire partition to an external drive or a networked drive … by only having your data on that partition you can do a complete backup without backing up unnecessary System files
Edit …. read the answers don’t just ramble on …
Most laptops save an image on the backup partition when your battery is about to die. It usually does this right before it turns itself off. Basically, this image consists of everything that was running on your computer at the time, letting you pick up where you left off. It’s kinda like letting your computer hibernate.
I am sure, that you have personal stuff on your pc. like pictures, music, video,s, documents, etc etc.
Ok, now your computer crashes and you can only get it to work again by formating your computer and reinstall windows xp or vista.
Formating means you lose everything on your main drive
(c drive). What a shame, all your pictures, music, documents etc are gone for ever. No problemo, make new pictures, download new music and video.
Do you understand what I am trying to say.
You make on your d drive (back up drive) directories for your personal and privat stuff and copy those to the directories you make on the back up drive.
Now your pc can crash and you can format as often as you want, your privat stuff is safe. Nice and secure feeling is n’t it ??
Roelof V does make a good point - you would be able to reformat your system partition and reload Windows without losing the data on your backup partition.
But that doesn’t really answer your question.
There are different types of drive failures. Sometimes a drive will have particular areas that are not readable, while other areas are readable. So, if you had a file on the backup partition and your system partition, the chances of losing that file in this situation are much less. They would also be less if you have two copies on the same partition.
Other times, the mechanical parts of the drive may fail. The drive may not spin up and none of the data is accessible, at least not unless you are interested in sending your drive off to a company that specializes in data recovery. In that case, it does not matter how many copies of a particular file you had on the drive.
It is always better to have more than one copy of critical information on more than one device. Even better, the copies should be in different physical locations, or use a remote backup service to transmit critical information to an offsite location.