My setup consisted of an older desktop machine, which I use mainly for testing apps, running Apache and my graphics application, and my laptop, which I used to mail and all my main functions. The desktop and laptop share a large flat-screen LCD monitor, so when I'm using my laptop I have extended monitor capabilities.
Data files were all kept on the desktop, backed up religiously to an external hard drive. I was starting to max out the HD memory on the desktop, however, and RAM was only 512.What I failed to take into account, however, was the wealth of password information as well as my sizeable RSS feed data, which was all on my laptop. I use Firefox, and am predictably lazy about my passwords - I just let Firefox memorize them for me.
I ended up moving my old desktop elsewhere in the office, using it strictly as a server for my iTunes library and to run Apache/MySql. I used the KVM switch, which had controlled everything for my old setup, between the old desktop and my husband's desktop because I'll still use it for testing software.
For my desk, I bought a new desktop - a decent HP Pavilion Dual Core processor with 2Gb Ram and a 250 Gb HD. I also put in an upgraded gamer-type video card so I could hook two monitors up easily (the computer was part of a package with monitor included).
So, I'm pretty pleased to get a much better system in place, but rebuilding my RSS feeds and the passwords for all my websites has been complete torture. The ironic thing is, there is a very simple solution - just back up the Documents and Settings folder (found on your C: drive) along with your data files.
As a side note, I always keep my data files together, so they are easy to backup. In my old system I had a "File Cabinet" folder which was subdivided into all of my various files - client folders, business, personal, etc. On my new system I'm just putting them all into the My Documents folder and setting that whole folder for backup.
Along with the hassle of losing all of my bookmarks, passwords and feeds, the crash cost me a total of two days in getting a new system set up. That includes installing all the software (which I'm not done with, actually). The cost of an external backup, and setting it up correctly, is less than $200.
The simple solution for your problem with the passwords : having only one and making sure that nobody knows it! Works everytime!
Posted by: Attendance System | November 7, 2006 12:11 PM | Permalink to Comment