I've not had a virus issue for the last 2 or 3 years. The only issues I've had

was faulty hard drives. I had 2 seagate 500 GB sata2 drives just die on me.

The only thing the drives did was make clicking noises. I rma'ed the drives

and got replacements. I also, have a Western Digital 250 GB seating on

my work bench. Its dead ... the system had a HD issue, myfriend call me saying

the system wouldn't boot up. I went to their home and the drive was making

clicking noises. So, I had to replace the drive and restored from a backup

on the system. I'm a big believer in having 2 hard drives in systems. One

for the OS and apps ... the second for backups,drivers and OS files ...

Basically .. knock on wood ... I still have 3 more of those 500 GB drives

in my main system. I hope I don't need to replace them ...

FYI ... Do backups ....

Indeed. I found that out ten years ago when I lost all my photos, a few of which I can never get back. Since then I've used various incarnations of Drive Image and SyncBack + at least 4 drives.

I know, but I was looking for something...

Ditto...

Have you concidered using a Virtual PC session to surf the web? It's nice to have the ability to close out the session and not save the changes, which greatly minimizes your chance of becoming infected.

I have MyDocuments on another drive. The games, however, are stored in Documents and Settings > username > Local Settings > Application Data, which cannot be moved.

It's also a pain for anyone who doesn't know how to manage folders and doesn't know how to put custom maps in there...

Bit too much for something which is once in a blue moon. My browsing is usually safe as is. Besides, the backup option is favourite.

I am a Linux trolls too... but i use XP pro and Vista along with Linux and Open Solaris...

In my case, backup is not a option... almost 10TB of data will take too much time for backup or restore in case of problem...

But i don't cry... i have a raid system, enable the non execute bit in the bios, lock in read only drive used for data storage, and use a good anti virus in heuristic mode, don't allow activeX, no attachment in e-mail allowed ( unless the guy is in my trusted list ), etc...

For the Linux troll people, use a antivirus too... you don't risk a lot but Linux can be a healthy host for windows virus... so, if you don't wish that you windows friend kill you, clean regulary your system...

Zubaz, i have a very good game who run with Linux and it is enough for me... it is called Sins of Solar Empire

About anti virus, it is year that i have stop with AVG... for now, i am happy with AVAST...

Why not use a NAS for that much data?

Correct me if i'm wrong,would it have still happened if

A:Used limited user account instead of Admin

B: Change the actual name "admin" account to another name

C: Used some decent realtime scanners that block any attermpt for install of anything including unidentified software when in admin mode i.e spywareterminater ..a shamless plug right there for one of my fav apps when HIPS is activated nothing installs without me knowing about it or without my permission

D: Ran daily or weekly backup images of My Docs or Docs & Settings or whatever folder ,you could've also have used any number of free hdd scanners like recuva,undelete plus etc to retrieve any misplaced data  you needed back & most probably still can,or partitionfindandmount (free but limited to 512kb recovery speed unless bought), to scan sectors for a bit more intensive data recovery or getdataback which is only free to try but man it works great

E:Using linux

F:Stopped surf'n pron site...nough said..lmao

Girly man!  You're supposed to be amused at your misfortune.

NAS is mainly a network server who store data... my own computer is with a server board... why duplicate the work ? I have enough toom for add more HD if i wish... the cheap NAS are good for computer was have very few place for add a hardrive in intern... or for little network who share data...

Maybe the method used on my work is somehow the best... network ( using windows OS ) connected to a server ( using windows server version )... server itself connected on a low end computer running linux and only used for connect on the internet... in some way, the low end computer is a first stage control... if something append, the server simply cut the connection until all is again ok on the linux box... by the way, the Linux box have a strong firewall, and is running several antivirus in the same time...

Malware was, is and will remain a problem for computer... it is like spam, it will never end... since no one OS or software is 100% bullet proof, it will always someone who will find a security hole...

In some case, it is material related... i remember having read about a virus who lock down your harddrive with a random password... at the hardware level... no more read/write access unless you have some special material for crack your own drive... for usual people, the only solution is buy a new drive...

Oh yes. At my college some assholes were trying to be funny and put BIOS passwords on the public workstations. I guess they cost the college a lot of money..

Yes, my A/V detected the virus, but I couldn't be bothered to let it do its stuff. It's so much easier to restore from backup, that's why I have them! Safer too.

If I wasn't so lazy I would have set up extra profiles in SyncBack to copy my games folders. Losing a few saved games is no biggie though. There was only one Sins game I hadn't finished, a tough one against 7 unfair AIs - won't miss that one...

...Your logic is clear...4 they say "a man who fails 2 plan, plans to fail"...

and if a pic is worth a 1000 words, what is a byte worth......?.....Priceless

lol nerd humor

I plan to have to reinstall someday.  No big loss.  Backups would be a hassle that would be for minimal gain.

Perhaps someday I'll feel differently, but I've never had equipment fail on me.  (Well, except for a video card or two...)

Either you have'nt been using a computer for long or you're really lucky.

Keep in mind that there are two types of hard drives, ones that have failed and ones that will fail.

That's one of the reasons I don't use Maxtor drives. I've had four fail on me and that's too many. Now I use Hitachi and have not had a single problem (yet... they all go eventually )

yngmon this is not THe Beginning, it is not the end. It could be the beginning of the end, or the end of the beginning. Whichever, it is a passage between realities... an open door through which to step - or not.

A passage between Windows as it is, and Windows as it can be - are you ready for the next level?

An alternate reality...

Been using a computer for 24 years now.  I have had some data loss situations, but they're so infrequent they haven't bothered me.  Investing in the hardware to backup, what, the savegames I'll lose?

Doesn't seem that important.  If I actually had any important data, I'd look into it.