THE PROBLEM:

I have way too much 'junk' on my PC (that I also work on), and I want to seperate / isolate the 'junk' from my productive work stuff.



POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS:

1)

Have several HD's in my PC (maybe 2 or 3). Put a fresh copy of the OS (windows XP) on each drive, I could also have a drive with linux on it.

Have some mechanism to quickly switch between each HD / OS. Is there such a thing? What's possible?

I know I can have a multi-boot system, but it takes time to boot up every time I switch OS. Anyway to switch faster?

2)

Have a seperate box. Maybe a small form factor shuttle system and a KVM box to switch between PC's.



THE VERDICT - WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Well ... !?

(thx)

Decided it would be better to get a seperate system. Can run tasks concurrently then.

cant you just have a slave drive?

i have 3 hdd, windows and important stuff progs etc runs from one, progs that are junk or stuff im trying out and junk docs etc goes on a 2nd and my 3rd is my media drive

Could you use different identities (logins) (assuming youre on winxp)? Then you could move the "mydocuments" for one of them to a separate HDD (or a separate partition on the same HDD) and you can run apps from both logins at the same time just by switching user.

I've decided it's just best if I get a lappy.

I will then have 3 systems (have 2 already).

1) A PC for work.

2) A PC or junk and trying out new programs etc.

3) A laptop for trivial stuff and also work when I'm out and about.

I've got a wireless network, so I can just pop the laptop on a shelf or somewhere out of the way, and leave it doing background tasks. I'm also going to get a buffalao NAS drive / print server combo.

more machines is good, but often not feasable.

why not, for trying out new programs etc, run a VM?

alternatively you could, have partitions?

i guess youve solved you own problem tho buy divulging in a laptop1

Originally posted by Vini
more machines is good, but often not feasable.

why not, for trying out new programs etc, run a VM?

alternatively you could, have partitions?

i guess youve solved you own problem tho buy divulging in a laptop1

The problem with having partitions and such, is that you can't run things at the same time.

If I have a lappy to one side, I can use it to download stuff, burn stuff to CD, set it rendering stuff (3dsMAX), test out new applications on it.

All while I'm working away on my main PC.

I won't have to bother with this KVM nonsense, and I'll also be able to take it out and about with me.

I also like the fact that it's all isolated and wont have extra wires everywhere. It's all in one unit so I can move it around a lot.

Plus with all this sunshine, I can work in the garden!

sounds like youd already made up your mind about a new laptap before you asked us......and was just sounding the idea out to yourself tbh

Until recently, this Athalon pc which I am using now had a drive with XP on for general use and a seperate drive, with a different installation of XP for downloads, and I had Kazaa on that.

If I wanted to change I go into the motherboard setup with Delete key on booting, and change the boot drive.

On modern motherboards you can select either of several drives you have connected to boot from.

It's a good way of keeping potential virus laden download stuff away from your important documents

sounds like a reasonable solution.

To make things even easier get xp pro (not home) and you can use remote desktop to control one pc from another, or if going for a linux build on one pc, install vnc which has the same effect but will allow the linux machine to join the fun too.
This also has the advantage of you being able to connect to a home pc from a remote location (say internet cafe) if you're on the move.