Computers for dedicated tasks.

[MANEMAN]

When you start to use a computer for a dedicated task or tasks, and those tasks start to take over as perhaps the main usage of the computer, subsequently the installed software for that area of interest begins to grow also. For instance if you start out with an interest in Video production and editing as a hobby, and then that hobby becomes the greater part of your computer usage, or maybe the hobby drifts towards becoming semi-professional when you start to do the odd one or two wedding videos for a bit of cash, you will want your operating system ( Your computer) to be reliable, and able to do a really good job.

Unfortunately most people run their hobby or small business on a shoestring, and either because of price or space cannot have a "Dedicated" computer set aside solely for one task. The unfortunate outcome of this is that they begin to operate in an arena where the computer is a complete mish-mash of installations. - A Jack of all trades that is expected to work perfectly however much more they try to pile on to it.

A dedicated standalone computer may be out of the question for most people. A dedicated hard drive is most certainly not. And yes I am suggesting a "separate" drive rather than a partitioned one which I would suggest for the "Gamers" who flood forums with sad stories of how their computer doesn't work properly any more. (Partition for computing / Partition for Gaming most of their problems solved at a stroke !)

With having to change to a completely seperate drive for a task, comes less temptation to fill the drive with crap, and the actual physical act of changing the drive reminds you that you are going to take a sensible, - a more professional approach to the task at hand. Drive bays are easy enough to fit to most desktop computers, and even where this is not possible SATA drives are very easily changed. If this is completely out of the question, then go for a partition if you must. Laptop drives are changed within minutes.- So no problem there.

Some of the advantages ? Windows "Services" that are not required can be stopped permanently. No requirement for permanent on anti virus either, only the installations may require scanning as the internet connection would only be used to update the little used A/V. Any Problems or crashes are narrowed down in diagnosis because of the low level of installations, as are dll conflicts. More power available for your Video or Music production, less frames dropped on video.

When you are up and running, make a disk image just to be really safe.

[Gandalph]

Good post John. Perhaps one of the Mod's could turn it into a "Sticky".

[Vé máy bay đi mỹ]

haha