First virus in years...

Now see?  If you didn't have an anti-virus, you'd have been just fine!

its a damage mitigation issue- the idea is that everything in program files never gets modified during normal use, and as such that any unapproved modifications there are immediately suspect.

Always a good idea to do backups, I try to do one once a week.

Fuzzy 1 , dumb ass virus sites 0

Yes actually MS' idea is a good one, as crashmatusow said installed data normally doesn't change, and if it does it could indicate malware. Also, having multiple users on the same PC doesn't make saving user specific files in the data folder a pretty solution. Hence they opt for everyone storing their files in the profile folder, which is a decent solution if you ask me, Linux does it the same way (sorta).

The problem is that above method does not take partitions into consideration. I too use a different partition for all my games (I got a fast hard drive for them). Non OS partitions are usually quite save from malware, so they could easily store your saves on there too. Combine above problem with the problem that most game studios don't offer a choice where to store your saved files - the user profile as default is fine but I'd love a choice to select an alternative folder - and you are screwed in this case.

Is this a bad thing, is it Microsoft's fault? Not really. Microsoft does quite a lot to keep malware out the door and above solution is one of them. Nowadays you have to do some pretty dodgy stuff to get a virus to begin with. Backing up your profile folder is pretty simple, you'll have all the stuff you need to keep stored in a central place. Also if your hard drive crashes you may lose all your profile data but if saved games are stored in the game folder and that hard drive crashes you'd have the same problem.

It would make perfect sense, if we didn't all turn off the nag screen that pops up when someone alters the program files...

If you were running Linux or a Mac it never would have happend. Just saying...

If you think there are no virii in those worlds you are incredibly naive...

There were over 900 for Linux about 3 years back, would hate to think what its up to now.

...and if trolls were banned, threads wouldn't get derailled...

I'm NO troll.

Really? This was a thread about a virus I had, backups, games etc. That is until you came along, again with your Linux/Mac shit and hijacked the thread.

GO AWAY

Hey I'm sorry OK? I added a smiley. I thought you would take it as a joke. I admit I am a broken record with the Linux and Mac stuff so I'll quit talking about those subjects on WC. Fair enough?

I don't like being called a troll.

The funny thing is I run Windows on both my machines.

I'm surprised fuzzy, an open invitation to disaster. the only none affliated site that I venture into is cnet.

I've been using the WOT (Web Of Trust) add-on in FF3.5+ and I've found it helpful to avoid sites like that.

http://www.mywot.com/

Of course it doesn't hurt that I have a full Acronis image from Sunday and a couple incrementals since.....

Congrats on having a good back-up plan.

In all honesty, the most critical data on my PC are teh many photos of my family.  On extended family birthdays I'll often make DVDs of "this year in our life in pictures" to give as gifts.  It's a nice thought and a pretty great off-site storage plan. 

Good for you-- as far as the game saves go though, can't you point your My docs folder to the other partition as well? I believe the games are saved within the my docs folder and if that entire directory points to the other partition (or drive) the the next time this happens, your saved games will be, well, saved as well.

I prefer an external hard drive as the backup plan. It's easy and quick to connect and you have fast transfer speeds. Store it in a safe place though, having it next to your laptop/pc doesn't help you when a burglar comes in. He'll take the external hard drive too It will not help you if your house burns down though. There are online alternatives but they cost money and I'm not quite sure on privacy with the lesser knows companies. Still that might be the best option if the data is worth some money to you and you got a decent internet connection. You could even automate the process to make a backup every night at 12 pm.

I'm still coming to terms with where Windows 7 likes to put stuff.

Bloody pain in the arse, really...;)

Remember, Fuzzy...there are only 2 types of computer users...[ignoring Linux trolls]...

Those who backup

and

Those who cry...;)

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.