I have countless documents, pictures, and other important files spread across 3 computers, 2 external hard drives, hundreds of CDs, and so on. From time to time I try to organize what's there into a neat structure of folders and back it up, but the job never gets done and it quickly becomes a mess again because there just isn't time in the day to put every file where it belongs every day. I must have over 20 versions of a folder that represents what my desktop contained at various points in time.

Back to the question: How do you keep your computer organized? Do you have a technique that works for you, some kind of cool organizing software, lots of free time, or do most of you just not even care?

i format once a week..

Community activists...

Central fileserver on my network. Each computer maps to the drive. Laptops have offline drive capability (caches commonly used files to the laptops HD and syncs them to the server on connect to your network) or VPn access. With a central point for my files I can then do easy backups. If you have an old computer you can throw a drive into check out FreeNAS.

-Foxxz

avoid the pr0n

Most of my important files are all in the AR folder.

Everything goes into it's proper folder and I keep as few icons on the desktop as possible.  It's probably the only thing in my life that's actually organized.

That's exactly what I was just thinking of. I was actually reading about http://www.amahi.org/ when you wrote this. Which one would be easiest?

Strong Pimp Hand

Right click>new>folder

easy, porn and everything else

in all seriousness, I just make proper folders and subfolders for everything on my box

Man, people are setting up mini-data centers in their house now, amazing how much computing power and storage is available now to the average Joe.





 

Without having to set up your own data center, here is a simple way to get started.

Assuming you only have one hard drive partition (C:\ Drvie)

Make a folder called STORAGE

In that folder, make new folders for different categories of files.
- Pictures
- Programs
- Music
- Videos

And what ever else you want.

I use multiple partitions. The only thing in C drive is the OS and "installed" programs. I have a partition named STORAGE for items that I listed above.Another for MP3s. And another called EDITING. This is used for Video editing, Photoshop,and audio projects. Once completed, the finished projects are moved to the STORAGE partition.

Each partition is backed up using Ghost to an external USB hard drive. This runs throughout the week automatically.

If my hard drive failed right now, all I need is a new one and Ghost will restore each partition and I am back in business.

This may not be the best way, but it has worked for me. I know where everything is and everything is backed up.

I sync stuff between multiple computers and online storage with Beyond Compare

I keep my porn separated in three separate folders: bestiality, midget, and scat.

/thread/



My wife is always amazed at how I can find anything instantly or tell her over the phone where to find something on the house server. She keeps going off on these rants about hanging shirts in the closet and putting clothes in drawers. I don't understand. I'm just going to put that pair of socks on again some time in the next few days. What's the problem?