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I just finished reading the following before this subject…..so who needs firewalls???

anyone with half a brain.

[h=1]http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Security/Massive-Data-Breach-in-Utah-State-Servers-Caused-by-Configuration-Errors-851037/?kc=EWKNLGOV05232012STR2[/h]

I did not see any mention of system PERFORMANCE as would be related to speed or time.

The outer edge of the platter is the fastest…one looong track, while the inner (spindle) area would be the slowest, many short tracks forcing arm movement (mechanical is still very slow).

Drive speed is generally rated at 1/3 of the overall performance. Simply stated a 10 mbs rating would allow for a .95 at the outer edge and a 35 mbs near the spindle (if even that fast).

I would rather have the programs I use multiple times a day near the outer edge instead of the data archive I may use once or twice a year. Add to this the other file types: internet cache, temporary files, etc., and you will be stuffing the “sweet spot” on the disk drive, so there isn’t any reason to add to this area with your archive files. Think along the same lines for the documents you wish to save, but not reference every day, they can be in the outer area forcing the program updates further and further into the platter. Your program load times (and system start up) will take longer.

I like to partition in a 50/50 or one third arrangement. It depends on how often I intend to access the data.

I always recommend using multiple disk drives, either internal or external. Put your data elsewhere, you can reinstall everyday if you wish, but you cannot replace your data unless you have it backed up. Start out by putting your data on “another disk drive” for starters, and burn to DVD for extra security.

Worst case would be a bad drive that won’t work. You now have a paper weight, and hopefully will purchase a new disk drive and restore your data from DVD or reinstall the operating system.

I am currently running with 4 disk drives. I have also had two disk drives go bad within a month of each other on two different units (thankfully they were backed up). I like to keep an unused on hand, hopefully the currently largest capacity there is on the market.

27772-DrivePlatter
Outer edge is the fastest with the bits per inch times Pi for the volume or number of bytes present.

As each arm movement moves inward (next track) the number of bytes decreases per track.

First 1/4 from outer edge is generally faster than the “rated speed” of the drive. Eg: outer edge may be .9ms while inner most track may be 35-40ms on a drive with a 8ms rating.

If you have not defragged, then you will have some near the outer edge, more some where in the inner area and the remainder on the inner most free area track.

Another alternative is to use the local HOSTS file to stop the advertising you receive on a web page. In addition to stopping the advert result you will reduce usage of your bandwidth. Each “link” is a name requiring a DNS look up. By referencing the local node of 127.0.0.1 you will stay off the network (yours and the ISP’s).

The following link will get you there, but registration is required. The software is free…and so are the updates.

I have used this method for a few years with this software. You may have to browse the list when you feel the site you want has been blocked.

http://blocklistpro.com/

following is a copy of the info from that page.
Hosts File Manager

Keeping your Hosts file up to date has never been easier with the BISS Hosts File Manager and it’s wide range of features. Options like Personal Inclusions and Personal Exclusions designed to help manage your own collection of bad sites / domains were a feature we had only ever seen before in the Blocklist Manager for IP addresses, until now.
Included with the Hosts File Manager is the Hosts Switch, a floating transparent toolbar giving you FAST access to enable or disable your Hosts file.
The Hosts Switch is a great tool for adding new entries directly to your Hosts file without actually needing to open and edit your Hosts file each time you want to add something new to block.
Check out the Hosts Managers full list of features.

I started to reset the router as you suggested but then decided not to. That will clear out my encryption settings for wireless and probably other things that I won’t remember to set back properly. I may move the wired connections to the router to different ports to see if I have a flaky port.

Thanks for your suggestions.

Bill

First you should BACK UP your settings. Most routers have an export feature. The output will be a binary which can later be flashed back in to the router. Your adjustments to the router will then be saved.

Second: now do the factory reset. After the router returns to operation, navigate to the import function to “find where you stored the back up”. Import your back up and you are back to where you started. Documentation or HELP should guide you through this process.

I went through the same experience, but I used both wired and wireless, all four ports consumed. I rebooted the router weekly to fix the problem. Then it became daily, then multiple times a day. I then gave up and replaced the router.

After three or four years of use, I thought it was a good time to replace the unit. After reading through this thread I did not see any reference to how long you have had this router.

After installing the new router I did a backup. I then changed all the settings, passwords too. This was then backed up.

Reconnecting all the other PC’s was a bit time consuming but I felt it was worth it. After all were successfully connected, I did another backup and called it FINALBKUP.bin
This allows me to modify the router settings, eg: debug mode without having to worry about messing up other connection points. In the event debug mode is required I could make another backup of this setting and then import it when necessary, and restore the final when that mode is no longer required.

WARNING; It came to my attention during the resetting of the other PC’s that “viewing a setting” MAY reset it to the default when it is viewed…for example: like turning off the encryption mode and resetting the passwords. Took a few minutes to realize that just viewing some settings was killing what was present. I take it that this was one of the undocumented features of the unit.