A note of encouragement to action...

Train...I really like my case...it has 4 ide connections..no problem adding more hdd's...and thanks for the info about usb externals...I will just add another internal hdd.(I had been meaning to add a 2nd hdd for a while...now I have a real need for one.)

I'm not clear about your second paragraph....you mean that the primary hdd can be dis-connected while trying the restore on the 2nd, back up hdd...to make sure that nothing can accidentally mess up the primary??

Like I said...love my case. I have a cd-writer,dvd r/rw,fan controller, floppy, big 120mm fan on bottom and still have two 5.25" bays left.

Also..see sig...Enermax 485w.psu....plenty of juice!!

Quick clarification....I have 4 sata connections for hdd's...not 4 ide connections ( I have 2 of those). I already have the 1 sata hdd...will add another sata hdd..

I'm not clear about your second paragraph....you mean that the primary hdd can be dis-connected while trying the restore on the 2nd, back up hdd...to make sure that nothing can accidentally mess up the primary??


Yes, Just unplug the boot Sata and plug the new on in using the same mobo connector.

Remember if the present one is disconnected completely, it is safe.

I see...so plugging the back up hdd into the same sata connector will fool the Bios into thinking that the first hdd is still there....but why is that important?

First boot hdd. As set in the BIOS. Believe me, it will be a save your hair type of trick.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Train

Learn to backup email, and whatever else you need/like to save also. But most of those folders can be moved to another partition. Once you have done that, figure out how to put it back/import/copy/paste to where it should be on a so you will be able to access it again.

Figure out what you would HATE to lose AND how to get it back to where it will do you some good.

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One thing I like to do, and I post it here for benefit of any who have not thought of doing it, is for instance I use a program called Webshots that let's me download screen savers, wall papers etc. If I have to reformat or reinstall windows it's easy to reinstall the program but what about all those wallpapers and screensaver pics? I learned to find where Webshots stores the collections and backup that folder to my flash drive so that I don't have to re-download all those files again. When I do my reinstall or whatever I just copy the folder from my flash drive and paste it into the proper folder in Webshots, replacing the one that comes with the reinstall that only has a "sample" folder in it and voila! I have my entire collection installed and ready to go in minutes.

Also in another similar situation I use Opera Browser which allows you to download Skins. There are a couple hundred pages of skins for opera and if you have to do a reinstall it can take forever to find the ones you like again and download them. So I do the same with the skins as I do with the Webshots program.

My question is this, CAN a USB flash drive (not USB HDD) be used to backup a ghost image? I mean of an entire operating systeme and all it's programs installed? I've really not ever used a ghost program so don't know how they work at all. Will my bios recognise a Flash drive with and operating system? Or could the flash drive only be used as storage for the copy and for everything to work it would have to be transferred back to a standard HDD? I hope I've stated that correctly. It would be kinda cool I guess if I could back up my entire HDD to a flash drive and if a problem arises just format the hard drive and install the image (from the FD) and be back in business. Can that be done? IF so would that prevent the problem of having to "re register" my windows OS with microsoft.

If big enough, I see no reason why not. But a 16GB USB 2.0 USB Flash is about $360. :eek: :eek:

I find a 750GB hdd to be a tad cheaper at newegg.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...SubCategory=14

Well, those Flash are not quite so bad at newegg it seems.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...hdrive&Ntk=all

Still quite a size difference. 16GB vs. 500GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...hdrive&Ntk=all

First boot hdd in Bios....Darn!! shouldv'e known that one!!

My hair has been disappearing too quickly as it is these past few years...no need to help it along!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Train

If big enough, I see no reason why not. But a 16GB USB 2.0 USB Flash is about $360. :eek: :eek:

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Why so big? My W/XP Home sp2 disk only contains 556MB. My entire HDD right now with all programs installed and lot's of stuff I could get rid of is only 8 gigs.

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Originally Posted by stevejr

My hair has been disappearing too quickly as it is these past few years...no need to help it along!!

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Now why does that sound familiar. :rolleyes:

yea...storage capacities/cost of regular hdd's is a whole lot better than flash drives....but storing small amounts of stuff and the portability of flash drives certainly has it's advantages. The "proper tool for the job" type of thing...

To throw in another two cents, I use three hard drives which gives me a lot of flexibility. My OS is on one drive and most program files are on another along with my data. I back program and data files using Karen's PT Replicator www.karenware.com, which simply copies all files (and skips unchanged files, works in the background and is quite fast) (I want to avoid backup programs that use proprietary formats).
To back up my OS, I use XXClone www.xxclone.com. It is not automated, but I can clone my OS drive while I am working (it has saved my neck on numerous occasions and it is fast using the incremental cloning option. I also zip up email and important data files and put them on CDs and DVDs. The cost was $40 for XXClone. PTReplicator is free.

Edit: fixed url - Train

XX copy works also. http://www.xxcopy.com/index.htm

Caught stopped by and said, in part:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by caughtintheact

To back up my OS, I use XXClone... It is not automated, but I can clone my OS drive while I am working (it has saved my neck on numerous occasions and it is fast using the incremental cloning option. I also zip up email and important data files and put them on CDs and DVDs.

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Caught, it's great to see that you have found an approach to protecting your data that you are happy with and that you have tested under fire. While different enthusiasts could jaw back and forth about which backup program is the best, you have touched on what is really important --is a backup plan currently in place and being adhered to, and when the proverbial wheels come off, will I be able to recover what I've been backing up? :confused:

I rejoice when I see a user who means business in preventing the loss of all of his "stuff." Way to go! May your tribe increase! :D

Happy Computing!

Limerick

https://discussions.virtualdr.com/

Train,
Does xxcopy make a fully bootable clone drive? With XXClone I can boot into either the normal OS or the clone (and I am cloning as I write this). An incremental cloning operation just took 9 minutes (total OS drive size is 13GB)