-pops- Posted June 15, 2005 Report Share Posted June 15, 2005 I have now received the projected updates for this week but something occurred to me that might be useful to pass on.Before installing any program - including Windows update and especially other MS "improvements", I always make a full system backup of my machines. More than once, I have had my systems completely cocked up by, let's say, less than perfect updates and more than once by MS ones.Similarly, when you've installed the update (or improvement) and made sure it is OK, make a backup of the new setup. This will ensure that, if you have to use your backup, you will not have to mess around installing these latest additions.Simple, yes; easy, yes but, not many people do things in this way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted June 15, 2005 Report Share Posted June 15, 2005 Maybe it's also advisable to set a new restore point? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb Posted June 15, 2005 Report Share Posted June 15, 2005 I usually use the Automated System Recovery Wizard to create a system backup. After it completes I use WinZip 9 to compress the ASR.BKF file to less than half of its full size. This way I can easily keep the last two or three system backups in case of an emergency.And don't we all know it - emergencies always arise when you least expect it :ninja: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurlyWhirly Posted June 15, 2005 Report Share Posted June 15, 2005 Similarly, when you've installed the update (or improvement) and made sure it is OK, make a backup of the new setup. This will ensure that, if you have to use your backup, you will not have to mess around installing these latest additions.Simple, yes; easy, yes but, not many people do things in this way.I have done exactly what you suggested above, in fact I make a backup without fail at least once a month and in my opinion it isn't too much trouble especially as with Drive Image 7 (like most similar packages) I can make a backup from the Windows desktop. It is advised to disable my anti-virus software first though so I always make sure that I am offline first.This backup strategy has saved me the hassle of restoring Windows and all my programs, applications, drivers, etc. on at least 3 occasions, so I am with you on your advice on how important it is to make backups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb Posted June 15, 2005 Report Share Posted June 15, 2005 It is advised to disable my anti-virus software first though so I always make sure that I am offline first.My backup started running, and it showed an estimated 1hr remaining time. Then I disabled my AV, and the remaining time immediately went down to 30mins, and I could see it running that much faster!Never thought of that before. But of course it is advisable that no application should be running when doing a backup.And running Ccleaner before the backup will prevent backing up "C"... :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted June 15, 2005 Report Share Posted June 15, 2005 It is advised to disable my anti-virus software first though so I always make sure that I am offline first.My backup started running, and it showed an estimated 1hr remaining time. Then I disabled my AV, and the remaining time immediately went down to 30mins, and I could see it running that much faster!Never thought of that before. But of course it is advisable that no application should be running when doing a backup.And running Ccleaner before the backup will prevent backing up "C"... :)It's OK, the word crap is allowed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurlyWhirly Posted June 15, 2005 Report Share Posted June 15, 2005 My backup started running, and it showed an estimated 1hr remaining time. Then I disabled my AV, and the remaining time immediately went down to 30mins, and I could see it running that much faster!Never thought of that before. But of course it is advisable that no application should be running when doing a backup.Yes it does make saving your backup noticeably faster but the main reason why I disable both my a² Personal scanner and the anti-virus software is that sometimes the backup fails to save properly and freezes, meaning that you have to soft reset the PC to get back to the Windows desktop and try again. :angry: It only happens occasionally but I prefer to go offline and disable both applications just to be on the safe side. I expect that they think that something malicious is going on as when the backup is running, a fair amount of processor time (in Windows Task Manager) is used up by processes that are linked to the programs themselves. When they are disabled my CPU usage goes back to normal levels as opposed to being at 80% plus!It's OK, the word crap is allowedI wasn't sure so thought it better to edit out one of the letters! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadyassa Posted June 15, 2005 Report Share Posted June 15, 2005 Oh poo :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadyassa Posted June 15, 2005 Report Share Posted June 15, 2005 Can I make a backup on the same hard drive, I was going to put it on dvds but DI6 only does cds, and it would take 28 :( TIA john Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted June 15, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 15, 2005 Don't back up to the same drive. Being mechanical devices, hard drives are intinsically weak and prone to failure. If that drive goes base over apex you are truly cuffed.I always back up to a separate hard drive reserved for that use only. Hard drives are so cheap now. OK, they are mechanically weak but the chances of two drives failing at the same time are very remote. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadyassa Posted June 15, 2005 Report Share Posted June 15, 2005 Cheers pops, maybe i will get a usb external to backup on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurlyWhirly Posted June 15, 2005 Report Share Posted June 15, 2005 maybe i will get a usb external to backup on.They cost more than an internal drive but I opted to go down the external hard drive route and when I have finished making my backup I disconnect it from the PC and store it away in my cupboard. I make a backup approximately once a month without fail.By the way my external hard drive is USB 2.0 as if it was only USB 1.1 making or restoring a backup would take around 40 times longer :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadyassa Posted June 15, 2005 Report Share Posted June 15, 2005 maybe i will get a usb external to backup on.They cost more than an internal drive but I opted to go down the external hard drive route and when I have finished making my backup I disconnect it from the PC and store it away in my cupboard. I make a backup approximately once a month without fail.By the way my external hard drive is USB 2.0 as if it was only USB 1.1 making or restoring a backup would take around 40 times longer :blink:Thanks for the tip ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TizMe Posted June 18, 2005 Report Share Posted June 18, 2005 A good cost saver is to buy removable disk trays. They are dirt cheap and then you buy a standard internal drive and mount in the tray.Easy (and quick) then to backup and then remove and place in a safe place. Warning: If you decide to set up this sort of arrangement with your PC, remember that internal hard drives are designed under the assumption that they will be installed inside the PC and left there. Handle them with care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
korgg Posted June 18, 2005 Report Share Posted June 18, 2005 maybe i will get a usb external to backup on.They cost more than an internal drive but I opted to go down the external hard drive route and when I have finished making my backup I disconnect it from the PC and store it away in my cupboard. I make a backup approximately once a month without fail.By the way my external hard drive is USB 2.0 as if it was only USB 1.1 making or restoring a backup would take around 40 times longer :blink:You could try an external USB 2.0 + Firewire HDD Rack and use a normal hdd... I really can't see the use of usb hdd's... my 2 eurocents :) something like this: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted June 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2005 The system I set up for my son's business machines (where it is of the utmost importance to failsafe) is to back up to an internal dedicated hard drive on a daily basis. Then, once a week, each machine is backed up to a hard drive mounted in a USB2 caddy which is then stored off the premises.These separate USB2 drives are conventional IDE ones mounted (by me) in a self powered Belkin USB2 case. This does work out cheaper than buying a USB hard drive and the result is the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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