How to update a WD 500g external HDD that I use as a flash drive?

[johnnyscience]

Ok I currently use my 500g external HDD as basically just a big flash drive, I like being able to just drag & drop everything.

But I've never actually updated it yet, just did the initial drag n drop to back up everything.

So how do I update it? Just drag n drop the main file I want to backup & just say no to all of the files that already exsists & it just wants to replace them?

If I click no, will it still backup all the new files?

Yes to all, Yes or no?

Yes to all will replace the entire file again right? It wont just be a quick update?

And obviously doing Yes just accepts them one by one... so what are my options for this easy update on a flash drive?

[johnnyscience]

I also have an iPhone that stores/backsup all of my contacts in Outlook I believe.

What/where is that file I want to backup located?

[-pops-]

A backup is more than a copy of your files on another medium and if you ever needed to use it for disaster recovery to reinstall your operating system it is very unlikely you would be able to do so.

Far better to use a dedicated backup program such as Acronis or, as I do, make a clone of your hard drive with something like XXClone (free) which, as well as cloning all of your files, is able to write all the information required to make the drive bootable.

[johnnyscience]

Well I like the easy access of drag n drop and then being easy to just open the HDD & open files like a normal hard drive, instead of using a 3rd party program.

As long as I have all of my main files, re-installing the OS is easy and then I can just re-transfer them.

So with what I referenced above, how do I do that?

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

Drag-and-drop does not have such a functionality; you may try experimenting with the xcopy command.

[johnnyscience]

Drag-and-drop does not have such a functionality; you may try experimenting with the xcopy command.

I'm not familar with that, is it a program?

I just want to be able to easily access everything on the external HDD like its just a normal set up.

I'd prefer to not have to use a 3rd party app.

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

xcopy is a Windows command; here is how to use it:

Copies files and directory trees.

XCOPY source [destination] [/A | /M] [/D[:date]] [/P] [/S [/E]] [/V] [/W]
						   [/C] [/I] [/Q] [/F] [/L] [/G] [/H] [/R] [/T] [/U]
						   [/K] [/N] [/O] [/X] [/Y] [/-Y] [/Z]
						   [/EXCLUDE:file1[+file2][+file3]...]

  source	   Specifies the file(s) to copy.
  destination  Specifies the location and/or name of new files.
  /A		   Copies only files with the archive attribute set,
			   doesn't change the attribute.
  /M		   Copies only files with the archive attribute set,
			   turns off the archive attribute.
  /D:m-d-y	 Copies files changed on or after the specified date.
			   If no date is given, copies only those files whose
			   source time is newer than the destination time.
  /EXCLUDE:file1[+file2][+file3]...
			   Specifies a list of files containing strings.  Each string
			   should be in a separate line in the files.  When any of the
			   strings match any part of the absolute path of the file to be
			   copied, that file will be excluded from being copied.  For
			   example, specifying a string like \obj\ or .obj will exclude
			   all files underneath the directory obj or all files with the
			   .obj extension respectively.
  /P		   Prompts you before creating each destination file.
  /S		   Copies directories and subdirectories except empty ones.
  /E		   Copies directories and subdirectories, including empty ones.
			   Same as /S /E. May be used to modify /T.
  /V		   Verifies each new file.
  /W		   Prompts you to press a key before copying.
  /C		   Continues copying even if errors occur.
  /I		   If destination does not exist and copying more than one file,
			   assumes that destination must be a directory.
  /Q		   Does not display file names while copying.
  /F		   Displays full source and destination file names while copying.
  /L		   Displays files that would be copied.
  /G		   Allows the copying of encrypted files to destination that does
			   not support encryption.
  /H		   Copies hidden and system files also.
  /R		   Overwrites read-only files.
  /T		   Creates directory structure, but does not copy files. Does not
			   include empty directories or subdirectories. /T /E includes
			   empty directories and subdirectories.
  /U		   Copies only files that already exist in destination.
  /K		   Copies attributes. Normal Xcopy will reset read-only attributes.
  /N		   Copies using the generated short names.
  /O		   Copies file ownership and ACL information.
  /X		   Copies file audit settings (implies /O).
  /Y		   Suppresses prompting to confirm you want to overwrite an
			   existing destination file.
  /-Y		  Causes prompting to confirm you want to overwrite an
			   existing destination file.
  /Z		   Copies networked files in restartable mode.

The switch /Y may be preset in the COPYCMD environment variable.
This may be overridden with /-Y on the command line.

[johnnyscience]

I'm honestly not familar with any of that or what to do next.

Can you point me in an easier direction?

Why wont drag n drop work for updating a external HDD I am using as a flash drive more or less?

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

Drag-and-drop is simply not the way to do a backup. Actually, neither is xcopy.

Windows has its own backup tool, ntbackup, and this is the minimum backup to recover if you system fails. It will do a full backup of everything (including registry files) whenever it is run. If you run the Automated System Recovery wizard, it will create a bootable floppy from where you can do a full system recovery. (But not many computers have floppy drives nowadays.)

3rd-party programs such as Acronis True Image can do full backups, or incremental backups, which just backs up files that have changed since the last full or incremental backup.

Both Windows Backup and Acronis will compress the backed up files, so they won't occupy as much space as the original files.

[johnnyscience]

But I'm not really concered about a system back up.

As long as all of my media files are safe, reinstalling an OS is the easy part.

I also want to be able to plug my external HDD into the USB port & access the files on there just like it is a normal HDD. Whether I'm at home, or on the go, I just want to be able to plug it in and starting accessing the files by double clicking instead of having to run a 3rd party program, which the computer I would be using away from home probably wouldnt have the 3rd party program.

Suggetsions?

[AlanHo]

Why put yourself in the position of having to reinstall your OS and all your software if your hard drive has problems when a proper backup will allow you to recover in minutes - not many hours - just because you want to drag and drop data to an external drive.

You can achieve proper security and be able to access your data on an external drive by doing the following.

Ideally have two internal hard drives - one for your OS and programs, the second for all your docs, data, pictures, music etc. If you have only one internal hard drive then create two partitions on it.

Instal two backup programs - "Acronis True Image" and "Second Copy".

On your external hard drive create two folders - one for Acronis backups, the other for Second Copy backups.

Use Acronis to back up your OS and programs drive (or partition) at least weekly. Take a full backup each time rather than an incremental one and keep the last 3 backup files - deleting the oldest each time on a first-in-first-out basis.

Set up "Second Copy" to back up all your documents, data files and settings each time you close down the computer. Also set it to keep an archive to store the previous version of each file. It will copy only the files that have been added or changed since the last back up and archive the previous version. Second Copy should be set to store the copies as plain files - not compressed. If you do this the files can be accessed at any time using Windows Explorer. You will not need to remember which files to back up each time - Second Copy will do this for you.

If you then ever have a disaster with your C: drive you can restore the OS and programs drive easily, quickly and without losing data.

If you data partiton/drive gets corrupted - or you lose any files - then you can restore them from the external drive using Explorer without affecting your OS or programs.

[D4\/!d]

Wise words indeed.

Alan, do you know if Second Copy works with Windows 7 x64.

The site doesn't mention it.

[AlanHo]

Wise words indeed.

Alan, do you know if Second Copy works with Windows 7 x64.

The site doesn't mention it.

I asked them a few weeks ago if it worked with Vista 64 - and the answer was yes. However - rather than upgrade to Vista 64 I decided to try out Windows 7 - which it works perfectly with.

Based on this evidence I believe it will work with Windows 7 - 64. However - they seem to respond to Emails fairly quickly so maybe you should ask them.

I have used Second Copy for a few years and consider it an excellent programme.

[D4\/!d]

Thanks Alan

[johnnyscience]

Why put yourself in the position of having to reinstall your OS and all your software if your hard drive has problems when a proper backup will allow you to recover in minutes - not many hours - just because you want to drag and drop data to an external drive.

You can achieve proper security and be able to access your data on an external drive by doing the following.

Ideally have two internal hard drives - one for your OS and programs, the second for all your docs, data, pictures, music etc. If you have only one internal hard drive then create two partitions on it.

Instal two backup programs - "Acronis True Image" and "Second Copy".

On your external hard drive create two folders - one for Acronis backups, the other for Second Copy backups.

Use Acronis to back up your OS and programs drive (or partition) at least weekly. Take a full backup each time rather than an incremental one and keep the last 3 backup files - deleting the oldest each time on a first-in-first-out basis.

Set up "Second Copy" to back up all your documents, data files and settings each time you close down the computer. Also set it to keep an archive to store the previous version of each file. It will copy only the files that have been added or changed since the last back up and archive the previous version. Second Copy should be set to store the copies as plain files - not compressed. If you do this the files can be accessed at any time using Windows Explorer. You will not need to remember which files to back up each time - Second Copy will do this for you.

If you then ever have a disaster with your C: drive you can restore the OS and programs drive easily, quickly and without losing data.

If you data partiton/drive gets corrupted - or you lose any files - then you can restore them from the external drive using Explorer without affecting your OS or programs.

Ok, well here is another thing, I'm currently running XP Pro 32 & hopefully upgrading to Windows 7. (But its not a for sure thing since I dont think I can download the beta any longer)

So should I just wait until I upgrade my OS? If I dont upgrade I will then use Acronis.

Can I use Acronis to backup Ubuntu?

I'll download & use Second Copy now. I have to format my Passport then since I already have most of my HDD already on there.

You mentioned that Second Copy will back up every time I shut down, here is the thing, since my external HDD is a Passport, I dont want to abuse it & leave it plugged in all the time. So I will probably just manually plug it in & update once every week or two.

Any thoughts on that?

[johnnyscience]

bump

[AlanHo]

You might be better posting your ubuntu/acronis problem on a Linux forum - this forum (as betrayed by its title) is for Windows users.

[johnnyscience]

Not an option.

Ok, well here is another thing, I'm currently running XP Pro 32 & hopefully upgrading to Windows 7. (But its not a for sure thing since I dont think I can download the beta any longer)

So should I just wait until I upgrade my OS? If I dont upgrade I will then use Acronis.

Can I use Acronis to backup Ubuntu?

I'll download & use Second Copy now. I have to format my Passport then since I already have most of my HDD already on there.

You mentioned that Second Copy will back up every time I shut down, here is the thing, since my external HDD is a Passport, I dont want to abuse it & leave it plugged in all the time. So I will probably just manually plug it in & update once every week or two.

Any thoughts on that?

[johnnyscience]

bump

[johnnyscience]

Not an option.

Ok, well here is another thing, I'm currently running XP Pro 32 & hopefully upgrading to Windows 7. (But its not a for sure thing since I dont think I can download the beta any longer)

So should I just wait until I upgrade my OS? If I dont upgrade I will then use Acronis.

Can I use Acronis to backup Ubuntu?

I'll download & use Second Copy now. I have to format my Passport then since I already have most of my HDD already on there.

You mentioned that Second Copy will back up every time I shut down, here is the thing, since my external HDD is a Passport, I dont want to abuse it & leave it plugged in all the time. So I will probably just manually plug it in & update once every week or two.

Any thoughts on that?

Bump.