Operating System Back-up

[Fluffy]

Hi Folks

I have just had a thread in the hardware section as I have a new expansion external drive to play with !

 

I have been recommended to..

take 500GB hard drive and partition it into 50/50 or 250GB/250GB or split into another ratio you see fit.

Next I would use backup software and make a clone copy of your Operating System and save this to the first partition of your external drive.

I have looked through the recommended software thread but not come across any software yet that could copy my system onto my new external drive as a backup--any one know or used one ??

oh and it must be idiot proof !!!!!!

 

Appreciate any comments

thankyou

Fluffy

[DennisD]

Hi Fluff.

 

You can make a back up "Image" file with Macrium Reflect, which as like a photograph of your system drive. If you have problems you can't fix, you boot your PC with the Macrium "Rescue CD" and restore the Image.

 

http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.asp

 

A few people on here use it, and I've actually restored a back up Image 3 times at least with no problems at all.

 

The important thing is to not take any shortcuts time-wise. VERIFY the Image after making it, and VERIFY it before restoring it if you're able.

 

Have a look at it, and then post here anything you're not sure of.

 

 

EDIT: What is an "Image" file.

[marmite]

You can make a back up "Image" file with Macrium Reflect

Just another vote for Reflect ... excellent software. You can use it for ordinary data backups too.

[Eli]

Hi Fluff.

 

You can make a back up "Image" file with Macrium Reflect, which as like a photograph of your system drive. If you have problems you can't fix, you boot your PC with the Macrium "Rescue CD" and restore the Image.

 

http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.asp

 

A few people on here use it, and I've actually restored a back up Image 3 times at least with no problems at all.

 

The important thing is to not take any shortcuts time-wise. VERIFY the Image after making it, and VERIFY it before restoring it if you're able.

 

Have a look at it, and then post here anything you're not sure of.

 

 

EDIT: What is an "Image" file.

Do I have to make an image on an external drive? I`ve tried to make one on a 4.5Gb DVD/CDmedia with not enough space,( so declared by the softwear, even though it was set to high compression).

.

[marmite]

Do I have to make an image on an external drive? I`ve tried to make one on a 4.5Gb DVD/CDmedia with not enough space,( so declared by the softwear, even though it was set to high compression).

Using Macrium? No - though you cannot backup onto a partition which is itself part of the backup. So (free space permitting) you can back up C onto D, or D onto C. But not D onto D or C&D onto D.

 

You should be able to split the backup across multiple CD/DVDs ... did you limit the file size with the Advanced Settings ... or did it not get far enough to give you the chance to do that?

[Eli]

Using Macrium? No - though you cannot backup onto a partition which is itself part of the backup. So (free space permitting) you can back up C onto D, or D onto C. But not D onto D or C&D onto D.

 

You should be able to split the backup across multiple CD/DVDs ... did you limit the file size with the Advanced Settings ... or did it not get far enough to give you the chance to do that?

Thanks for your reply marmite .I didn`t limit the size w/ the advanced settings but I did get to the point where the program requested new fresh media and I did not think it would work if is splitted. On other thing,the PE didn`t make the rescue disk anouncing there is an error and it can not find the source (Windows installation elements) and this is after the program already found the windows disk and made the log text and the back up itself but as I mentioned before,was not able to produce the resque disk. At this point ,it looks easier and less time consuming to format and install a new OS.......

[marmite]

Sorry you're still getting problems Eli. I've successfully created Linux and PE rescue disks before ... it's may be worth persevering if only to get to the point that gives you a future recovery option. I do seem to remember that the PE stuff was a little fussy about where certain files were located ... unfortunately I don't have it on this machine so I can't check that.

 

The Macrium forum is pretty good - not heavily used but you'll usually get a reasonably quick response (holiday season not withstanding!).

[Fluffy]

Dennis D cheers for the advice,I have now formatted the hard drive and installed macrium and verified !

I`m leaving that alone now until such time i get a problem,but hopefully will not need it !

one last question the other back up files that i already had (i have put into the same drive as back up),but has Macrium reflect in effect made these files redundant ??

 

 

Many thanks again for your help...

 

Fluffy

[Tasgandy]

Hi Folks

I have just had a thread in the hardware section as I have a new expansion external drive to play with !

 

I have been recommended to..

take 500GB hard drive and partition it into 50/50 or 250GB/250GB or split into another ratio you see fit.

Next I would use backup software and make a clone copy of your Operating System and save this to the first partition of your external drive.

I have looked through the recommended software thread but not come across any software yet that could copy my system onto my new external drive as a backup--any one know or used one ??

oh and it must be idiot proof !!!!!!

 

Appreciate any comments

thankyou

Fluffy

 

As of about 5 weeks ago I started to test the following Soft Ware:

 

Allway Syncfile synchronization that worksversion 9.4.11

Copyright ? 2004-2009

One synchronization software provides all these solutions

 

Sync data between your desktop PC and laptop (notebook).

Replicate and back-up data between your home and office computers.

Synchronize more than two directories.

Update and back-up files over a local network or the Internet.

Synchronize removable devices (USB key, flash drive, CDRW) with a local drive. Get both the performance of local drives and the mobility of removable drives. USB key lost or damaged? Your local drive always has an up-to-date copy. Hard drive crash? Your removable drive has the most current version of all your critical data.

 

I tested this SW on my Test PC running Windows 7, across my network syncing with my normal day to day XP Pro PC. I then performed syncing both ways, just to test both OS. They all worked perfectly.

 

I then decide to install permanently on my XP Pro PC and synchronize my main data HD and folders to a 500GB USB HD. Configuration / scheduling the sync is easy, by date & time, on closing down or starting the PC, only files that have been changed ext. you can even utilise file "version control" by deciding NOT to delete older files once synchronization is completed by storing those "earlier version" files in another location.

 

I now use this synchronization SW as my "back-up" SW. I have it automatically perform a sync every time I turn my PC off, store the "older" files in a seperate location (on the same USB HD) PLUS I am able to sync / back-up my "work" data, "music" data and "Video" data.....3 different synchronization jobs.

 

Do yourself a favour go to http://allwaysync.com and have a look.

 

Here is the best part, it is FREE for moderate personal use, and if I can use it so can you.

 

Regards

Tasgandy

[DennisD]

Dennis D cheers for the advice,I have now formatted the hard drive and installed macrium and verified !

I`m leaving that alone now until such time i get a problem,but hopefully will not need it !

one last question the other back up files that i already had (i have put into the same drive as back up),but has Macrium reflect in effect made these files redundant ??

 

 

Many thanks again for your help...

 

Fluffy

 

Hi Fluff.

 

Just to double check. Are you saying that you've made an "Image" of your System Drive, C:, onto your external drive, and that you've verified that Image sucessfully?

 

If so, that Image, which contains all the files on your System Drive at the time of making it, can be mounted as a normal drive, which means you can explore it, and copy files from it.

 

So if you are talking about it making other back up files from your System Drive redundant, then technically the answer is yes, but I would still make them.

 

I make a new "Disk Image" about once a month, so that it never gets too far behind changes to my drive, which includes new software, music, photographs, and Windows Updates. But I back up my photographs and music more often than that, and it isn't a bad idea to have more than one back up of personal stuff you couldn't replace.

 

To access files in that back up Image, you simply right click it, and you should have a bold print "Explore Image..." item in the context menu.

 

Select that, and allow Macrium to assign a drive letter to it, and then you'll find a "new" drive in your "My Computer" window.

 

You can then explore and copy stuff from that new drive as you would a normal drive. When you close down or reboot your PC, that drive disappears.

 

The only other thing I would advise, is to place the Macrium Rescue CD in your drive and boot with it. Navigate as far as selecting your backup Image, but not as far as starting the process, to make sure that the Rescue CD actually works.

 

If you want more info on that, I'll do it with my Rescue CD, and give you a couple of pictures of how the process looks.

[Talldog9]

+1 for Reflect. Very fast.

[Fluffy]

Dennis D I think i`ve got it now !!! yes i looked and there`s all my files/programs etc ,the other back up files for email.favourites etc i will leave them there..

When you make your monthly disk image,do you delete the previous or does it over write it??

 

 

As regard to storage i`m going to keep files music photo`s on my new external drive and i might evenuallly archive ohoto`s onto disks..

 

but i think i`m pretty sorted !! Thaks again Dennis

 

And Tasgandy thanks for the link to allwaysync.com I think i`ll let the mods have a look at that and perhaps they could review

? I`m learning to be wary of my own fiddling with the computer..if I`ve learned one thing it`s how much I do`nt know about computers !!

Cheers Fluff !

[DennisD]

When you make your monthly disk image,do you delete the previous or does it over write it??

 

Just delete it Fluff and make a new one. And don't forget to verify. I'm repeating myself, but it's so important, as is making sure the "Linux" Rescue CD works.

 

You have made the Rescue CD I hope, as you'll be snookered without it. Although it's called a Linux CD, it does boot a Windows computer.

[Fluffy]

Dennis

Yes I made the rescue cd and it started up ok I got the point like you said of selecting the image but not progressing it

I think thats job done !!!!

 

Fluff

edit...just got to get the new boiler installed...three days without hot water and heating in this snowy weather !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

luckly there fitting it now !!!!!!!

[DennisD]

Job done for sure Fluff, and well done at that.

 

Good news about the boiler. I went through that a couple of winters ago, and these things always go down when you need them the most.

[Eli]

Just delete it Fluff and make a new one. And don't forget to verify. I'm repeating myself, but it's so important, as is making sure the "Linux" Rescue CD works.

 

You have made the Rescue CD I hope, as you'll be snookered without it. Although it's called a Linux CD, it does boot a Windows computer.

 

Hi Dennis, how can you verify that you ineed booted from the recue disk and not from the HD? I know that even though you`ll set the BIOS to boot from a CD/DVD it will try to run from it, but if it fails it will automaticly run the OS from the HD (if operational) without any message or log. Any ideas?

Thanks

[DennisD]

Hi Eli.

 

As far as I know, most computers are configured to look to boot from a CD Rom before the hard drive, but if your PC does what mine does, pressing escape immediately your PC begins booting will give you a "boot options" screen from where you can choose which drive to boot from.

 

I've taken some pics of the whole process from the initial boot screen, to the last screen you will see with the Macrium Rescue CD before it begins the restore process:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can only place so many images in a post, so see below for the final three in the process.

[DennisD]

 

 

 

Hope that helps Eli, but post back if you have any more queries.

[Eli]

Thank you Dennis for your effort but I`m using Win PE for Easeus Todo backup and it does not follow the same procedures as Macrium, but thank you again.

[DennisD]

No worries Eli, I admire your honesty, and someone may benefit from seeing the process.