Should I Install a 2nd Hard drive???

[Mike Jr.]

I went into Staples to buy a second hard drive for my computer so I
could use it to backup my computers hard drive. I was told that while
I could backup files to it, I couldn't backup Windows systems files or
registry files because it would "confuse" the Bios. In other words, I
couldn't use it for a full backup to restore my computer in the event
my master hard drive crashed.

I thought I would ask the group, is it true that I can't back up my
ENTIRE master hard drive to a slave drive?

Thanks, Mike Jr.

 

[R. McCarty]

Not true - But there are two points to be made. First the difference
between a "Backup" and an "Image". A image is a mirror copy of a
drive or partition, usually as a compressed single module. This module
can be used to completely restore a drive in the event of a failure.
A backup can be all or part of a drive, stored in numerous files or
formats. Backups can be simply a CD-R recorded with Personal data
of specific files/folders.
For Imaging you will need a 3rd-party program such as Norton Ghost,
BootItNG, or Powerquest Drive Image.
Secondly, If you backup/Image to a hard drive you are still subject to
the occasional hardware failure. In my opinion, an Image or Backup is
only good if it can be stored "Off" the computer (CD-R,DVD-R,Tape).
The preferred method would be to Image your system drive to your
2nd drive then copy the image to CD-R's or some other removable
type of media and store it away. Think of it like this, you should make
backups of your personal data (My Docs, Mailbox, etc..) for easy
retrieval. Images should be done probably once or twice a month &
saved for cases of ...
Windows Update causes unanticipated results.
Driver updates that render the system unusable
Installing Apps (Trials, Demos, New Versions) that go badly.
Or finally, you just want to go back to a previous state when you
think the PC was running better.

 

[Willit]

Have you ever spent ten hours putting all your OS,
programs and settings back in and any Data files you have
created with them. If you downloaded them you will not
have a key to install or a way to get a replacement copy.

A copy is a copy. A Image is a image. A
clone/copy/backup is bootable, it has everything your
original drive has,OS, Programs, Email, Address Book,
Data and Registry. You can update it at anytime, any part
of it. Casper XP does that from the windows platform. I
have had Image files for years, the problem with them is
it's a whole file. You cannot make changes to them, you
cannot access them, you have to restore them. Some will
boot some won't. A image file cannot be written to a
smalled disk unless you can change the partition size to
fit the smaller drive. Lets say you have a 40gb main HDD
with 10 gb of data, you cannot put a image of it on a 20gb
disk. If you're up-grading to a larger drive wouldn't it
be nice to have the old drive for a back-up

I have all the backup programs made I think, Drive Image,
Ghost ( 3 versions ), Drive Wizard, Copy Commander, Drive
Back , TrueImage etc. I mentioned Casper-XP because
someone in here made a post about it , I said what the
heck, just another $39.00, I love it. It works so easy and
I have made 30 copies and they all booted, proof enough
for me.
Buy a second Hard drive $69.00 these days and a good
copy/backup program to make a clone. XP-Casper is one.

http://www.fssdev.com/products/ $ 39.00 make the clone
and then un-plug the power to the drive if you want.

Want to test drive a Demo for 30 days. It has some
features disabled.

http://downloads-zdnet.com.com/3000-2248-10161151.html



XP is the most stable of all the windows, but it has the
highest corruption rate i have ever seen. I have Win 3.1,
Win 95 Win98 that never been re-installed , XP machines
have been done 10 times. At some point you have to wonder
what your time is worth.

I mentioned the second drive because the backup/clone is
made at IDE speed. Change two plugs and your back running
with 5 min of down time. Just the filters on my mail
program make it worth it to me.

 

[Ken Blake]

In

I went into Staples to buy a second hard drive for my computer so I
could use it to backup my computers hard drive. I was told that while
I could backup files to it, I couldn't backup Windows systems files or
registry files because it would "confuse" the Bios. In other words, I
couldn't use it for a full backup to restore my computer in the event
my master hard drive crashed.

I thought I would ask the group, is it true that I can't back up my
ENTIRE master hard drive to a slave drive?

No, it's not true. But it does require special software such as
Ghost or Drive Image.

By the way, I don't recommend backup to a second non-removable
hard drive because it leaves you susceptible to simultaneous loss
of the original and backup to many of the most common dangers:
severe power glitches, virus attacks, even theft of the computer.

In my view, secure backup needs to be on removable media, and not
kept in the computer. For *really* secure backup (needed, for
example, if the life of your business depends on your data) you
should have multiple generations of backup, and at least one of
those generations should be stored off-site.

My computer isn't used for business, but my personal backup
scheme uses two identical removable hard drives, which fit into a
sleeve installed in the computer. I alternate between the two,
and use Drive Image to make a complete copy of the primary drive.

 

[David]

I went into Staples to buy a second hard drive for my computer so I
could use it to backup my computers hard drive. I was told that while
I could backup files to it, I couldn't backup Windows systems files or
registry files because it would "confuse" the Bios. In other words, I
couldn't use it for a full backup to restore my computer in the event
my master hard drive crashed.

I thought I would ask the group, is it true that I can't back up my
ENTIRE master hard drive to a slave drive?

Thanks, Mike Jr.

Don't listen to sale people at those chain stores. They are competely
clueless.

--

David

Programmers write "Help Files" for a reason. use them.

"Due to Viewer dicretion...
Graphic violence is advised"

http://www.HeroicStories.com/
http://www.thisistrue.com/

 

[Locoweed]

I do it all the time with ghost

Don't listen to sale people at those chain stores. They are competely
clueless.

--

David

Programmers write "Help Files" for a reason. use them.

"Due to Viewer dicretion...
Graphic violence is advised"

http://www.HeroicStories.com/
http://www.thisistrue.com/