Hi -

I don't know if this is the right way to back up or not (XP, SP2), but I use a Seagate back up hard drive program (I actually know the answer, I should be using an imaging program, but they all seem so intimidating ...).

Well, anyway, there are always 20 or 30 files that aren't backed up every time I run the back up routine, I get a message:

"Backup of operating system files and folders (those that have system and hidden attributes) is skipped ..."

None of the names of the skipped files look familiar to me.

Is this enough info for you folks to make an educated guess as to how likely I will one day rue the fact that these weren't backed up?

Thanks for your thoughts!

--------------------
Alexis -Cubase 6.5.0/SX3.1.1.944, XP SP2, 4GB RAM (1GB not accessible, but used just to balance the computer so it doesn't tip over); Delta 66 in Omni i/O Studio; Motif8; UAD-1

Not using an imaging program is the the thing you're most likely to regret. File backups are fine for data, but if you have a serious problem that requires a hard drive recovery you've got a big problem on your hands.

--------------------
An Eagle for an Emperor, A Kestrel for a Knave.

The Elf is right and it's something he has championed here for a long time. Get some HD cloning software like Acronis True Image and sleep well at night.

Quote alexis:

---

I don't know if this is the right way to back up or not (XP, SP2), but I use a Seagate back up hard drive program (I actually know the answer, I should be using an imaging program, but they all seem so intimidating ...).

Well, anyway, there are always 20 or 30 files that aren't backed up every time I run the back up routine, I get a message:

"Backup of operating system files and folders (those that have system and hidden attributes) is skipped ..."

None of the names of the skipped files look familiar to me.

Is this enough info for you folks to make an educated guess as to how likely I will one day rue the fact that these weren't backed up?

---

Oh dear! You're backing up your data, which is good. But you aren't backing up your system, which is BAD! When your hard drive fails (and it isn't "if", it's "when") a full system backup will allow you (or your technician) to slot in a replacement drive, restore the system and have you back running within the hour. Otherwise you'll have to reinstall Windows, reinstall your programs, manually copy data across...

Even if your computer came with restore disks, this only gets it back to the day it arrived from the shop, you still have to reinstall your software. Or, if the maker cheaped out and supplied a restore partition rather than disks, that partition died along with the rest of the hard drive.

Cope with being intimidated!

Agreed - a disk image is a time capsule that stores EVERYTHING, and even if your current hard drive bursts into flame you can fit a new one and have your most recent image file restored to it within minutes

Which reminds me - it’s about time I took made another image file of my own system


Martin

--------------------
YewTreeMagic

OK, gents, you have motivated me.

I have had downloaded on my system the .exe file for Paragon Backup & Recovery 2011 (Advanced) Free! for some time.

I just installed it, made a recovery disk, and as we speak it is imaging my hard drives - my C drive, my D drive (which is some sort of recovery drive on my Carillon computer), and my SATA RAID E drive, where my Cubase projects and audio actually reside.

Thanks for the final little push!

--------------------
Alexis -Cubase 6.5.0/SX3.1.1.944, XP SP2, 4GB RAM (1GB not accessible, but used just to balance the computer so it doesn't tip over); Delta 66 in Omni i/O Studio; Motif8; UAD-1

Well - mission accomplished!! I have backed up using that "Paragon Backup & Recovery 2011 (Advanced) Free!" to a separate hard drive. The integrity check of the backup was successful as well.

I'm still a little uneasy ... it wasn't like a drag and drop to the hard drive ... indeed, it looks like the backup was compressed. And looking at the backup files, they are in a proprietary format.

I guess it is a leap of faith I will have to make that I can use this to replace my hard drive if it fails. Obviously, actually trying it out "as a test" seems like too big a production. Or not?

I have joined the Paragon forum, if they have anything interesting to say I will post back.

Thanks again, everyone!

--------------------
Alexis -Cubase 6.5.0/SX3.1.1.944, XP SP2, 4GB RAM (1GB not accessible, but used just to balance the computer so it doesn't tip over); Delta 66 in Omni i/O Studio; Motif8; UAD-1

A quick look at Paragon's website suggests that the free version may be sufficient. In fact, rather unusually, the paid-for version seems to add no vital functions.

Yes, the backup is compressed. But you can extract individual files, as well as reconstructing an entire partition.

Thanks for looking Exalted, Wombat! I'll sleep a little easier now. Though I don't know why they just can't have a drag and drop, all this compression and decompression/proprietary formats seems like it's more complicated than it has to be, just asking for problems.

--------------------
Alexis -Cubase 6.5.0/SX3.1.1.944, XP SP2, 4GB RAM (1GB not accessible, but used just to balance the computer so it doesn't tip over); Delta 66 in Omni i/O Studio; Motif8; UAD-1

The subtle part is that there are some parts of a disk image that HAVE to go back in the same logical sectors they came from (The bootloader and a few other critical bits), and that is at a level below the file system so just copying files (even all the files) will not do it when it comes to allowing a bootable system to be reconstructed.

You will want to put a copy of the imaging program somewhere safe as well, just to make sure you have something that can restore that image file.

Windows file systems also have some weird locking semantics that are ah 'difficult' to override so doing a full image from within Windows is a bit tricky.

Interestingly on Unix type systems you can do a sector by sector copy of a disk rather easily, mount the file system read only (Important to make sure everything stays consistent while copying) then just use dd to copy the raw disk contents.
Piping into a file compressor is optional (I usually don't bother as it means I can mount the image file read only on a loopback mount if I need a particular file out of it).

I have used this trick with a bootable CD to help recover a very sick NTFS partition.

Regards, Dan.

--------------------
Audiophiles use phono leads because they are unbalanced people!

"Interestingly on Unix type systems you can do a sector by sector copy of a disk rather easily, mount the file system read only (Important to make sure everything stays consistent while copying) then just use dd to copy the raw disk contents.
Piping into a file compressor is optional (I usually don't bother as it means I can mount the image file read only on a loopback mount if I need a particular file out of it)."

That's easy for you to say Dan!

I am in the same boat as the OP. I want to make an image of my drives but the software I have tried so far just boggles me.

Can I make an image of my W7/64 drive and store it on win XP (Home and a pro)and a network drive? And vice versa?

And, suppose my C drive on my W7 pc goes T's U? Can I just buy a virgin drive and copy the image over from whatever and get W7 running again? Or, would I have to run the recovery discs THEN the image?

Dave.

Edited by ef37a (25/07/11 06:35 AM)

Quote ef37a:

---

I am in the same boat as the OP. I want to make an image of my drives but the software I have tried so far just boggles me.

---

Give this a try: http://partedmagic.com/doku.php?id=start

Download and burn as an ISO (instruction file on download page).
Run at start up.
Select cloning tool.
Clone from A-B
Done.



Backing up from within windows does indeed leaving you to have to either try recovery from a start tool or from the cd depending upon the situation. With the one above it should just be a more stright forward Run/copy/get on with life and might appeal to you more. I've used clonezilla (Ghost rip off) before in other instances and it did the job well, so no reason to suspect otherwise here, althrough I would try a test recovery to first time round to make sure. My only reservations with Clonezilla (in the past, may have improved) in fact was that it's intall & setup was a bit awkward but the PartedMagic disk skirts round that issue.

Also a whole host of other handy utils on there. I ripped it down for the SSD wiping tool to start with, but it's helped save my ass in a couple of situations now.

--------------------
ScanProAudio & 3XS Audio Systems
ScanProAudio Blog

Quote ef37a:

---

I am in the same boat as the OP. I want to make an image of my drives but the software I have tried so far just boggles me.

Can I make an image of my W7/64 drive and store it on win XP (Home and a pro)and a network drive? And vice versa?

And, suppose my C drive on my W7 pc goes T's U? Can I just buy a virgin drive and copy the image over from whatever and get W7 running again? Or, would I have to run the recovery discs THEN the image?

---

If you have made a backup image of your system that effectively IS a "recovery disk". It restores the system as it was when you took the backup. The disks supplied with your computer restore it to its state when you bought it.

Quote Pete Kaine:

---

Quote ef37a:

---

I am in the same boat as the OP. I want to make an image of my drives but the software I have tried so far just boggles me.

---

Give this a try: http://partedmagic.com/doku.php?id=start

Download and burn as an ISO (instruction file on download page).
Run at start up.
Select cloning tool.
Clone from A-B
Done.



Backing up from within windows does indeed leaving you to have to either try recovery from a start tool or from the cd depending upon the situation. With the one above it should just be a more stright forward Run/copy/get on with life and might appeal to you more. I've used clonezilla (Ghost rip off) before in other instances and it did the job well, so no reason to suspect otherwise here, althrough I would try a test recovery to first time round to make sure. My only reservations with Clonezilla (in the past, may have improved) in fact was that it's intall & setup was a bit awkward but the PartedMagic disk skirts round that issue.

Also a whole host of other handy utils on there. I ripped it down for the SSD wiping tool to start with, but it's helped save my ass in a couple of situations now.

---

Sorry Pete but I must be beyond redemption! I opened that link but just did not have a clue what to download!
I filled in a "form" but that turned out to be something called "OS Deployer"?

Dave.

Quote ef37a:

---

Sorry Pete but I must be beyond redemption! I opened that link but just did not have a clue what to download!
I filled in a "form" but that turned out to be something called "OS Deployer"?

Dave.

---

I "think" that you need to click the download link Here

Then select the pmagic-6.3.iso-x86_64.zip (md5sum: 9c947c1b3f3ef137bef0918612c1e01d) download. (The bottom one)


Apologies in advance if i am wrong

Hello Dave/ef37a

http://download.cnet.com/Paragon-Backup-Recovery-Advanced-Free/3000-2242_4 -10972187.html?tag=mncol;1

For what it's worth, I just downloaded the link (Green button on top left of page), and went from there. I usually have about 2 or 3 false starts with these kinds of things, but this time it worked out well straight through the 1st time.

There is a forum as well, with newbie friendliness (like this one!).

--------------------
Alexis -Cubase 6.5.0/SX3.1.1.944, XP SP2, 4GB RAM (1GB not accessible, but used just to balance the computer so it doesn't tip over); Delta 66 in Omni i/O Studio; Motif8; UAD-1

Quote ef37a:

---

Sorry Pete but I must be beyond redemption! I opened that link but just did not have a clue what to download!
I filled in a "form" but that turned out to be something called "OS Deployer"?

---

Ahhh... sorry. Mick above is right if you want to give his instructions a try. You'll find a link on the same page with burning and running instructions too.

--------------------
ScanProAudio & 3XS Audio Systems
ScanProAudio Blog

Hi all -

Now that I've made a "mirror" of my C:\, D:\, and E:\ drives (though it is not an identical copy, being in a compressed proprietary format) apparently the next step is to confirm that everything was done properly (rather than assume that to be the case, and be disappointed if it doesn't work well when a disaster hits).

And apparently it's NOT a good idea to test the restoration to the computer I'm trying to back up as sometimes things go wrong and one can be left with nothing at all on any drive...

A friendly guy on the Paragon forum recommended I "just pop another hard drive into your computer" to test the restoration process with. To me, that is like saying, "Just cure world hunger, and armed conflict". Love to, but not something I really know how to do ...

I came up with an alternate idea of: getting a virgin "stand-alone" hard drive (the kind you buy for storage), connecting it to my music computer (i.e., the computer that I want to back up), and seeing if I can restore to that virgin hard drive "through" my music computer. The friendly guy on the Paragon forum said he'd never heard of doing that (he seems like the sort that "pops in" several hard drives before breakfast every day), but that it would probably work OK.

Would any one know of any concerns doing that (separate "stand-alone" hard drive to restore to, connected to my music computer by a USB cable)?

Again, the purpose of all this is to confirm that the mirror image back up I made is reasonably reliably expected to be able to be "recovered" if my real computer goes down. If anyone has a good but very different idea about how to do that, please let me know as well!

Thanks!

--------------------
Alexis -Cubase 6.5.0/SX3.1.1.944, XP SP2, 4GB RAM (1GB not accessible, but used just to balance the computer so it doesn't tip over); Delta 66 in Omni i/O Studio; Motif8; UAD-1

Quote alexis:

---

Hi all -

I came up with an alternate idea of: getting a virgin "stand-alone" hard drive (the kind you buy for storage), connecting it to my music computer (i.e., the computer that I want to back up), and seeing if I can restore to that virgin hard drive "through" my music computer. The friendly guy on the Paragon forum said he'd never heard of doing that (he seems like the sort that "pops in" several hard drives before breakfast every day), but that it would probably work OK.

Would any one know of any concerns doing that (separate "stand-alone" hard drive to restore to, connected to my music computer by a USB cable)?

Again, the purpose of all this is to confirm that the mirror image back up I made is reasonably reliably expected to be able to be "recovered" if my real computer goes down. If anyone has a good but very different idea about how to do that, please let me know as well!

Thanks!

---

You'd be able to restore to an external drive. The question is whether your computer can be set to boot Windows from the external drive. If it can't, you've proved nothing.

Actually, sticking a new drive in is very simple. You don't have to mount it properly, or even remove the old one. Just pull the power and data cables off the old one, prop the new drive up somewhere they will reach to and carry on.

Quote Exalted Wombat:

---

...

You'd be able to restore to an external drive. The question is whether your computer can be set to boot Windows from the external drive. If it can't, you've proved nothing.

Actually, sticking a new drive in is very simple. You don't have to mount it properly, or even remove the old one. Just pull the power and data cables off the old one, prop the new drive up somewhere they will reach to and carry on.

---

Oh lord, it's inescapable isn't it, I'm going to have to open the case and change out the hard drive (or at least unplug it) , aren't I (or, "am I not", for the English majors on that other subforum ...).

I guess it's time to hit youtube ... "how to change out your hard-drive without frying it, yourself, or other bad things".

May God have mercy on my soul ...

Alexis!

Don't panic! There is nothing getatable in a pc that can kill or even hurt you (DON'T open the PSU can tho!). There is a large current capabilty but pull the IEC mains out and let things drain for 10minutes or so. Don't wear rings and such.
Note the orientation of the SATA power and data leads and plug in.

NOW you are into software so I make a hastey exit!

Dave.

Quote alexis:

---

Quote Exalted Wombat:

---

...

You'd be able to restore to an external drive. The question is whether your computer can be set to boot Windows from the external drive. If it can't, you've proved nothing.

Actually, sticking a new drive in is very simple. You don't have to mount it properly, or even remove the old one. Just pull the power and data cables off the old one, prop the new drive up somewhere they will reach to and carry on.

---

Oh lord, it's inescapable isn't it, I'm going to have to open the case and change out the hard drive (or at least unplug it) , aren't I (or, "am I not", for the English majors on that other subforum ...).

I guess it's time to hit youtube ... "how to change out your hard-drive without frying it, yourself, or other bad things".

May God have mercy on my soul ...

---

Actually, don't. You lack the skills and you lack confidence. You will find ways to break your computer that we can hardly imagine!

Follow the instructions, make regular backups. If you want to check them, wait until someone who knows what he's doing comes along. You can easily check the data files portion of the backup without doing a full restore. But don't even do that unless you're confident. You'll manage to erase or over-write something.

Don't know if it is moot but..
In safe mode (in XP at least) you get the option to start with network running. Presumably that means you could boot from an external drive (I did it years ago from a CD drive in another pc, can't remember how. Shades of drunks and fools being cared for!).

There are various boot/repair discs you can make for that rainy day.

Dave.

Quote ef37a:

---

Don't know if it is moot but..
In safe mode (in XP at least) you get the option to start with network running. Presumably that means you could boot from an external drive (I did it years ago from a CD drive in another pc, can't remember how. Shades of drunks and fools being cared for!).

There are various boot/repair discs you can make for that rainy day.

---

You'd need a PXE capable network card or a boot disk that would allow for network based mount points to be seen. You can't do it from the windows disk so it is a sizable amount of messing about when you can just pull the side off and plug in the cables!

--------------------
ScanProAudio & 3XS Audio Systems
ScanProAudio Blog

Quote Exalted Wombat:

---

Actually, sticking a new drive in is very simple. You don't have to mount it properly, or even remove the old one. Just pull the power and data cables off the old one, prop the new drive up somewhere they will reach to and carry on.

---

I've done this many times (mostly during hard drive upgrades when I need to copy the data from the old drive to the new but don't want them both left in the PC), and it's indeed quite easy. This process also leaves you with a few smaller hard drives that would be perfect for your proposed 'backup restoration test'.


Martin

--------------------
YewTreeMagic

Thank you all for your VERY helpful comments.

I've decided to do more research ... youtube (already looked at a few videos), the "Paragon Backup & Recovery 2011 Free!" manual, and the "Geek Squad" department at the local Best Buy store. I'm fairly confident that I'll be able to do this. First step ... figure out what kind of hard drive to buy ... if it's like the computer I'm typing this on, I'll go to "Device Manager" to see that.

Thanks again!

--------------------
Alexis -Cubase 6.5.0/SX3.1.1.944, XP SP2, 4GB RAM (1GB not accessible, but used just to balance the computer so it doesn't tip over); Delta 66 in Omni i/O Studio; Motif8; UAD-1

I hope to head off to "Geek Squad" later today to ask this question, but I'd like to pose it here as well please:

When I open my computer, would I expect to have ONE hard drive (like most of the youtubes) or TWO? I'm asking because, as listed below, when I query the computer it says I have a SATA RAID drive in addition to the ones that look more "familiar" to me. So, I'm wondering if the SATA RAID drive is a separate physical drive, or is it only a virtual "partition" (wrong term?) of a single hard drive?

Here is what My Computer lists as drives:
System (C:)
AUDIO (D:)
SATA RAID (E:)

Here are the two listings in my CTRL PANEL > Device Manager> Disk Drives:

"-RAID>Volume 0". Further digging to "Properties > Details > Device Instance ID" yields:

IDE\DISKRAID_VOLUME00.1.12_U\4&2BCF4D6B&0&0.1.0

"-ST380817AS". Further digging to "Properties > Details > Device Instance ID" yields:

IDE\DISKST380817AS_3.4.2_4&2BCF4D6B&0&0.1.0

Thanks for any thoughts!

--------------------
Alexis -Cubase 6.5.0/SX3.1.1.944, XP SP2, 4GB RAM (1GB not accessible, but used just to balance the computer so it doesn't tip over); Delta 66 in Omni i/O Studio; Motif8; UAD-1

That is all "Geek" to me!

If you right click on Computer>Manage, d'clk Disk Management you will see listed all the physical drives and their partitions if any.

Dave.

Here are some pics from inside my computer, I hope this helps narrow down some of my options and clarifies things.

I wonder if I actually have a RAID array ... : My device manager>disk drives lists a single 320GB HDD called "RAID_Volume0", but from these two pictures, it looks like I have two 120GB drives (which is what my purchase invoice says I purchased) ... does that make it a RAID array?

http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i341/tunesin/Music%20Computer%20Pics/2 011-07-31_12-28-51_772.jpg

http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i341/tunesin/Music%20Computer%20Pics/2 011-07-31_12-30-03_589.jpg


http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i341/tunesin/Music%20Computer%20Pics/2 011-07-31_12-34-33_806.jpg

I think this is my 80GB SATA HDD:

http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i341/tunesin/Music%20Computer%20Pics/2 011-07-31_12-24-37_654.jpg


Not knowing what is obvious to you folks, and hoping this isn't insulting ( ), in the pic below the "double" red cable at the bottom of the picture is coming the two black boxes that I think are my "joined" 160GB hard drives, and the "single" red cable is coming from the ?? 80GB SATA HDD:

http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i341/tunesin/Music%20Computer%20Pics/2 011-07-31_12-26-03_417.jpg

Just so I don't lose the forest for the trees, what I'm trying to figure out is what HDD(s?) I need to buy to recover/restore a backup image to so I can test that the backup actually worked. I'd like to run the OS, the Cubase program, and other programs (DVD player, Adobe, etc.) from the to-be-purchased HDD(s?), rather than the HDDs currently in my computer as pictured above. And finally, in my computer, Cubase simultaneously accesses the C:/ drive (80GB) and the E:/ drive (320GB) in order to run.

Thanks for any help!

P.S. Is there a way to post the pictures themselves in these posts, rather than the links to them? Thanks!

--------------------
Alexis -Cubase 6.5.0/SX3.1.1.944, XP SP2, 4GB RAM (1GB not accessible, but used just to balance the computer so it doesn't tip over); Delta 66 in Omni i/O Studio; Motif8; UAD-1

I can help with the pics at least, I also use Photobucket

In photo bucket hover over the image you want and it will bring up a large dialogue box, there is a list of four options for linking, click on the second one down for HTML.

Then come back to the post you are writing here. Below the box where you put your text there is a heading labelled Instant UBB Code, click on the one called 'Image'. That brings up a dialogue box where you can paste the HTML you just copied to the clipboard.

It's been working well for me here on the forum for many months.

Andy

--------------------
When the going gets weird, the Weird turn Pro.

Thank you, Andi!

Here are some screenshots from the backup and recovery program I use (Paragon). It shows the 320GB E:/ drive, and the 80GB drive that is partitioned into the C:/ and D:/ drives. I hope this helps you folks give me some advice! I'm just wondering how many HDDs, and of what type (RAID?) I need to buy to recover/restore my backup images.

(I found that clicking on the pics expand it to a size easier to read).


This one is the 320GB drive, which I believe is the "combination" of the two 160GB drives in my purchase invoice ... a RAID drive?


These next two pics are the C:/ and D:/ drives, partitions of the 80GB drive:





--------------------
Alexis -Cubase 6.5.0/SX3.1.1.944, XP SP2, 4GB RAM (1GB not accessible, but used just to balance the computer so it doesn't tip over); Delta 66 in Omni i/O Studio; Motif8; UAD-1

Looking at the pictures my best guess would be the 80GB O.S. drive is below the optical drive and then the are 2 X 160GB drives hidden in caddies running as a 320GB raid 0 array.

Backing up you want an 80GB or bigger to clone your C:/ to and a 320GB or bigger to clone your E:/ to... assuming Paragon will clone a joint raid disk to a single larger back up drive and then restore it back again which I assume it will but worth checking.

Personally I'd sack off the Raid 0 and clone it onto a Cav black or the ilk and simplify the process from there on in but then I'm fairly anti Raid 0 on anything other than high volume data centers with in place automated backup routines.

--------------------
ScanProAudio & 3XS Audio Systems
ScanProAudio Blog

Thanks for that Pete!

Putting it all together, I think I've come up with the following tentative plan:

1) This step is DONE: Back up the data from the 80GB SATA hard drive (C:/ and D:/ drive partitions), and the 320GB SATA RAID drive (E:/ drive) - done, all backed up to a 1TB USB-HDD.

2) Buy another 80GB SATA hard drive (actually a bigger one), pop the old one out, put the new one in the computer, and recover the C:/ and D:/ drivesto that. DON'T physically mess with that ugly looking dual HDD RAID array in the computer pic.

Also, it looks a little bit like a rat's nest around the existing 80GB hard drive, tucked tightly under the DVD drive, with a ribbon cable across the front of it, and looking like the SATA cable is actually coming off the end of the "back" end of drive ...:


... but I'm sure that's a bridge I'll be able to cross when I get to it.

3) Next step: try to run XP, Cubase, etc. using the NEW C:/ and D:/ drive in the computer, and the backed up E:/ drive from the USB-HDD.

4) If all looks well - leave the new larger C:/ and D:/ drive in the computer, close the case, and continue with music production. Keep the "old" C:/ drive around to use for future backups/recoveries.

Does all this sound like perhaps the easiest way to confirm that my system has been successfully backed up and can be successfully restored?

Thank you everyone for your help!

--------------------
Alexis -Cubase 6.5.0/SX3.1.1.944, XP SP2, 4GB RAM (1GB not accessible, but used just to balance the computer so it doesn't tip over); Delta 66 in Omni i/O Studio; Motif8; UAD-1

Yeah, looks fine and is probably the way I'd tackle it too at this stage. Remember to keep backing up your raid to that new back up partition on the 1TB (automate it maybe?) and keep your O.s. the same size or increase it to match the size of your new spare back up drive. Maybe get a 500GB back up drive for the o.s. partition or even just another 1TB and clone the drive monthly and get 3 back ups of your work projects!

--------------------
ScanProAudio & 3XS Audio Systems
ScanProAudio Blog

Thanks for the "sounds reasonable to do it that way" Pete!

For the new HDD that I'm going to buy. As you pointed out, it seems a decent idea to get one with more capacity. Some questions I've been thinking of:

1) Best if it's also a SATA right, so I don't have to worry about the connection to the motherboard, just disconnect and reconnect at the HDD?

2) Should I keep it formatted as a FAT32? I don't mind reformatting it (someone else suggested that NTFS is better for OS), but if it requires BIOS changes, I'm skittish.

3) When I buy the new HDD (to replace "Disk 0" in the Paragon backup software screenshot) - how will I know it will physically fit in my computer? Do I bring in the full description of the existing drive (Brand, Model, serial #) to the computer store and ask them to give me something exactly the same size?

4) Finally, does the screen shot inside my computer of the existing drive (one post up, I think) look "OK" to you? I've watched some youtubes on how to change out hard drives, and the ones there seem so much more ... accessible I guess is the right word ... than mine.

Thanks!

--------------------
Alexis -Cubase 6.5.0/SX3.1.1.944, XP SP2, 4GB RAM (1GB not accessible, but used just to balance the computer so it doesn't tip over); Delta 66 in Omni i/O Studio; Motif8; UAD-1

WOW ... just as I was becoming comfortable with the idea of swapping out HDDs in my computer, someone just recommended a "SATA USB enclosure" as a way to backup/clone. I went on line and saw something like this: http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/usb-gadgets/e6d9/ . This seems like it could be very clean ...

I wonder though if the USB connection would restrict some files from making it across to the clone target? As far as testing the clone, I could put it in another old computer and see if XP boots up, and if I can use Cubase.

Does anyone have any thoughts?

Thanks -

--------------------
Alexis -Cubase 6.5.0/SX3.1.1.944, XP SP2, 4GB RAM (1GB not accessible, but used just to balance the computer so it doesn't tip over); Delta 66 in Omni i/O Studio; Motif8; UAD-1

Quote alexis:

---

WOW ... just as I was becoming comfortable with the idea of swapping out HDDs in my computer, someone just recommended a "SATA USB enclosure" as a way to backup/clone. I went on line and saw something like this: http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/usb-gadgets/e6d9/ . This seems like it could be very clean ...

I wonder though if the USB connection would restrict some files from making it across to the clone target? As far as testing the clone, I could put it in another old computer and see if XP boots up, and if I can use Cubase.

---

The USB-connected drive will behave logically just like any other drive, though rather slower.

You can't just swap a system drive into another computer. Part of the Windows (and other programs) setup is specific to the particular hardware it's installed on.

Quote alexis:

---

1) Best if it's also a SATA right, so I don't have to worry about the connection to the motherboard, just disconnect and reconnect at the HDD?

---

Depending upon the age of the motherboard SATA maybe your only internal option. Either way it's the best.

Quote alexis:

---

2) Should I keep it formatted as a FAT32? I don't mind reformatting it (someone else suggested that NTFS is better for OS), but if it requires BIOS changes, I'm skittish.

---

Nah, if it's being used only on P.C's newer than XP then NTFS all the way. FAT32 may limit you in folder size too if our doing a full back up onto it.

Quote alexis:

---

3) When I buy the new HDD (to replace "Disk 0" in the Paragon backup software screenshot) - how will I know it will physically fit in my computer? Do I bring in the full description of the existing drive (Brand, Model, serial #) to the computer store and ask them to give me something exactly the same size?

---

You want a desktop harddrive as oppose to a laptop one. All desktop ones should be 3.5" sized for the sort of thing you want.

Quote alexis:

---

4) Finally, does the screen shot inside my computer of the existing drive (one post up, I think) look "OK" to you? I've watched some youtubes on how to change out hard drives, and the ones there seem so much more ... accessible I guess is the right word ... than mine.

---

Yours appear to be in caddies for silencing reasons. It's an extra step to get them out, but it shouldn't be too taxing. It's the same removal process except you have a case to crack open after you pull them from the machine.

Quote alexis:

---

WOW ... just as I was becoming comfortable with the idea of swapping out HDDs in my computer, someone just recommended a "SATA USB enclosure" as a way to backup/clone. I went on line and saw something like this: http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/usb-gadgets/e6d9/ . This seems like it could be very clean ...

I wonder though if the USB connection would restrict some files from making it across to the clone target? As far as testing the clone, I could put it in another old computer and see if XP boots up, and if I can use Cubase.

---

It should restrict as a clone is a clone.

It will be damn slow through unless you have a USB3 capable motherbaord connection and a USB3 capable caddie to place the drive in.

An ESATA connector on the motherboard if it has one and on the caddie would be more likely and faster.

--------------------
ScanProAudio & 3XS Audio Systems
ScanProAudio Blog

"The USB-connected drive will behave logically just like any other drive, though rather slower."

I know you did not mean that in this context E.W. but AFAIK you cannot boot and run an os from a usb drive or stick?

Dave.

If I may correct you on that matter....

--------------------
ScanProAudio & 3XS Audio Systems
ScanProAudio Blog