Backing it all up

August 19, 2007

Having three C drive failures in just two and a half years requiring me to

reinstall and re-set up every program I use (which I'm doing now) makes me

wonder if it's possible to copy/backup my entire new C drive to a

comparable slave for switching out when this new primary master also goes

belly-up down the road.

I've replaced enough internal hard drives now to know how to switch them and

their jumper pins so the mechanics aren't a problem. But will this

duplicating idea work to give me a fresh bootable functioning Windows et al

with a minimum of trouble?

My thanks in advance for your experience and insight.

calamity carol

August 19, 2007

Re: Backing it all up

BootIt NG will do what you want for free. http://www.bootitng.com. Download the

executable, run it to create a bootable installation floppy or CD, boot to

that (after installing the drive), CANCEL the installation, then use

Partition Work to Copy your C:\ partition to the backup drive.

--

Gary S. Terhune

MS-MVP Shell/User

http://www.grystmill.com

"caroloyl" <caroloyl@gmail-expungethis.com> wrote in message

news:faa3en02nj0@enews2.newsguy.com...

> Having three C drive failures in just two and a half years requiring me to

> reinstall and re-set up every program I use (which I'm doing now) makes me

> wonder if it's possible to copy/backup my entire new C drive to a

> comparable slave for switching out when this new primary master also goes

> belly-up down the road.

>

> I've replaced enough internal hard drives now to know how to switch them

> and

> their jumper pins so the mechanics aren't a problem. But will this

> duplicating idea work to give me a fresh bootable functioning Windows et

> al

> with a minimum of trouble?

>

> My thanks in advance for your experience and insight.

>

> calamity carol

>

August 19, 2007

Re: Backing it all up

I should mention that a better solution is to get an external HD, and use a

decent backup program, like Acronis True Image, to make regular images of

your system to the external drive. Then all you have to do if the drive goes

bad is to install a new one and use the bootable CD method to restore the

latest image to the new drive. That way *everything* you've done on the old

drive, up to the date of the latest image, including tweaks and personal

data, is restored to the new drive, bootable and all.

--

Gary S. Terhune

MS-MVP Shell/User

http://www.grystmill.com

"Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message

news:eHqkgWp4HHA.3900@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

> BootIt NG will do what you want for free. http://www.bootitng.com. Download the

> executable, run it to create a bootable installation floppy or CD, boot to

> that (after installing the drive), CANCEL the installation, then use

> Partition Work to Copy your C:\ partition to the backup drive.

>

> --

> Gary S. Terhune

> MS-MVP Shell/User

> http://www.grystmill.com

>

> "caroloyl" <caroloyl@gmail-expungethis.com> wrote in message

> news:faa3en02nj0@enews2.newsguy.com...

>> Having three C drive failures in just two and a half years requiring me

>> to

>> reinstall and re-set up every program I use (which I'm doing now) makes

>> me

>> wonder if it's possible to copy/backup my entire new C drive to a

>> comparable slave for switching out when this new primary master also goes

>> belly-up down the road.

>>

>> I've replaced enough internal hard drives now to know how to switch them

>> and

>> their jumper pins so the mechanics aren't a problem. But will this

>> duplicating idea work to give me a fresh bootable functioning Windows et

>> al

>> with a minimum of trouble?

>>

>> My thanks in advance for your experience and insight.

>>

>> calamity carol

>>

>

August 20, 2007

Re: Backing it all up

+1 on Gary's suggestion. I use Acronis, backing up to an internal HD. My

primary is actually a RAID 0, but, I have 5 HD's in this machine. If one

craps out, I can restore to another and replace at my liesure. The nice

part about an external HD is that you can keep it in a safe place away from

your machine....in the event of a theft or fire, etc. Acronis True Image

is a great program, I highly recommend it.

Heirloom, old and do have backups

"Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message

news:%23EdAmap4HHA.3684@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

>I should mention that a better solution is to get an external HD, and use a

>decent backup program, like Acronis True Image, to make regular images of

>your system to the external drive. Then all you have to do if the drive

>goes bad is to install a new one and use the bootable CD method to restore

>the latest image to the new drive. That way *everything* you've done on the

>old drive, up to the date of the latest image, including tweaks and

>personal data, is restored to the new drive, bootable and all.

>

> --

> Gary S. Terhune

> MS-MVP Shell/User

> http://www.grystmill.com

>

> "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message

> news:eHqkgWp4HHA.3900@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

>> BootIt NG will do what you want for free. http://www.bootitng.com. Download the

>> executable, run it to create a bootable installation floppy or CD, boot

>> to that (after installing the drive), CANCEL the installation, then use

>> Partition Work to Copy your C:\ partition to the backup drive.

>>

>> --

>> Gary S. Terhune

>> MS-MVP Shell/User

>> http://www.grystmill.com

>>

>> "caroloyl" <caroloyl@gmail-expungethis.com> wrote in message

>> news:faa3en02nj0@enews2.newsguy.com...

>>> Having three C drive failures in just two and a half years requiring me

>>> to

>>> reinstall and re-set up every program I use (which I'm doing now) makes

>>> me

>>> wonder if it's possible to copy/backup my entire new C drive to a

>>> comparable slave for switching out when this new primary master also

>>> goes

>>> belly-up down the road.

>>>

>>> I've replaced enough internal hard drives now to know how to switch them

>>> and

>>> their jumper pins so the mechanics aren't a problem. But will this

>>> duplicating idea work to give me a fresh bootable functioning Windows et

>>> al

>>> with a minimum of trouble?

>>>

>>> My thanks in advance for your experience and insight.

>>>

>>> calamity carol

>>>

>>

>

August 20, 2007

Re: Backing it all up

May as well add that an even more perfect solution is to have TWO external

drives dedicated to backup, swapping them every week and storing the

disconnected one offsite. This can either be two complete external drives,

or two drives using one external enclosure (former is easier, latter is

cheaper.)

--

Gary S. Terhune

MS-MVP Shell/User

http://www.grystmill.com

"Heirloom" <roland58XX@suddenlink.net> wrote in message

news:Og1aNBs4HHA.1164@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

> +1 on Gary's suggestion. I use Acronis, backing up to an internal HD. My

> primary is actually a RAID 0, but, I have 5 HD's in this machine. If one

> craps out, I can restore to another and replace at my liesure. The nice

> part about an external HD is that you can keep it in a safe place away

> from your machine....in the event of a theft or fire, etc. Acronis True

> Image is a great program, I highly recommend it.

> Heirloom, old and do have backups

>

> "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message

> news:%23EdAmap4HHA.3684@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

>>I should mention that a better solution is to get an external HD, and use

>>a decent backup program, like Acronis True Image, to make regular images

>>of your system to the external drive. Then all you have to do if the drive

>>goes bad is to install a new one and use the bootable CD method to restore

>>the latest image to the new drive. That way *everything* you've done on

>>the old drive, up to the date of the latest image, including tweaks and

>>personal data, is restored to the new drive, bootable and all.

>>

>> --

>> Gary S. Terhune

>> MS-MVP Shell/User

>> http://www.grystmill.com

>>

>> "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message

>> news:eHqkgWp4HHA.3900@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

>>> BootIt NG will do what you want for free. http://www.bootitng.com. Download the

>>> executable, run it to create a bootable installation floppy or CD, boot

>>> to that (after installing the drive), CANCEL the installation, then use

>>> Partition Work to Copy your C:\ partition to the backup drive.

>>>

>>> --

>>> Gary S. Terhune

>>> MS-MVP Shell/User

>>> http://www.grystmill.com

>>>

>>> "caroloyl" <caroloyl@gmail-expungethis.com> wrote in message

>>> news:faa3en02nj0@enews2.newsguy.com...

>>>> Having three C drive failures in just two and a half years requiring me

>>>> to

>>>> reinstall and re-set up every program I use (which I'm doing now) makes

>>>> me

>>>> wonder if it's possible to copy/backup my entire new C drive to a

>>>> comparable slave for switching out when this new primary master also

>>>> goes

>>>> belly-up down the road.

>>>>

>>>> I've replaced enough internal hard drives now to know how to switch

>>>> them and

>>>> their jumper pins so the mechanics aren't a problem. But will this

>>>> duplicating idea work to give me a fresh bootable functioning Windows

>>>> et al

>>>> with a minimum of trouble?

>>>>

>>>> My thanks in advance for your experience and insight.

>>>>

>>>> calamity carol

>>>>

>>>

>>

>

August 20, 2007

Re: Backing it all up

Well, if you are going that far...........you may as well add having a web

based backup (if you trust it, I don't).

Heirloom, old and don't trust anything

"Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message

news:uEj4pGs4HHA.4184@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

> May as well add that an even more perfect solution is to have TWO external

> drives dedicated to backup, swapping them every week and storing the

> disconnected one offsite. This can either be two complete external drives,

> or two drives using one external enclosure (former is easier, latter is

> cheaper.)

>

> --

> Gary S. Terhune

> MS-MVP Shell/User

> http://www.grystmill.com

>

> "Heirloom" <roland58XX@suddenlink.net> wrote in message

> news:Og1aNBs4HHA.1164@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

>> +1 on Gary's suggestion. I use Acronis, backing up to an internal HD.

>> My primary is actually a RAID 0, but, I have 5 HD's in this machine. If

>> one craps out, I can restore to another and replace at my liesure. The

>> nice part about an external HD is that you can keep it in a safe place

>> away from your machine....in the event of a theft or fire, etc. Acronis

>> True Image is a great program, I highly recommend it.

>> Heirloom, old and do have backups

>>

>> "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message

>> news:%23EdAmap4HHA.3684@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

>>>I should mention that a better solution is to get an external HD, and use

>>>a decent backup program, like Acronis True Image, to make regular images

>>>of your system to the external drive. Then all you have to do if the

>>>drive goes bad is to install a new one and use the bootable CD method to

>>>restore the latest image to the new drive. That way *everything* you've

>>>done on the old drive, up to the date of the latest image, including

>>>tweaks and personal data, is restored to the new drive, bootable and all.

>>>

>>> --

>>> Gary S. Terhune

>>> MS-MVP Shell/User

>>> http://www.grystmill.com

>>>

>>> "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message

>>> news:eHqkgWp4HHA.3900@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

>>>> BootIt NG will do what you want for free. http://www.bootitng.com. Download

>>>> the executable, run it to create a bootable installation floppy or CD,

>>>> boot to that (after installing the drive), CANCEL the installation,

>>>> then use Partition Work to Copy your C:\ partition to the backup drive.

>>>>

>>>> --

>>>> Gary S. Terhune

>>>> MS-MVP Shell/User

>>>> http://www.grystmill.com

>>>>

>>>> "caroloyl" <caroloyl@gmail-expungethis.com> wrote in message

>>>> news:faa3en02nj0@enews2.newsguy.com...

>>>>> Having three C drive failures in just two and a half years requiring

>>>>> me to

>>>>> reinstall and re-set up every program I use (which I'm doing now)

>>>>> makes me

>>>>> wonder if it's possible to copy/backup my entire new C drive to a

>>>>> comparable slave for switching out when this new primary master also

>>>>> goes

>>>>> belly-up down the road.

>>>>>

>>>>> I've replaced enough internal hard drives now to know how to switch

>>>>> them and

>>>>> their jumper pins so the mechanics aren't a problem. But will this

>>>>> duplicating idea work to give me a fresh bootable functioning Windows

>>>>> et al

>>>>> with a minimum of trouble?

>>>>>

>>>>> My thanks in advance for your experience and insight.

>>>>>

>>>>> calamity carol

>>>>>

>>>>

>>>

>>

>

August 20, 2007

Re: Backing it all up

Too slow, too insecure.

--

Gary S. Terhune

MS-MVP Shell/User

http://www.grystmill.com

"Heirloom" <roland58XX@suddenlink.net> wrote in message

news:ONlcNwt4HHA.748@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

> Well, if you are going that far...........you may as well add having a web

> based backup (if you trust it, I don't).

> Heirloom, old and don't trust anything

>

> "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message

> news:uEj4pGs4HHA.4184@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

>> May as well add that an even more perfect solution is to have TWO

>> external drives dedicated to backup, swapping them every week and storing

>> the disconnected one offsite. This can either be two complete external

>> drives, or two drives using one external enclosure (former is easier,

>> latter is cheaper.)

>>

>> --

>> Gary S. Terhune

>> MS-MVP Shell/User

>> http://www.grystmill.com

>>

>> "Heirloom" <roland58XX@suddenlink.net> wrote in message

>> news:Og1aNBs4HHA.1164@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

>>> +1 on Gary's suggestion. I use Acronis, backing up to an internal HD.

>>> My primary is actually a RAID 0, but, I have 5 HD's in this machine. If

>>> one craps out, I can restore to another and replace at my liesure. The

>>> nice part about an external HD is that you can keep it in a safe place

>>> away from your machine....in the event of a theft or fire, etc.

>>> Acronis True Image is a great program, I highly recommend it.

>>> Heirloom, old and do have backups

>>>

>>> "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message

>>> news:%23EdAmap4HHA.3684@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

>>>>I should mention that a better solution is to get an external HD, and

>>>>use a decent backup program, like Acronis True Image, to make regular

>>>>images of your system to the external drive. Then all you have to do if

>>>>the drive goes bad is to install a new one and use the bootable CD

>>>>method to restore the latest image to the new drive. That way

>>>>*everything* you've done on the old drive, up to the date of the latest

>>>>image, including tweaks and personal data, is restored to the new drive,

>>>>bootable and all.

>>>>

>>>> --

>>>> Gary S. Terhune

>>>> MS-MVP Shell/User

>>>> http://www.grystmill.com

>>>>

>>>> "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message

>>>> news:eHqkgWp4HHA.3900@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

>>>>> BootIt NG will do what you want for free. http://www.bootitng.com. Download

>>>>> the executable, run it to create a bootable installation floppy or CD,

>>>>> boot to that (after installing the drive), CANCEL the installation,

>>>>> then use Partition Work to Copy your C:\ partition to the backup

>>>>> drive.

>>>>>

>>>>> --

>>>>> Gary S. Terhune

>>>>> MS-MVP Shell/User

>>>>> http://www.grystmill.com

>>>>>

>>>>> "caroloyl" <caroloyl@gmail-expungethis.com> wrote in message

>>>>> news:faa3en02nj0@enews2.newsguy.com...

>>>>>> Having three C drive failures in just two and a half years requiring

>>>>>> me to

>>>>>> reinstall and re-set up every program I use (which I'm doing now)

>>>>>> makes me

>>>>>> wonder if it's possible to copy/backup my entire new C drive to a

>>>>>> comparable slave for switching out when this new primary master also

>>>>>> goes

>>>>>> belly-up down the road.

>>>>>>

>>>>>> I've replaced enough internal hard drives now to know how to switch

>>>>>> them and

>>>>>> their jumper pins so the mechanics aren't a problem. But will this

>>>>>> duplicating idea work to give me a fresh bootable functioning Windows

>>>>>> et al

>>>>>> with a minimum of trouble?

>>>>>>

>>>>>> My thanks in advance for your experience and insight.

>>>>>>

>>>>>> calamity carol

>>>>>>

>>>>>

>>>>

>>>

>>

>

August 20, 2007

Re: Backing it all up

"Heirloom" <roland58XX@suddenlink.net> wrote in message

news:ONlcNwt4HHA.748@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

> Well, if you are going that far...........you may as well add having a web

> based backup (if you trust it, I don't).

> Heirloom, old and don't trust anything

>

Off site is a fine solution.

A company may choose to have an IT user, who has to be trusted with data

access, take home the backup media every night.

For your home backup, if moving a backup physically to an offsite location

daily is not feasible, at least move one to a "fire safe" lockbox.

I'd be concerned about speed and security issues with web based.

August 20, 2007

Re: Backing it all up

Eric: I'd be concerned about speed and security issues with web based.

Gary: Too slow, too insecure.

My point exactly.......

Heirloom, old and trust is important

"Eric" <someone@microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:OsEMtNz4HHA.5804@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

>

> "Heirloom" <roland58XX@suddenlink.net> wrote in message

> news:ONlcNwt4HHA.748@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>> Well, if you are going that far...........you may as well add having a

>> web based backup (if you trust it, I don't).

>> Heirloom, old and don't trust anything

>>

>

> Off site is a fine solution.

> A company may choose to have an IT user, who has to be trusted with data

> access, take home the backup media every night.

> For your home backup, if moving a backup physically to an offsite location

> daily is not feasible, at least move one to a "fire safe" lockbox.

> I'd be concerned about speed and security issues with web based.

>

August 20, 2007

Re: Backing it all up

Hey I've only just been able to get my first external never mind getting

two <g> although saying that it would be nice to have another and it would

have been nice to get one with a bigger capacity, it's 80 GB but as it was

a birthday present I can't complain <g> I use it with Acronis TI 10.

Joan

Gary S. Terhune wrote:

> May as well add that an even more perfect solution is to have TWO

> external drives dedicated to backup, swapping them every week and

> storing the disconnected one offsite. This can either be two complete

> external drives, or two drives using one external enclosure (former

> is easier, latter is cheaper.)

>

August 20, 2007

Re: Backing it all up

Baby steps, Joan, baby steps...

--

Gary S. Terhune

MS-MVP Shell/User

http://www.grystmill.com

"Joan Archer" <archer_joan@NOSPAM.com> wrote in message

news:O4GQHC04HHA.5804@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

> Hey I've only just been able to get my first external never mind getting

> two <g> although saying that it would be nice to have another and it would

> have been nice to get one with a bigger capacity, it's 80 GB but as it was

> a birthday present I can't complain <g> I use it with Acronis TI 10.

> Joan

>

> Gary S. Terhune wrote:

>> May as well add that an even more perfect solution is to have TWO

>> external drives dedicated to backup, swapping them every week and

>> storing the disconnected one offsite. This can either be two complete

>> external drives, or two drives using one external enclosure (former

>> is easier, latter is cheaper.)

>>

>

August 21, 2007

Re: Backing it all up

I am not familiar with BootIt NG, but I have been using the /clone

feature of xxcopy (http://www.xxcopy.com), also free, to periodically make a

bootable copy of my hard drive onto one of my normally not installed

hard drives. It seems to work well and can even be run while your are

working on the computer. You just have to run it again to copy any

files/folders that were changed while the first xxcopy /clone was being run.

Assuming you want to copy from the active C: drive to a backup D: drive

the command run from an MS-DOS window would be xxcopy c:\ d:\ /clone .

The xxcopy website has instructions on cloning a Windows ME hard drive.

Tom

Gary S. Terhune wrote:

> BootIt NG will do what you want for free. http://www.bootitng.com. Download the

> executable, run it to create a bootable installation floppy or CD, boot to

> that (after installing the drive), CANCEL the installation, then use

> Partition Work to Copy your C:\ partition to the backup drive.

>

August 21, 2007

Re: Backing it all up

Joan Archer wrote:

|| Hey I've only just been able to get my first external..

|| capacity, it's 80 GB but as it was a birthday present I can't

|| complain <g> I use it with Acronis TI 10.

TI 10 works in ME???!!! I thought v10 only supported XP.

August 21, 2007

Re: Backing it all up

You are correct, Ogg.......Joanie has XP.

Heirloom, old and so do I

"Ogg" <no-spam-wanted@at.all> wrote in message

news:uKmzpR$4HHA.1208@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

> Joan Archer wrote:

> || Hey I've only just been able to get my first external..

> || capacity, it's 80 GB but as it was a birthday present I can't

> || complain <g> I use it with Acronis TI 10.

>

> TI 10 works in ME???!!! I thought v10 only supported XP.

>

August 21, 2007

Re: Backing it all up

Heirloom wrote:

|| You are correct, Ogg.......Joanie has XP.

Ah... ok, so I am not the only ex-ME lurker here. Well.. I still have my

ME machine in use, but I don't use it as much as I do my recently acquired

used Thinkpad (arrived with XPp). I just love the portability of the darn

thing. But I digress. Speaking of backups and cloning - for ME then - what

do the majority of folks here recommend that might still be

available/compatible for ME? I'm still debating on TeraByteunlimited's

ImageForDOS/Windows, or the free xxcopy.

August 21, 2007

Re: Backing it all up

I don't know what the recommended app is, however, on my Me machine, I used

the disk image app that came with the Maxtor drives I installed. I would

simply boot from the image app disk, copy the primary to the slave and that

was my backup. It did come in handy a few times. I know it is not the best

arrangement, if the box had been stolen or a fire, etc. the backup would

have gone with it. I would have been better with a removeable drive (much

faster and less expensive than tape).

The plan at present, is to get a big enough USB external HD for my wife's

laptop (if it ever gets here!), partition it and I will use the same drive

to backup her laptop and my desktop. She will keep the drive in her office

safe. Plus, I have Acronis TI and mulitiple backups on my multiple drives

in the desktop.

Heirloom, old and gotta mow again

"Ogg" <no-spam-wanted@at.all> wrote in message

news:OTrMSSA5HHA.5212@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

> Heirloom wrote:

> || You are correct, Ogg.......Joanie has XP.

>

> Ah... ok, so I am not the only ex-ME lurker here. Well.. I still have

> my ME machine in use, but I don't use it as much as I do my recently

> acquired used Thinkpad (arrived with XPp). I just love the portability of

> the darn thing. But I digress. Speaking of backups and cloning - for ME

> then - what do the majority of folks here recommend that might still be

> available/compatible for ME? I'm still debating on TeraByteunlimited's

> ImageForDOS/Windows, or the free xxcopy.

>

August 21, 2007

Re: Backing it all up

I'll be damned. Wasn't aware of that v. 10 limitation. Gotta revise my

standard advice.

Terabyte Unlimited's is generally good stuff. Been a while since I used

Image for Windows, so I can't recall how easy it is to manage and schedule.

--

Gary S. Terhune

MS-MVP Shell/User

http://www.grystmill.com

"Ogg" <no-spam-wanted@at.all> wrote in message

news:OTrMSSA5HHA.5212@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

> Heirloom wrote:

> || You are correct, Ogg.......Joanie has XP.

>

> Ah... ok, so I am not the only ex-ME lurker here. Well.. I still have

> my ME machine in use, but I don't use it as much as I do my recently

> acquired used Thinkpad (arrived with XPp). I just love the portability of

> the darn thing. But I digress. Speaking of backups and cloning - for ME

> then - what do the majority of folks here recommend that might still be

> available/compatible for ME? I'm still debating on TeraByteunlimited's

> ImageForDOS/Windows, or the free xxcopy.

>

August 21, 2007

Re: Backing it all up

Any advice on the laptops?

I think it will be a while yet before I have money to spare for a new

machine, but I'm thinking of getting a laptop.

The big reason to get a desktop used to be upgradeability, but now that you

practically have to get a whole new machine to upgrade one part anyhow with

all of the changing technology (faster CPU or RAM or even HD may require new

MB...), that doesn't seem as much a factor.

The next reason to get a desktop was that it's cheaper for equivalent

processing power, but since everything is so fast now that the slowest new

laptop should have plenty of power for what I'd likely do with it, that's

not as much a factor.

The last (in no particular order) reason for wanting a desktop would be the

larger viewable area. Can I plug a new big flat panel monitor into any new

laptop? If so, the only remaining question would be if it's worth (a

little?) extra price to get the portability (an even cooler feature if I can

get fast enough secure enough internet for it through a wireless router).

"Ogg" <no-spam-wanted@at.all> wrote in message

news:OTrMSSA5HHA.5212@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

> Heirloom wrote:

> || You are correct, Ogg.......Joanie has XP.

>

> Ah... ok, so I am not the only ex-ME lurker here. Well.. I still have

> my ME machine in use, but I don't use it as much as I do my recently

> acquired used Thinkpad (arrived with XPp). I just love the portability of

> the darn thing. But I digress. Speaking of backups and cloning - for ME

> then - what do the majority of folks here recommend that might still be

> available/compatible for ME? I'm still debating on TeraByteunlimited's

> ImageForDOS/Windows, or the free xxcopy.

>

August 21, 2007

Re: Backing it all up

My thanks to all for sharing ideas and experience, and especially to Gary

for the update CDs that made reinstalling Me SO much easier--I even have a

sane version of IE 6 going now :-)))) In truth, PhotoImpact is my very

worst reinstallation nightmare now because I vigorously customize its

toolbars and palettes and have been unable to root out the record it keeps

of my alterations/preferences in order to back them up.

I've downloaded both cloning programs suggested and will do the deed as soon

as I get a replacement for my failed drive which is only a year and half

old. I have an 80 GB external USB drive that I used to make backups of

backups but it was very slow--"was" meaning that the last time I attempted

to use it it suddenly started making clicking noises (past its warranty--no

RMA remedy for that).

Haven't I read here somewhere that putting a failed HD on ice might enable

salvaging some of its contents? I had a gut feeling to run SmartSync Pro

the night before the disk wouldn't boot (and I got the failure notice)--but

I was too tired to honor it (if only if only!) I actually lost a mere 14

days worth of mail/info/artwork--but some of it I'd really like to have.

carol

"caroloyl" <caroloyl@gmail-expungethis.com> wrote in message

news:faa3en02nj0@enews2.newsguy.com...

> Having three C drive failures in just two and a half years requiring me to

> reinstall and re-set up every program I use (which I'm doing now) makes me

> wonder if it's possible to copy/backup my entire new C drive to a

> comparable slave for switching out when this new primary master also goes

> belly-up down the road.

>

> I've replaced enough internal hard drives now to know how to switch them

and

> their jumper pins so the mechanics aren't a problem. But will this

> duplicating idea work to give me a fresh bootable functioning Windows et

al

> with a minimum of trouble?

>

> My thanks in advance for your experience and insight.

>

> calamity carol

August 21, 2007

Re: Backing it all up

I see Heirloom has given you the answer Ogg, I think you'll find the

majority of the regulars in here run XP it's just that this is home to so

many of us that as well as helping out the people who still run WinME,

which my daughter does and it's part of my network, it's a meeting place

where we can still bounce ideas of each other without getting flamed for

going OT <g>

Joan

Ogg wrote:

> Joan Archer wrote:

>|| Hey I've only just been able to get my first external..

>|| capacity, it's 80 GB but as it was a birthday present I can't

>|| complain <g> I use it with Acronis TI 10.

>

> TI 10 works in ME???!!! I thought v10 only supported XP.

August 21, 2007

Re: Backing it all up

The external HD certainly sounds like it's on its way out. Can you still

access it and copy files off? For a replacement, I recommend a USB2 device

(most are) and if you don't have native USB2 on your system, get a USB2 card

(if you have a PCI slot available.)

As for the other drive... You can't get into it to save your data? Have you

run floppy-based diagnostics on it?

--

Gary S. Terhune

MS-MVP Shell/User

http://www.grystmill.com

"caroloyl" <caroloyl@gmail-expungethis.com> wrote in message

news:fafek90saf@enews4.newsguy.com...

> My thanks to all for sharing ideas and experience, and especially to Gary

> for the update CDs that made reinstalling Me SO much easier--I even have a

> sane version of IE 6 going now :-)))) In truth, PhotoImpact is my very

> worst reinstallation nightmare now because I vigorously customize its

> toolbars and palettes and have been unable to root out the record it keeps

> of my alterations/preferences in order to back them up.

>

> I've downloaded both cloning programs suggested and will do the deed as

> soon

> as I get a replacement for my failed drive which is only a year and half

> old. I have an 80 GB external USB drive that I used to make backups of

> backups but it was very slow--"was" meaning that the last time I attempted

> to use it it suddenly started making clicking noises (past its

> warranty--no

> RMA remedy for that).

>

> Haven't I read here somewhere that putting a failed HD on ice might enable

> salvaging some of its contents? I had a gut feeling to run SmartSync Pro

> the night before the disk wouldn't boot (and I got the failure

> notice)--but

> I was too tired to honor it (if only if only!) I actually lost a mere 14

> days worth of mail/info/artwork--but some of it I'd really like to have.

>

> carol

>

> "caroloyl" <caroloyl@gmail-expungethis.com> wrote in message

> news:faa3en02nj0@enews2.newsguy.com...

>> Having three C drive failures in just two and a half years requiring me

>> to

>> reinstall and re-set up every program I use (which I'm doing now) makes

>> me

>> wonder if it's possible to copy/backup my entire new C drive to a

>> comparable slave for switching out when this new primary master also goes

>> belly-up down the road.

>>

>> I've replaced enough internal hard drives now to know how to switch them

> and

>> their jumper pins so the mechanics aren't a problem. But will this

>> duplicating idea work to give me a fresh bootable functioning Windows et

> al

>> with a minimum of trouble?

>>

>> My thanks in advance for your experience and insight.

>>

>> calamity carol

>

August 22, 2007

Re: Backing it all up

Ah.. well, then that's great cuz' I was beginning to feel like a betrayer

or something. I haven't given up entirely on my ME system. It's just that I

haven't used it as much lately since I got my new (used) laptop - albiet

already pre-installed with XP - and I really need to do a proper full backup

of the aged WinMe desktop box before I replace some parts on it. Then the

plan is to implement Ubuntu on the old WinMe box. Interestingly, I don't

seem to be missing much on my ME pc. I don't really need the loads of old

email. I do however, miss my usual web design program and assocated

collection of files and widgets. Unfortunately, Me just hasn't been able to

cooperate with a couple of upgrades I put into the box recently.

Joan Archer wrote:

|| I see Heirloom has given you the answer Ogg, I think you'll find the

|| majority of the regulars in here run XP it's just that this is home

|| to so many of us that as well as helping out the people who still

|| run WinME, which my daughter does and it's part of my network, it's

|| a meeting place where we can still bounce ideas of each other

|| without getting flamed for going OT <g>

August 22, 2007

Re: Backing it all up

The only advice I can give on the laptops is to shop around and get the

features and equipment that you want. I ended up ordering a Dell Inspiron

1721, AMD Turion 64 x 2 TL-56 (1.8GHz/1MB)......it is the one my wife wanted

and I specified the hardware based on her intended use. It has a 17"

screen......considerably larger than my first desktop.

Heirloom, old and estimated ship

date of Aug 25th, now. We shall see.

"Eric" <someone@microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:%23JZ35LC5HHA.4880@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

> Any advice on the laptops?

> I think it will be a while yet before I have money to spare for a new

> machine, but I'm thinking of getting a laptop.

>

> The big reason to get a desktop used to be upgradeability, but now that

> you practically have to get a whole new machine to upgrade one part anyhow

> with all of the changing technology (faster CPU or RAM or even HD may

> require new MB...), that doesn't seem as much a factor.

>

> The next reason to get a desktop was that it's cheaper for equivalent

> processing power, but since everything is so fast now that the slowest new

> laptop should have plenty of power for what I'd likely do with it, that's

> not as much a factor.

>

> The last (in no particular order) reason for wanting a desktop would be

> the larger viewable area. Can I plug a new big flat panel monitor into

> any new laptop? If so, the only remaining question would be if it's worth

> (a little?) extra price to get the portability (an even cooler feature if

> I can get fast enough secure enough internet for it through a wireless

> router).

>

> "Ogg" <no-spam-wanted@at.all> wrote in message

> news:OTrMSSA5HHA.5212@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>> Heirloom wrote:

>> || You are correct, Ogg.......Joanie has XP.

>>

>> Ah... ok, so I am not the only ex-ME lurker here. Well.. I still have

>> my ME machine in use, but I don't use it as much as I do my recently

>> acquired used Thinkpad (arrived with XPp). I just love the portability

>> of the darn thing. But I digress. Speaking of backups and cloning - for

>> ME then - what do the majority of folks here recommend that might still

>> be available/compatible for ME? I'm still debating on

>> TeraByteunlimited's ImageForDOS/Windows, or the free xxcopy.

>>

>

August 22, 2007

Re: Backing it all up

Eric wrote:

|| Any advice on the laptops?

|| I think it will be a while yet before I have money to spare for a new

|| machine, but I'm thinking of getting a laptop.

Your "reasons.. comparisons" are quite valid. I juggled much of the same

things in my mind when I settled for the brand and model that I currently

have: Thinkpad T40p. My primary requirement was thinness and weight. I

didn't want anything heavier than 5 lbs. The TP is only 1" thick when

closed. A wider/larger screen would have been nice (it's only 14.1"), but

I've quite aclimated to it, no problem. A couple of fine selling points

that my laptop featured: an extended 9-cell battery (runs for 6 hours), and

the seller included the full Office 2007 suite. The seller had also

upgraded the unit with a much larger drive than the original (from 40gig,

5400rpm to 60gig 7200rpm), a total of 768meg ram up from 512meg. CDRW/DVD,

Intel Pentium M, integrated wireless. No dead pixels. 4 years old. Was

hard to ignore at $550.

|| The last (in no particular order) reason for wanting a desktop would

|| be the larger viewable area. Can I plug a new big flat panel

|| monitor into any new laptop? If so, the only remaining question

|| would be if it's worth (a little?) extra price to get the

|| portability (an even cooler feature if I can get fast enough secure

|| enough internet for it through a wireless router).

Most laptops allow adding external monitors and keyboards. I really like

the feel of the TP keyboard; I'm not moved to consider an external keyboard

at all Definitely consider "integrated wireless"; that way you don't have

to cope with an awkward PCMCIA card sticking out the side of your computer.

Wow.. this is w-a-y offtopic. I hope the ng police will forgive me.

August 22, 2007

Re: Backing it all up

Hi Gary

It's been a few months since the USB drive started complaining--and I

haven't had courage to plug it in since. I'm in the same kettle with the

recently failed C drive but will definitely attempt to give it a spin this

week: I need to talk with Samsung before its three years are up and I'm a

right terrible procrastinator :-b

Is there anything I need to do to it besides setting the jumpers for slavery

then plugging it in as D or E (have plugs for a secondary slave)? I haven't

run any diagnostics--boot screen told me it was a failure and the BIOS

couldn't detect it. Replacing it with a new drive has fixed me up,

hopefully for at least another year and a half ;-)

carol

"Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message

news:uNMUyMD5HHA.1148@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

> The external HD certainly sounds like it's on its way out. Can you still

> access it and copy files off? For a replacement, I recommend a USB2 device

> (most are) and if you don't have native USB2 on your system, get a USB2

card

> (if you have a PCI slot available.)

>

> As for the other drive... You can't get into it to save your data? Have

you

> run floppy-based diagnostics on it?

>

> --

> Gary S. Terhune

> MS-MVP Shell/User

> http://www.grystmill.com

>

> "caroloyl" <caroloyl@gmail-expungethis.com> wrote in message

> news:fafek90saf@enews4.newsguy.com...

> > My thanks to all for sharing ideas and experience, and especially to

Gary

> > for the update CDs that made reinstalling Me SO much easier--I even have

a

> > sane version of IE 6 going now :-)))) In truth, PhotoImpact is my very

> > worst reinstallation nightmare now because I vigorously customize its

> > toolbars and palettes and have been unable to root out the record it

keeps

> > of my alterations/preferences in order to back them up.

> >

> > I've downloaded both cloning programs suggested and will do the deed as

> > soon

> > as I get a replacement for my failed drive which is only a year and half

> > old. I have an 80 GB external USB drive that I used to make backups of

> > backups but it was very slow--"was" meaning that the last time I

attempted

> > to use it it suddenly started making clicking noises (past its

> > warranty--no

> > RMA remedy for that).

> >

> > Haven't I read here somewhere that putting a failed HD on ice might

enable

> > salvaging some of its contents? I had a gut feeling to run SmartSync

Pro

> > the night before the disk wouldn't boot (and I got the failure

> > notice)--but

> > I was too tired to honor it (if only if only!) I actually lost a mere

14

> > days worth of mail/info/artwork--but some of it I'd really like to have.

> >

> > carol

> >

> > "caroloyl" <caroloyl@gmail-expungethis.com> wrote in message

> > news:faa3en02nj0@enews2.newsguy.com...

> >> Having three C drive failures in just two and a half years requiring me

> >> to

> >> reinstall and re-set up every program I use (which I'm doing now) makes

> >> me

> >> wonder if it's possible to copy/backup my entire new C drive to a

> >> comparable slave for switching out when this new primary master also

goes

> >> belly-up down the road.

> >>

> >> I've replaced enough internal hard drives now to know how to switch

them

> > and

> >> their jumper pins so the mechanics aren't a problem. But will this

> >> duplicating idea work to give me a fresh bootable functioning Windows

et

> > al

> >> with a minimum of trouble?

> >>

> >> My thanks in advance for your experience and insight.

> >>

> >> calamity carol

> >

>

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