HDD backup / FF update

[Bellzemos]

Hello, I have two unrelated questions, I hope you can help me:

1. I have a laptop with a 500 GB HDD which also has a USB 3.0 port. I'm thinking of buying a WD's 2,5" My Passport Essential external 500 GB HDD (which has a USB 3.0 port too) for backup. Do you think that these HDDs are quite reliable? I would then be doing backup like once or twice a month (so that in case my HDD or any other component of my laptop stops working I would still have all my data saved). Is there any good and simple program which would be able to read and determine which files are newer and need to be copyed from my internal HDD to the external one instead of copying all of the files every time (also the ones which are unchanged)? I know that there comes already a program by WD but I don't like it too much already - too complicated for no reason.

2. I have set my Firefox to automatic update but it still didn't notify me (I sitll have the 4.0 version). If I check manually it says there's an update available, but why not automatically? Is that normal?

Thank you!

[timcan]

Hello, I have two unrelated questions, I hope you can help me:

 I would then be doing backup like once or twice a month (so that in case my HDD or any other component of my laptop stops working I would still have all my data saved). Is there any good and simple program which would be able to read and determine which files are newer and need to be copyed from my internal HDD to the external one instead of copying all of the files every time (also the ones which are unchanged)? I know that there comes already a program by WD but I don't like it too much already - too complicated for no reason.


Thank you!

Hi, I believe win 7 has an imaging program built in that can do full and incremental(changes only) backups.

[bob3160]

I use a WD 1 TB ext. HD for backups and it's been working very well using the
backup feature that comes with windows 7.

[scythe944]

I'll second (or third) the Win 7 built-in backup function.  I actually use the server backup built-in to server 2008 and it seems to work quite well.  I guess I'll really know if it works well if one of my servers goes completely up or exchange falls to its knees.

As for the Firefox update problem, I'm not too sure.  I don't think mine lets me know either.  Just check for updates periodically I guess, maybe it'll be fixed sometime in the future if it is a bug.  I don't use firefox often though, mostly chrome or palemoon.

[Bellzemos]

Thank you guys! I will buy WD's external HDD and probably use the Windows 7 Backup function. About the Firefox - I'll just check periodicaly myself, but that's a weird bug I must say.

[Bellzemos]

I've ordered the ext. HDD, I hope it will work fine. I've been thinking - what about imaging software (like Norton Ghost), is anyone using something like this? So that when your hardware malfunctions (or you get a severe infection) you can just replace the damaged part (or properly format the internal HDD) and use the image you before saved on your external HDD. This way everything is exactly as it was before, right?

To help me understand this... This means that really >>everything<< is restored as it was, let's say, two weeks ago, the Avast will not have the latest update of course, but the system will work perfectly? Are all the system files, I mean, can they be properly restored like that, will there be no problems after restoring the whole system and all the data back to the internal HDD? What about if I restore it on a brand new HDD (if the old one got damaged for example), will it all work as it should then too, even if the new HDD is of another brand and/or size/speed etc.?

Anyone knows how that imaging backup system works? Do I have to do a new image of my whole system everytime I'm doing a backup on my ext. HDD? Or are there incremental updates? Is this a reliable method? Anyone has any experience with imaging backup?

Thank you!

[scythe944]

Here's some info for your questions:

Windows 7 Backup FAQ: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Back-up-and-restore-frequently-asked-questions

Paid Alternatives:

Heard many good things about this: http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/#features

Norton Ghost I've used for years but for a different kind of imaging.  I make one computer exactly how I need it, create an image with ghost and store it on a server, then I deploy it to 30 more computers.  Like, in a computer lab environment for example.

I used the enterprise version of ghost, not the "home" version, so I can't tell you how well or how it works.  I assume that you'd create a full image and possibly be able to create incremental backups after that.

Most of these backup programs (including the windows 7 one, from what I've heard) are able to do bare-metal restores.  Which means, you can take your backup from your PC and have the ability to restore that backup on a machine that has nothing on it, even with dis-similar hardware.  I haven't tried it yet though.  You could give it a try with a VM and see what it does if you have the time.

After a google search, there's a walkthrough for bare-metal restores using Paragon (with video): http://windows7forums.com/blogs/mike/247-how-perform-bare-metal-backup-recovery-video.html

[timcan]

So that when your hardware malfunctions (or you get a severe infection) you can just replace the damaged part (or properly format the internal HDD) and use the image you before saved on your external HDD. This way everything is exactly as it was before, right?

yes

To help me understand this... This means that really >>everything<< is restored as it was, let's say, two weeks ago, the Avast will not have the latest update of course, but the system will work perfectly?

yes, provided your system was working correctly at the time you created the image.

What about if I restore it on a brand new HDD (if the old one got damaged for example), will it all work as it should then too, even if the new HDD is of another brand and/or size/speed etc.?

that is correct.

Do I have to do a new image of my whole system everytime I'm doing a backup on my ext. HDD?

no, not usually.Most imaging programs (especially paid ones) have incremental and/or differential options.

Or are there incremental updates? Is this a reliable method?

I've found it reliable. I usually create a full image backup on the first of each month and incrementals the rest of the month. I've never had any problems restoring any of them.

Hope that is of some help. 

[Joe S]

I use Acronis True Image. I run the backup from the rescue CD. That loads a temp Linux app and nothing else is running that eliminates the problem of some auto update or background scan. I also partitioned the HD with system and programs on one and data on the other. A system restore takes about 15 min or less. They have a good forum with a lot of helpful stuff posted to. If you have a driver problem with with the rescue CD they will make you a custom ISO.
Joe

[Joe S]

One more thing with these external drives. Always remove them properly don't just yank the plug. That may cause data corruption.
Joe

[Bellzemos]

You mean that I should use the tray icon to safely remove the HDD instead of just pulling out the USB cable? I'm doing it the right way, always.

So I should take a look into that Acronis program and their forum... So, Acronis over Norton Ghost?