Will O'the Wisp ([info]wotw) wrote,
@ 2009-06-11 20:45:00
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A word to the wise
In addition to backing up my hard drive regularly, I clone it once a a month
or so. (A clone creates an exact, bit-by-bit copy of the drive, including
all the system files, executables, etc.)

My laptop is down for a few days (waiting for delivery of a new motherboard).
So I borrowed a laptop from one of [info]naiad1's kids, plugged in my
clone, and I am up and running.

This laptop won't actually boot off the clone (different hardware needs
different drivers) but to my surprise, almost all my software runs just
fine, and for all practical purposes this is just like having my own
computer back. I should have done this a few days ago when my computer
first went down.

I always figured the clone would get me back up and running in an instant if
my hard drive ever died; I hadn't stopped to think that it would do the
same if the computer itself crashed. This is GREAT.

Clone your hard drive!

(6 comments) - (Post a new comment)


[info]miss_chance
2009-06-12 04:34 am UTC (link)
Do you have cloning tools you recommend?

Edited at 2009-06-12 04:34 am UTC

(Reply to this) (Thread)

(Anonymous)
2009-06-12 04:43 am UTC (link)
Apricorn or Acronis.

Acronis is my most hated program for backups, but it's great
good for cloning.

I continue to be astonished at how completely up-and-running
I am. I have the clone plugged into a USB port, where it shows
up as a second hard drive. All my files are there of course,
and all my software is there of course, but what keeps astonishing
me is that all the software actually *runs* even though it's
never been officially installed on this computer.

TeX runs. 4NT runs. Cygwin runs. SmartDraw runs. ANW runs.
Pretty much everything else runs.

As I said in the post but feel compelled to say again: I always
knew the clone would save my ass if my hard drive died. I had
no idea it would so thoroughly save my ass if my *computer* died.
It's almost as if I've got my own computer back. I know, I know,
I said that already. But this is really really good.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]wotw
2009-06-12 04:45 am UTC (link)
Oops. Forgot I was logged out when I posted that.

That's the other thing that's wonderful, by the way. I have all
my saved passwords. The only reason I was logged out of LJ was
because I didn't want to make the mistake of leaving myself
logged in when I return this borrowed computer.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]miss_chance
2009-06-12 04:48 am UTC (link)
That sounds pretty awesome. I think I'll back up my hard drive tonight, just because it's been that kind of week. And will probably go ahead and buy Acronis (and an external drive large enough to hold a full clone) on the stength of this recommendation. I kind of flip out far out of proportion to the actual trauma when something happens to my computer.

Edited at 2009-06-12 04:49 am UTC

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]sunspiral
2009-06-12 05:01 am UTC (link)
I use Acronis True Image Echo Workstation so that I can do a bare-metal restore if necessary.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]cos
2009-06-13 12:31 am UTC (link)
I've been using SuperDuper on the Mac for years, to maintain a bootable copy of my hard drive on an external drive on my desk, which I update a couple of times a week. If I hook it up to a MacBook's firewire port I can boot the MacBook from it and it's just like using mine.

(Reply to this)

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