How many of you guys clone your computer to an external hard drive ? I have alawys backed everying up- but now I am being told I should back up the entire OS to be able to get back not only all my data- but also the entire OS and programs should it crash <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />.I have a new laptop-new MAC desktop- and another new Dell desktop.I bought a couple external hard drives that hold ridiculous amounts of storage but they were under 100 bucks <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" />!! What program are you guys using to do this ? And- how good is it other than just backing up docs. I am running Windows 7 on the Dell and laptop. On the Mac........it is it's own creature that we are getting used to. Any advice greatly appreciated <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />-Thanks Guys

Ordwag, I thought cloneing was Illegal! Seriously I can't help you. I have heard of doing that but never have tried. Maybe one of our Computer Guru's will step in and give ya a hand. I hope you, your wife, kids and their families are all doing well. Take care my friend. Closest I had was I had a computer once that had a tape backup drive set to automatically backthings up.

It is important to backup your install of Windows 7 OS. Mainly because very few if any companies give you a Windows install disc with the purchase of your PC anymore. If your PC ever crashes in an unrecoverable way, you will not be able to restore your PC and have a useless POS. You would then need to request a reinstall disc or some other pain-in-the-rear process.

In Windows 7, it is really easy to avoid this situation. Click on the start button in your task bar. That's the little circle Windows logo thing(I'm not trying to insult your intelligence with my wording. I just have no idea of your Windows-fu level and want to be clear and concise). In the text bar type "backup."

Once the window opens, you will have to click on "setup backup" since, I assume, this is your first time doing it. Then it is pretty simple. Just pick your back up medium (use one of your external hard drives and if you want to be really redundant, which is always good when talking about data, do it again to a writable dvd/bluray). The onscreen instruction are pretty easy to follow from there.

Feel free to message me if you need anymore help with it. I can always get on Skype or some other instant messaging app and walk you through it too.

As for the MAC. You are on you own. I am sure with even rookie Google-fu you can find a how to on it.

JJ, thank you! Even I can get it started from your directions and I am not the most literate computer person out there.

If you are running Mac OS X 10.5 or 10.6 it has Time Machine built in. Just connect an external HD and it will ask if you want to use it for Time Machine backups. The drive will need to be formatted as Mac OS extended and the OS will prompt you to reformat it. Once set up it will back up the entire hard drive(except items you exclude , if any) and will then back up new or modified files every hour as long as the drive is connected.

You can activate Time Machine and go back to a specific date before you deleted that important document and restore just that document. It is very slick and works great, the only drawback is you cannot boot from the backup, but you can restore everything if the main hard drive fails.

If you want a bootable clone use Superduper or Carbon Copy Cloner. They will make exact clones of your HD on the external HD and it will be bootable. Both of them also have incremental backups after the initial full backup.

BTW - It's Mac not MAC. MAC stands for Media Access Control address. Completely different <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Sorry, pet peeve. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Thanks Guys !!! Sorry about the MAC and not Mac Ted <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/paperbag.gif" alt="" />.I checked out the Time Machine and will do format as suggested to external. I had looked at http://clonezilla.org/ but will also now check out Superduper and CCC.I was more looking for a bootable clone as you suggested as I already do other massive backups.

JJ- great description on how to backup Windows 7 as this is first time I remember not receiving a hard disc <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />? I just did this last night and all was good and secure ( I think) Thanks for your easy to follow steps. I will pass it on to my daughter who is doing her laptop as I type. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

I guess I am being a bit of a freak- but I just like to backup everything. My wife is getting to use the Mac way more than me and I am a more than jealous <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />.many have told me to go to Mac- I thought it was just hype. It surely is not !! Back at it-Thanks Guys-I can always count on you <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />!!
Randy- probably best get rid of that zip drive and upgrade a tad <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> !! JK-Thanks,Bob <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I personally use Time Machine and Superduper, but I have 8 or 9 TBs of storage. I'm kinda paranoid about backing up.

If you are new to Mac, take a look at these resources. They will help a lot. Especially, the switch 101 tutorials if you are used to Windows

http://www.apple.com/findouthow/mac/

http://www.apple.com/support/mac101/

http://www.apple.com/support/switch101

Thanks Ted <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />. I spent the afternoon looking over the different apps on the Mac and am thinking about getting either a Mac laptop- or an IPad. I just bought a new laptop with Windows 7 for travel- but like something to carry with me at all times. Either laptop or IPad. The laptop for travel didn't cost much- so if the TSA guys knock it around- no biggie. I will leave the Mac device home when I fly. Now-I just need to make up my mind whether I want a notebook(Mac) or an IPad. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/banghead.gif" alt="" />
I am really liking the OS on the Mac. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I really need to activate time machine for my Mac. I lost a few important files the other day and it wouldve been an easy fix with time machine. just am hard headed but now that I'm dealing with files for work I can't really afford to loose stuff like that agian.

another thing I plan to start doing at the beginning of the year is to pack files in a password protected disk images and upload them to a server once a month. if there is a is fire, theft, or I'm just somewhere else I can still get to the files. all of the stuff is already in the mac os and freeware can handle the rest.