HARD DRIVES

How To Back Up – Cloning

In this article I want to explain one general method for how to back up your computer, something you call “cloning”.  I won’t go into the long list of reasons why it is absolutely essential that you back up on a regularly, but I will give you some options on methods you can keep your data safe, with information for both Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac computers.

To start we’re going to define “cloning” backups.

Cloning means making a perfect copy of your PC’s hard drive, most frequently to a secondary internal hard disk drive, or preferably, an external hard drive which is stored off except during the backup process. You do this to minimize wear and tear and keep it more reliable.

When done the right way, when you clone a drive, the clone will be one you can “boot” from. That means, you can start your computer up from that drive in exactly the same way you normally get going with your normal drive.

The big benefit of using a bootable backup copy of your drive is that it minimizes downtime and expense. Frequently, you can start your computer up from the external drive and you’ll be back using your computer again in just a couple of minutes. 

Starting your computer up from the backup drive like this isn’t a long-term solution. But if you’re waiting on a new drive or you’re trying to get an appointment with a computer shop to replace the bad drive after it breaks down you can at least get work done while you’re waiting and everything will be just how you had it when you last duplicated the drive.

Cloning your drive in this way can also save you money by minimizing the time spent by a technician repairing your Mac or PC.  In many cases the tech can simply take the external hard drive out of the case and put it into the computer in place of a bad hard drive, then put the new replacement drive into the external case.

This can take as little as 10-20 minutes to get you back up and running again, instead of potentially hours of time.

It’s too bad there are so few options for doing this with a Windows computer. While Mac users tend to have more options, it’s still something you can do on just about any computer.

We’ve discovered a couple of options that will clone your hard drive like this for Windows, both of them are free (although there are a couple of caveats on that which we can explain in a moment).

The first option, which makes these 100% “cloned” copies is a program named XXClone.  This is a completely free program which does a good job — I use it myself that I use myself}.  The single problem with this program is that it only works properly with Windows XP — it’s unfortunately not compatible with Windows Vista or Windows 7. To find it, just search for XXClone.

Another choice for Windows users that does seem to work with all versions of Windows is Seagate DiscWizard (what used to be called Maxtor MaxBlast).You can get Discwizard for free! Just Google it.

The one minor hitch to this is that for it to run, you have to have at least one of your hard drives to be either a Seagate or Maxtor brand drive – either works because Seagate bought Maxtor a while ago.

Mac users have a few options including one called SuperDuper” plus another called Carbon Copy Cloner. SuperDuper is inexpensive, CCC is free (but appreciates donations).

Both are good programs, but I’ve been using Carbon Copy Cloner for around a decade now as my first method of backup and so it’s what I suggest to my clients. Either work in fundamentally the same way, so basically anything I say about CCC applies equally to SuperDuper.

Unlike Seagate Discwizard on Microsoft Windows computers, CCC doesn’t require any specific brand of hard drive, and unlike XXClone (which you recall only works with Windows XP) should work with pretty much any fairly recent Mac.

On either kind of computer, the time it takes to complete the backup can vary quite a bit depending on how much you have on your hard drive, and what kind of connector (USB, Firewire, eSATA) you use for the external drive. To do a complete backup it can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours in extreme cases. But that would mainly be on PCs with extremely large collections of video, music, and pictures.

But if you do back up your computer like this, you have a backup that will save you cash and frustration when the inevitable occurs. Arming yourself with some computer tutorials will be a big help too.

2011 Apple Mac Desk Setup Tour Mid 2011 [HD]

R&M Apple Cookie Cutter $0.95 Ideal for fall parties, or for giving to a teacher, apple shaped cookies can be lots of fun to decorate. Great for cutting lunchbox sandwiches and for crafting too!…

Macbook A1342 13 LCD Screen Top (Back) (Lid) Cover $100.00 Macbook A1342 13″ LCD Screen Top (Back) (Lid) Cover…

I Heart Apple Coffee Mug $15.95 Bite into your day with an I heart Apple Coffee Mug…

The Beatles [USB] $281.00 All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed….

Classic Christmas Carols $8.94 All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed….

Dynex Mini DVI to VGA Adapter for Apple Notebooks $3.49 This device is perfect for converting your apple notebooks to video projectors for presentations to teams and groups. It allows you to have the option of using a VGA monitor as a larger viewing area than the oringal lap top screen provides….

Silverhill 20 Piece Tool Kit for Apple Products $9.99 New from Silverhill Tools is a useful kit that helps with doing many of the routine tasks associated with Mac ownership, including accessing memory slots or opening housings. Includes 5 screwdrivers: Pentalobe size 1, Pentalobe size 5, flat, phillips, and Triwing. Includes 9 L keys: 3 hex keys and 6 star keys. 2 Spudgers. Sim adapter kit for reducing your SIM to a microsim, including SIM ejec…

Wireless IP Pan/Tilt/ Night Vision Internet Surveillance Camera Built-in Microphone With Phone remote monitoring support(Black) $46.88 Specs: Image Compression Format: M-JPEG standard Image Resolution: VGA(640×480) / QVGA(320×240) Sensor: 1/4 inch CMOS, 300,000 Pixels Light frequency: 50Hz, 60Hz or Outdoor Audio compression: ADPCM Data rate: 802.11b: 11Mbps (Max.), 802.11g: 54Mbps (Max.) Ethernet: One 10/100Mbps RJ-45 Viewing angle: 67? Horizontal Rotating Angle: 0~270? Vertical Rotating Angle: 0~120? Alarm Mode: motion detection…

Silverhill Tools Pentalobe Screwdriver Size TS1 for iPhone 4 (2nd generation) $4.99 In late 2010, Apple switched the screw style on the iPhone, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro from a standard Phillips screwdriver to a 5 point star screwdriver size TS1. Before selecting this screwdriver for purchase, all customers should look at the bottom of their iPhone 4 and see if it has a “plus” or a “star” screw. These will be the screws on either side of the Apple connector. 100% of these s…

Welcome to Macintosh $8.21 Celebrate the wonderful world of the Mac with this documentary that pays loving tribute to Apple computers. Highlighted by an overview of the history of Apple, Inc. and an examination of how the company revolutionized home computing, the film also includes interviews with a variety of tech experts that present insight into the little machine that could. AKA: “Welcome to Macintosh: The Documentary …