Hi Guys
I don’t backup my whole computer the only thing I do backup is documents that I’ve been working on either using Word or PowerPoint and I back these documents up using a flash drive memory stick. When people say they make copy’s of there computers do they mean making copy’s of the computer using something like this? http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B005X7AXXE/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1394288919&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX110_SY165
Or would this not work to backup the computer?
My question basically is that I’m quite interested in back ups and was just wondering what kind of thing I’d need to buy if I was to go about backing up my computer?
Thanks a lot guys! 
Hi Guys
I don’t backup my whole computer the only thing I do backup is documents that I’ve been working on either using Word or PowerPoint and I back these documents up using a flash drive memory stick. When people say they make copy’s of there computers do they mean making copy’s of the computer using something like this? http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B005X7AXXE/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1394288919&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX110_SY165
Or would this not work to backup the computer?
My question basically is that I’m quite interested in back ups and was just wondering what kind of thing I’d need to buy if I was to go about backing up my computer?
Thanks a lot guys!
Hi Apostolos
Wow!
Thanks for all the information! These programs seem very helpful and when I decide to back up I will be taking your advice on these programs!
Thanks a lot
AudiA1 wrote:
Hi Guys
I don't backup my whole computer the only thing I do backup is documents that I've been working on either using Word or PowerPoint and I back these documents up using a flash drive memory stick. When people say they make copy's of there computers do they mean making copy's of the computer using something like this? http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B005X7AXXE/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1394288919&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX110_SY165
Or would this not work to backup the computer?
My question basically is that I'm quite interested in back ups and was just wondering what kind of thing I'd need to buy if I was to go about backing up my computer?
Thanks a lot guys! :)
Hi
The topic is diverse in opinions but I'll offer my 2¢ on it and provide my backup routine and programs that I use.
I looked at your link and the Toshiba external HDD is a good choice for a backup HDD for multiple purposes.
When people refer to backing up their entire PC, they're referring to the processes of "cloning" or "imaging" the main HDD in the PC. I'm using only 1 HDD for the OS (Windows and all system files) as well as my "c" partition, including all other items, programs, personal data, etc.
More and more PC users are using SSD (Solid State) drives for their OS/boot drive as it's more efficient and provides a faster boot time vs the default Windows install using one HDD for everything. I'm still a "dinosaur" in that regard 
as I'm using a conventional HDD (often referred to these days as "spinner" HDD's). I haven't upgraded yet to SSD's.
Regarding full-HDD backup choices, as Apostolos mentioned, there are numerous choices for full-HDD backup tools.
I'm using 2 of the tools that Apostolos mentioned previously, "Acronis" (2011 paid version) and "Macrium Reflect" (free version). I also use another freeware called "Clonezilla" although that one's not as user-friendly for novice backup people.
I mainly use Acronis since that's the first (and paid) program that I used about 3 years ago.
The full-HDD terminology can be confusing so here's an attempt to help with it
"Cloning" is the process of making an exact 1:1 copy of the existing HDD in one's PC. It will copy everything, Windows OS, all of your personallly loaded programs, and all of your personal files. It will even copy the MBR (Master Boot Record, a critical sector of the HDD).
- My personal take on cloning:
- Advantages: The big advantage in my opinion, is that you'll have a ready plug-play spare HDD on your shelf for multiple recovery purposes:
- Failed HDD in your PC
- Fast recovery from almost all malicious infections
- Fast recovery from a user error, ie, bad download, mistake in the Registry Editor, etc
- Requiremets: You'll need to purchase a spare HDD of identical or larger size
- DIsadvantages: If one is a periodic Cloner, as myself, you'd have to access the internal area of your Desktop or Laptop PC in order to swap out HDD's.
With my Desktop PC, this problem is eliminated as I have 2 "Hot-Swap" SATA Trays installed in my Desktop tower. Here's an Amazon (U.S.) link to these trays:
Here's the link from Amazon UK:
When I'm cloning my Laptop PC with the 2.5 size HDD, I use a SATA/USB Enclosure, similar to this product:
I like this product since it's interchangeable with Desktop size HDD's and Laptop HDD's.
"Imaging": This term is sometimes referred to as cloning and, referring to full-HDD imaging, the end result is the same as cloning but the Imaging process does it in a different way than cloning the HDD.
Imaging processes are diverse in that they can copy an entire HDD (same as Cloning in that regard) or specific items on the HDD.
Imaging will copy the selected item[s] and usually compresses them with a proprietary compression format into a large file.
For example, if you wish to image the entire HDD, you would assign a file name such as "Full Backup xx-xx-xx (date), and then select the file destination to an external HDD for example.
Advantages: You can store multiple image files on an external HDD. For example, I have a large 4 Tb external HDD where I store full-HDD images from 3 PC's : My Desktop PC, my Laptop PC, and my Mom's Desktop PC.
Disadvantages: This one's subjective as to whether it's a disadvantage but it you're recovering (or testing a recovery) the HDD in your PC, it requires more time to process and recover a full-HDD image vs the Cloning process.
Software:
Acronis:
I like it but this was my first cloning/imaging tool and it's paid. Of the 3 software tools that I use, this one clones the fastest. I'm not sure why that is the case though. It takes about 35 minutes for my cloning procsess with a 1 Tb Seagate HDD using Sata III transfer speed.
Macrium Reflect (free ver): I like this tool as it has a good user-friendly interface. I did have a little problem creating the "Rescue" CD but after I got it figured out, it's been working well without problems.
Clonezilla: It's probably my least-used tool but it's a powerful HDD utility. The user interface is geared toward the more experienced HDD user.
The siginficant advantage, in my opinion, with maintaining a full-HDD backup plan is that you are protected from most scenarios that would require you to wipe the HDD and go through the task of reloading Windows, setting it up, re-installing your programs, recovering your personal data from another source.
The cloning and imaging processes have been, for me, a reliable repeatable tool. As yet, I've not had any incidences where a cloned HDD or recovered Image file didn't boot up and run without issues.
This is a personal choice but I always Clone and Image outside of Windows, booting with what is commonly referred to as "Rescue" media (CD, USB Flash Drive). I do this to test the worse-case scenario, with no Windows OS avaiable, simulating a complete HDD recovery, etc. I also use this approach to test the Rescue media boot so that it's a verified bootable recovery tool in the event that it's needed for recovery in the future.
A member over at the "Bleeping Computer" forum site had a couple of questions about the topic. I posted a reply that may offer some information regarding cloning. There are couple of possible user-mistake possibilities that can be avoided, which I explained in the thread to the member that was asking about cloning.
Hi Scoop8
Thanks for all the information I will probably invest in that hard drive that then some software to clone it over to make the process a lot easier thanks for all the information it’s made things a lot clearer since I’m really not good with computers at all!
Thanks!
Regards
Hi AudiA1 & Scoop 8,
Some things to consider:
Before purchasing a backup software be sure that the recovery media cd which you will have to create, works with both USB 2 & USB 3 ports otherwise an external HDD may not be detected.
Also make sure that the software is able to work with 1TB external HDD's or higher.
Same thing for the external HDD, see if your pc'(s) have USB 2 or USB 3 ports or both or esata/usb combo ports.
I'm using a Seagate slim 500Gb external HDD without issues.
Let us know if you need more info.
Regards,
AudiA1 wrote:
Hi Scoop8
Thanks for all the information I will probably invest in that hard drive that then some software to clone it over to make the process a lot easier thanks for all the information it's made things a lot clearer since I'm really not good with computers at all!
Thanks! :)
Regards
Is your computer that you want to back up a laptop or a desktop/all in one?
If it's a laptop then there's something to be said for getting a portable external (2.5in) hard drive like that since they are very compact and take their power from the laptop over the USB connection (sometimes it is necessary to get a Y cable that uses 2 USB sockets on the laptop to get enough power since laptops are allowed to supply less power via USB than desktops and this may be a problem depending on how many USB sockets your PC has and how many you may use for other purposes, like a mouse if you hate touchpads!)
If it's not a laptop then I'd recommend looking at the external hard drives with 3.5in drives of the kind used inside desktop PCs. They need more power (and different voltages inside) and so use a plug in powerbrick like a laptop does. This eliminates underpower problems and the larger drives may be on the whole more likely to be reliable.
How big is the hard drive in your computer and how much is used so far? Making multiple images (and I always make complete images and not incremental/differential ones where each time you update it just copies the changes) is good policy so allow for that in the capacity you need.
And apart from the imaging which is of the whole hard drive partition so can rescue from disaster, making backups of folders like your documents and pictures is good practice.
Incidentally Windows 7 and 8 have backup and imaging built into their utilities but they are not as flexible as the third party ones. I use Acronis True Image from 2010 and find it works fine but you probably would be better using a more recent version. Paragon has been recommended to me but at the moment I still use Acronis since it does what I need.
Hope that helps rather than complicates ......
Apostolos wrote:Hi AudiA1 & Scoop 8,
Some things to consider:
Before purchasing a backup software be sure that the recovery media cd which you will have to create, works with both USB 2 & USB 3 ports otherwise an external HDD may not be detected.
Also make sure that the software is able to work with 1TB external HDD's or higher.
Same thing for the external HDD, see if your pc'(s) have USB 2 or USB 3 ports or both or esata/usb combo ports.
I'm using a Seagate slim 500Gb external HDD without issues.
Let us know if you need more info.
Regards,
Good points.
My Acronis and Macrium boot media recognizes my external HDD's and the Enclosure. Interestingly, the only problem that I've encountered with USB recognition was when I purchased one of those SATA/USB Adapter Cables. Neither boot (Recovery) CD recognized that cable so I returned it for a refund. When I read some info about the various Adapter Cables, I discovered that others had encountered the same issue with some of these cables.
I bought the Enclosure that I linked earlier and its working with my boot media. I don't know the reason why that Adapter Cable didn't work with my 2 PC's but all's well with the Enclosure. I'm not using the Enclosure for storage but for a cloning and imaging interface tool with my Desktop and Laptop PC's.
I also have a couple of those Seagate "GoFlex" 500 Gb USB HDD's. They're nice, compact and are working well. I have one that's continuously connected for a twice-daily unattended Acronis backup for specific items. The other one remains disconnected except when I'm manually backing up the same specific items. That one's my emergency backup in case of an encryption/ransomware ("Cryptolocker", etc) infection. I use a script to copy those files with a hotkey launch to save time with the file copying step.
Hugh
I also image full-HDD and not incremental or differentials. I thought about starting a couple of chain backups but when I read about the possibility of a corrupt backup file in a backup chain (if one incremental or differential backup in a chain happened to be unusuable, that renders the complete chain unrecoverable, from what I've read about the topic) , I decided to stay with the full-HDD images. I also stay with that approach to keep things simpler for managing images.
There's not much need for me to use Macrium to image incrementally as I also use Acronis (2011) and am using a twice-daily chain backup for specific items. The Acronis unattended backup tool is a nice one, imo.
Good points about the possibility of USB port power limitations with some external HDD's.
I don't like those Laptop "touch pad" mice 
so when I'm using my Laptop at home, I have it connected with a KVM Switch and an HDMI switcher so I can use my Desktop interfaces, Monitor, keyboard, and my beloved Kensington mechanical Trackball, the one that's the large "pool cue ball" size
Scoop.
Good thinking .....
I tried a trackball once and disliked it .... never tried again but I know a number of users who swear by them.
Apart from imaging I've never run any automated backup. Just drag and drop from time to time from those sources that are important to me. But then I'm not in a mission critical situation any more.
Thanks a lot for everyone’s input! I appreciate it a lot and feel a lot more confident when it comes to knowing my stuff about backups!
Thanks a lot
Take care