PShizzy: The Blog

Backing up your drives is important. I don’t have any fun stories or anecdotes to recount about dead drives. There’s nothing worst than losing data because of a drive failure. Worse yet is when it’s at the most inopportune time. For example, the night before a big event, or a trip, your laptop decides that stage a coup against Windows XP. Now what?

Let’s install Windows. Where was that disk again? Countless reboots and hours later, you have Windows. But no updates. Reboot more, like it’s going out of style. Ok SP3, here we are. But no Photoshop. No Photo Mechanic. Crap, even my email hasn’t been set up yet. Oh and if you run Vista, you may just be better off going without a computer until Windows 7 shows up.

The last time my computer went out on me, I reasoned that it was old enough to not be worth saving, so I went and got a Mac. That’s how much I hate reformatting. Also, to be honest, I was simply unprepared. So how could having software like Acronis True Image have saved me? More on that, and the link to the article and info after the jump.

Acronis True Image creates a copy of your drive, known as a disk image, in its current state. It can then write this file to an external drive, or DVD’s. Because it’s a copy of your current set up, you can use it to go back to this setup anytime. Lets say you create an image last tonight. Then today, you install some software, but somehow it messes up your computer. No problem, just use the DVD’s you created, and in little while, your computer will be set up as it was last night. For that alone, it’s a lifesaver. But there’s more.

Let’s say you got a new computer. Why would you need an image of that? Well, you really wouldn’t. But what’s the first thing we do when we get a new computer or laptop? Install software. Well what if you installed your software, and your computer was spiffy clean, and running fast. Why not make an image now. That way, when your computer starts slowing down, and maybe has a few too many glitches, instead of reformatting, and going through some Sisyphusian install procedure, you can load up that image from when you first got your computer. Now it will have all that software preinstalled. You can even take out all that software that’s bundled with your computer that you never want to use, install the programs you do want, and make an image of all that.

The best part is that the process is automated. Creating a boot disc and the DVD’s of your image takes a few clicks. Put in the boot disc and follow the instructions, and you’re back up and running, complete with all your applications.

BTW, I found out about this from Lifehacker. Much as I enjoy people visiting my blog, you could cut to the chase by going there and checking that place out. I found out about a lot of tools that I use for everyday productivity over at Lifehacker. Definitely worth a bookmark (maybe next to your bookmark for my blog?)

Here’s the article at Lifehacker (Click here) with instructions on registering for the free software

And the link to Acronis (Click here)

The link to the Acronis site is VERY busy. it took me no less than three tries and a minute to load it.

Feel free to comment, especially if you’ve used Acronis software in the past.

Even if you don’t like Acronis, you really should consider SOME drive imaging software. Ghost and DriveImage XML are both alternatives you should look into.

Tags: business, general // 3 Comments »