Removable Hard Drives

“The question is not whether a hard drive will fail; the question is when it will fail."

Objective: Outline the backup protocol that we use on our home desktop computers, stressing the use of removable hard drives. Open up a discussion of the techniques that you attendees use.

What is the best technique of backing up? Myriad techniques are available i.e. software and hardware, even Cyberspace. I use a simple technique based on my personal work habits:

Every day

· Back up (incrementally) a frequently used folder i.e. Working Docs

· Have used many programs in the past; currently Second Copy 2000 http://www.secondcopy.com/

· Alternate two backup CDs

About once/wk (“primary home” to “safe harbor”)

· Clone two removable hard drives using removable drawers (caddys, mobile racks or trays) that encase the hard drives

· NOT feasible for laptops because of configuration

· Two available 5 ¼ inch bays required

· Mobile racks have two parts i.e. the rack and the inner tray (Demonstrate)

· Housing e.g. aluminum, plastic (I have plastic at <$12)

· Has a cooling fan, and a removable face plate

· Interface is standard AT/IDE 36 pin connector

· If more than one PC involved, make sure trays are interchangeable

· Lock and key mechanism that prevents the drives from being removed while operating

· Handle-activated drawer release mechanism allowing HDs to be inserted or removed with minimal force

· Apparently not “hot-swappable” so play it safe and disengage with power OFF

· LED that indicates HD power and activity status.

(Demonstrate with pictures)

Process of Cloning

· I use older ver. Symantec Ghost (DOS) with success

· Many of my former colleagues have gone to Ghost 9 and True Image

· Other software e.g. Drive Copy and Drive Image

· Another cloning tool is the installation disk that comes packaged with the retail boxed hard drives e.g. Maxtor and Western Digital.

· Make certain source HD is free of virus/worm, malware, etc.

· Critical Updates should be current on source HD

· Defrag and do Clean Disk on source HD prior to cloning

· Make certain that you identify the source and destination drives!

· Simple & Straightforward:

o Relatively fast

o Flexible

o Reliable (near fail-safe backup system)

o Economical (small additional cost of equipping one’s computer with this hardware configuration)

o Complete (bit for bit copy) i.e. Registry, OS, Applications, Configurations, data files

o After cloning, destination drive can be stored independent of the PC thus secure

o If a disaster occurs, can lock in destination drive and boot up

o Can reuse previous source drive or get new one and re-clone

o Can use another HD with another OS on same PC

o No need to take PC apart

Internal setup on my PC

· Hard drive cables attached as primary master and primary slave

(You could use one cable with CS)

· DVD and CD burner set as slaves (no noticeable reduction of speed)

· I have IDE/ATA setup

· Separate hard drive with Win 98

Problems

· Room for housing e.g. motherboard may be in the way

· Insufficient bays

· Handling of the ribbons re length, bulkiness etc.

· Destination to source

· Cloning of an unhealthy source e.g. Sasser worm

· “Unhealthy” destination drive

· Not certain re SATA hard drives

· Problem with partitions

Variations

· “The KanguruDisk is a unique removable storage device that crosses a removable hard drive with an external hard drive, exemplifying the best qualities of each!” http://www.kanguru.com/kdiskmovie.swf

· Maxtor A01E250 OneTouch 250 GB External Personal Storage Drive (PC/Mac) http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=3979360