The short answer is to synchronize when you change or
add data (photos, routes, files, etc), and clone after installing new
programs. A modern windows program installation (using an install
shield or auto unpacking executable) scatters files all over place; your
registry, program menus, icons on the desktop, and new folders. You
can't just copy the files, because you'll never find them all. Depending on
the installation you might want to wait to clone. After all, you did save the
installation files and documented how to repeat the install, right? So worse
case is you'd have to re-install the program(s) on the backup drive if it ever becomes the
primary drive (keep a “To Do” text file on your backup drive). After
enough program installs where it would become a hassle and/or take a lot of
time to re-install any programs should your backup drive become your primary
drive, clone. Prior to
cloning make sure to check that you have a clean disk. As you run Windows
places files and portions of files in various places on your disk. As you
delete and add new data, the disk gets more jumbled and the performance
decreases. Windows has a utility which re-organizes the disk for you (right
mouse click on the drive you want to check, select properties, then the
tools tab and then Defragment Now).
If you just want to back
up photos, video, and other data, but don't need to have the ability to
replace your internal drive then there are various large capacity
external drives available. The Synchronization
software would be used to keep the various folders identical between the
main computer and the large external backup. We started out with 320 GB and
have recently added another 500GB.
Do not try and use a cloned disk in another machine, they usually won't
function properly because they are too similar to another system (on the
network). If you are interested, look into a utility called sysprep.
Windows
licensing also checks the hardware to make sure you haven't changed too much
(i.e. new machine) and sometimes triggers a new activation. If this happens
you will be locked out of your machine with that drive. If your only
networking solution is wireless or you happen to be at sea, then your only
option is to call. I keep an old window 2000 disk available which doesn't
have the licensing feature just in case
It seems like every one has jumped on the External USB hard drive bandwagon and
you'll find solutions from all the major vendors. You can buy a
pre-built hard drive, which has the
drive already installed and is ready to go, or you can buy a
USB case
and a
separate hard drive that you install
yourself. The advantage of the do it yourself version is that the case is
much easier to get into, just undo a couple of screws and you're there.
Most pre-made solutions go to extra pains to keep you out, with hidden tabs,
and snap together cases that you have to understand before gaining access to your
replacement drive. We also store ours in a waterproof case, but there are other
case options if you think it might get bumped
around, but not soaked.
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