[Thinkpad] (Followup) Restoring from USB Not Working!

[Aryeh Goretsky]

Hello,

I upgraded my ThinkPad T43p to a 100GB hard disk drive and placed the
old 60GB hard disk drive into a MacAlly PHR-250CC 2.5" external HDD
enclosure, which has both USB 2.0 and FireWire (IEEE-1394a) interfaces.
My laptop has an IBM IEEE-1394 CardBus adapter, so I can use either
interface on the external HDD.

Previously, I had used an IOGear ION 2.5" external HDD enclosure, which
has both USB and FireWire as well, but prefer the MacAlly since it runs
off bus power, unlike the IOGear which requires a +5VDC through a coax
DC power plug--the MacAlly will be work if it can get enough current
over a USB or FireWire connection (it does have a coax DC power plug,
though, just in case).

Originally, I had formatted hard disk as a single FAT32 partition,
however, since I no longer use Windows 95/98/ME regularly, switched it
to an NTFS partition the last time I wiped the disk.  This may not be
an option for you if you are using Linux, BSD, OS/2 or older versions
of Windows, though.

For the software side of things, I use 2BrightSparks' to sync directories
between my computers and the external HDD.  I should note that I'm doing a
file copy here, not disk imaging, and that I am backing up data files and
software I have downloaded.  I am not backing up the operating or store-
bought applications.

If you are working with Linux or BSD, perhaps rsync could be scripted to
automate backups.  If you want to perform disk imaging, you might want to
look at Acronis' True Image.  I believe the latest versions supports
external USB hard disk drives when booted from the recovery media.

This gives me a platform to which I can back up and restore my computer,
as well as synchronize files between my desktop and laptop.

In the event of a catastrophic failure, I carry a set of discs to reinstall
my operating system; once I have that up and running I can then access the
external HDD to recover my files.

URLs to referenced companies:

2BrightSparks - http://www.2brightsparks.com/
Acronis - http://www.acronis.com/
IOGear - http://www.iogear.com/
MacAlly - http://www.macally.com/

No affiliation with any of the above other than being a satisfied customer.

Regards

Aryeh Goretsky

At 09:24 AM 10/22/2006, you wrote:

>Message: 4
>Date: Sun, 22 Oct 2006 22:33:13 +0800
>From: "Kelvin Quee" <kq at kquee.com>
>Subject: Re: [Thinkpad] (Followup) Restoring from USB Not Working!
>To: "Jon Kelly" <jcrkelly at gmail.com>
>Cc: Thinkpad list <thinkpad at stderr.org>
>Message-ID:
>         <4e9464f90610220733h9c26554n5bb4649a209ddd47 at mail.gmail.com>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

[...snip.]


>Or, offer a better backup solution? I'm not sure if R&R is developed
>inhouse or derived from some existing commercial solution, but the
>interface/warning/documentation definitely looks like second rate
>stuff and nothing like the rest of the high-quality tools of the
>Thinkvantage suite.
>
>Or, offer nothing-at-all. I would have preferred that. I'm sure many
>would too. At least, we aren't having false hopes that R&R would
>restore *successfully* when we have to.
>
>
>Kelvin Quee