Newb question regarding Rescue Media and backup.

[Ahura-sama]

I have pretty new t400. I've uninstalled most of the irrelevant to my usage included-wares like Access Connection, Client Security, and the like.

Now Im looking at Create Recovery Media. I've had zero experience w/ backing up hd or creating Recovery media, so I need explanations on the difference between Create Recovery Media, Rescue n Recovery and making an image of the hd as back-up, and pretty much anything else in between those three.

So if I create a recovery disc, then I dont rrly need the ghost partion anymore?
from what I've heard then making an image of the hd as back-up is better than recovery disc?
What is the most reliable and flexible way to back-up? that is Im able to change the back-up like semi-anually let say. Imaging?

Thanks

A lil bit off-topic: 9-cell w/ integrated Intel, no bluetooth on, dvd-ram set to auto turn off, 1 tick off of max brightness CFFL and the estimated battery life at 70% is 5 hours. Is that good or bad? battery-wise.

[Dead1nside]

A lil bit off-topic: 9-cell w/ integrated Intel, no bluetooth on, dvd-ram set to auto turn off, 1 tick off of max brightness CFFL and the estimated battery life at 70% is 5 hours. Is that good or bad? battery-wise.

I'd say that's not great. I'm running a T400 with switchable graphics and using power stretch and maximum battery life profile I can get about 4 hours projected out of my 4-cell, with wireless on and screen at half brightness.

As for your question about recovery media. I keep the partition and make the CDs. Having them both is really useful. I don't do imaging much even though most people are proponents of it. I prefer to take it right back to factory settings with the recovery discs.

[archer6]

I'm looking at Create Recovery Media. I've had zero experience w/ backing up hd or creating Recovery media, so I need explanations on the difference between Create Recovery Media, Rescue n Recovery and making an image of the hd as back-up, and pretty much anything else in between those three.

Greetings & Welcome to the Forum!
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Create Recovery Media:
This is a one time use application that allows you to burn to disc, the pre-loaded software along with the OS and all drivers that came on your system. Its the first thing I do when I unpack a new system, right after I perform the initial windows setup. Once you've created this set of discs then in the event your drives dies, you simply install a new drive then use these discs to install everything that was on the computer the day you took it out of the box. Now you have a fresh start just as though you were unpacking a new machine.
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Rescue & Recovery
This is the same as using the discs you created with the following exception. R&R is loaded onto a hidden partition on your hard drive. The concept is that in the event of a bad crash resulting in a corrupted disc you can use R&R to restore your computer to like new "out of the box" condition without having to use a set of disks. To use it you simply power on the computer and do one of two things. 1) press the blue ThinkVantage button to activate R&R (or) 2) press the F11 key to activate it. Theoretically the ThinkVantage key will launch R&R, however I've found a few machines where it will not, so its good to know that pressing F11 will launch it if the ThinkVantage key will not.
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Cloning a Copy (image) of your HD:
This is an operation that will copy (clone) the exact image of your drive _including_ your files and software applications you use. So for example if you've been using you computer for three months and then you perform a cloning of the drive. You then have a copy of everything on it. Now if you have a bad crash or need to replace the drive you simply copy the clone back to the new drive and you have everything that was on the old drive. Whereas with R&R you have to re-install your applications, the restore your data from a backup of it. (If you have it backed up). Without a backup needless to say you lose all your work.
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Back Up:
This is not as easily defined as backing up can be done in so many different ways. A basic definition is to copy the work you've created in the event that you disc becomes corrupt and you must restore your work after dealing with the corrupted disc. I like to backup "only" my files. The work I've done, and not the applications I've used to create that work as I already have those on disc. Some people will backup their files _and_ their applications which is another useful choice if you have downloaded the software and do not have it on disc. This is where the definitions become blurred as that operation could also be called cloning.
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Each of these choices has their advantages, so it's all in what you wish to do and how you wish to do it. Hopefully this is helpful to you.
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As far as your question about battery life. I have the same machine as yours but frankly don't measure my battery life even though I run on Battery a lot. I'm usually always within the reach of am A/C outlet so I just use the battery untill it needs charging. Also I do such a wide variety of work measuring battery life is pointless. Sometimes the work is light & other times it's heavy & resource intensive therefore battery life is short.
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Cheers,
posted via BlackBerry Bold

[Ahura-sama]

Thanks and sorry about the late response

Well, Im asking because Im not sure wich one I should use as a medium to reformat my t400 in case I need to again. I dont want to have to always use the factory default because the "installation" step takes way too freaking long. Im talking about the one where a cmd board shows up and lots of stuffs being installed. Takes forever even if I choose nothing on the tick list to install along w/ the reformat. And then another 4-5 hrs or so wasted to scrutinize even more of the craps.

Im almost done w/ the scrutinizing and I want to know if I should use RR's built-in back-up feature to back up this state for future access?? All the while still have the factory default option be available for when I need to resell the laptop.


Thanks