Recovery partition backup?

[dlbeaty]

Today I received my X32 from an Ebay seller. It appears to have XP and the original setup reloaded to the original factory configuration. Access IBM claims that the hidden partition is better than a recovery CD. While there are advantages, the main disadvantage is if that partition is damaged you are stuck.

I have another 40 gig drive and a caddy for the ultrabay. Should I be able to clone the drive and the hidden partition with Norton Ghost 2002?

Would that be better than backing up to a usb drive?

Dan

[schen]

Today I received my X32 from an Ebay seller. It appears to have XP and the original setup reloaded to the original factory configuration. Access IBM claims that the hidden partition is better than a recovery CD. While there are advantages, the main disadvantage is if that partition is damaged you are stuck.

I have another 40 gig drive and a caddy for the ultrabay. Should I be able to clone the drive and the hidden partition with Norton Ghost 2002?

Would that be better than backing up to a usb drive?

Dan

I guess it would depend on how you look at it. Personally, if I don't have the restore disks of a model of machine/OS loaded, I try to keep a clone of that drive around in case disaster strikes. And for some time now I've used Acronis TrueImage, although I've used Norton Ghost in the past. You can get the trial version of the TrueImage which is great for a "one-off", or in my case because I use it regularly I went ahead and bought the full-load of it.

In your case with the "regular" PATA 2.5" drive, I'd probably buy one of the new large capacity 5400rpm drives and clone over your old 40Gb HDD once you get it loaded up the way you want. This gives you not only a big "working" drive that is fast (high areal density, bigger cache, faster spindle speed), you have a fully set up clone of it in case disaster strikes down the road. You can either clone via an external USB (cable or enclosure) or by using the UB2K HDD adapter.

[jtt3011]

I go along 100% with what Schen says. I have used True Image for 3 or 4 years and it's pretty bombproof. There are a couple of downsides:

My version of True Image does not recognise USB memsticks configured as HDD. A later version may do so - perhaps someone can say. Also, the clone does tie up a complete drive which you might otherwise want to use for something else. True Image does offer support for partition segmented drives, but I've not used that, so can't comment on how well it works.

Another application I invested in a few months ago is 'Drive@Image' from LSoft, and I'm very pleased with it (http://www.disk-image.net/). This application creates a freestanding single file image of a system disk from which the original can be recreated. It allows you to keep image files for several different systems on a single HDD, and fully supports memstick 'disks'. Since I am lumbered with looking after a variety of PCs/Laptops scattered around the family, which regularly go t**ts up, this application is a boon. The only failure I've had was with the image for an XP-Win7 dual boot system on my own X31. However, it only clobbered the MBR for the Win7 boot, quickly restored by mounting the requested original Win7 install disk, after which nothing was lost, and everything worked fine. But I have to say, True Image did the same job faultlessly in one go.

JohnT

[dlbeaty]

Yesterday I read more deeply about the recovery software, and learned how to burn the recovery partition to 15 archival CDs using the IBM Rapid Restore PC program. It took over 2 hours to burn the CDs, but at least I have an EXTERNAL backup of the Preload in case of emergency or I want to upgrade my hard drive.

The annoying thing is that it first required making a complete backup of the hard drive on the hard drive, taking up space on the hidden partition. There was a function to migrate to another hard drive, but it could not complete it due to lack of space. Then in the documentation is said an upgrade should be purchased for this feature. Go figure.

Are you guys saying that Acronis can backup the hidden partition as well?

[dlbeaty]

[
In your case with the "regular" PATA 2.5" drive, I'd probably buy one of the new large capacity 5400rpm drives and clone over your old 40Gb HDD once you get it loaded up the way you want. This gives you not only a big "working" drive that is fast (high areal density, bigger cache, faster spindle speed), you have a fully set up clone of it in case disaster strikes down the road. You can either clone via an external USB (cable or enclosure) or by using the UB2K HDD adapter.

Sorry for being so behind the times. I have a Travelstar 60 gig 7200 rpm 7k100 in my x30 that I was planning on moving to the x32. Are you saying that the newer, larger 5400 rpm drives will be just as fast or faster?

BTW Happy Easter!
Dan

[schen]

Sorry for being so behind the times. I have a Travelstar 60 gig 7200 rpm 7k100 in my x30 that I was planning on moving to the x32. Are you saying that the newer, larger 5400 rpm drives will be just as fast or faster?

BTW Happy Easter!
Dan

There will of course be some debate on this, but I believe that most users who have used both (older 7200rpm & newer 5400rpm) types of drive will support my opinion that there's little or no difference between the 2 as related to speed. And then of course, there's the fact that these drives are much newer and less likely to be a point of failure any time soon. Plus in your case with an X32, you don't have to worry about the computer giving you the annoying 2010 error that those of use who use the T43, X41 and R52 live with when using "non-approved" drives!

[jtt3011]

I have one of the 60Gb/7200 drives on my X31, and although I've not done any real measurements, I subjectively noted an increase in performance immediately it was installed. Unfortunately, I don't thiink these 7200 PATA drives were on the market for very long. Certainly, by the time I decided to get another one (which wasn't long) Hitachi had discontinued them, and only SATA versions were available.

But I've seen it said that high capacity 5400 drives will outperform because of their greater areal density, which may well be true on average. There's little or no difference in seek times, but once the required data is found, the high density drives will potentially stream data more quickly.

I suspect that True Image will copy hidden recovery partitions on HDDs, and I'm reasonably certain that 'disk@image' will do so. Both applications load and run themselves in a memory resident mode, independent of attached disks and their contents.

[schen]

I suspect that True Image will copy hidden recovery partitions on HDDs, and I'm reasonably certain that 'disk@image' will do so. Both applications load and run themselves in a memory resident mode, independent of attached disks and their contents.

You're right on this. I forgot to answer this part of the question before. I have had it clone the whole thing; partition and all.

[dlbeaty]

I have one of the 60Gb/7200 drives on my X31, and although I've not done any real measurements, I subjectively noted an increase in performance immediately it was installed. Unfortunately, I don't thiink these 7200 PATA drives were on the market for very long. Certainly, by the time I decided to get another one (which wasn't long) Hitachi had discontinued them, and only SATA versions were available.

But I've seen it said that high capacity 5400 drives will outperform because of their greater areal density, which may well be true on average. There's little or no difference in seek times, but once the required data is found, the high density drives will potentially stream data more quickly.

I suspect that True Image will copy hidden recovery partitions on HDDs, and I'm reasonably certain that 'disk@image' will do so. Both applications load and run themselves in a memory resident mode, independent of attached disks and their contents.

What I had planned was to migrate the x32 system to the 60 gig 7200 drive from the x30, which also has the second 100 gig drive of the same Travelstar line installed in the x3 bay. I don't know if having matched HDs together makes any difference, but it would be easier to leave the 60 in the old laptop and just get a new high capacity one for the x32.

Since I am recording audio and mixing in Cubase, it sounds like the 5400 high capacity drives will work better for streaming the data.

Is there a brand to avoid? What are the good, moderate-priced drives available?

[dlbeaty]

I suspect that True Image will copy hidden recovery partitions on HDDs, and I'm reasonably certain that 'disk@image' will do so. Both applications load and run themselves in a memory resident mode, independent of attached disks and their contents.

Since I have created the Recovery CDs I am less concerned with backing up the hidden partition. The program is confusing, however. Sometimes it sounds like its a backup of the HD, other times the "service partition." I will know soon, for I am currently loading it to the spare HD I have on hand.

Could you explain what you mean by "memory resident?"

[jtt3011]

Both apps install themselves in memory following a reboot (True Image) or bootup ('disk@Image). Effectively, no OS is running in the PC. Everything the copying app needs is in the memory resident program.

[dlbeaty]

This may be useful to someone. I received my x32 with the factory preload XP. Installed and setup the Rapid Recovery software which allowed the creation of recovery CD's. Before that could be done a basic backup of the system was performed which was added to the hidden service partition.

Then I installed the drive I was backing up to and boot up to the first recovery disk. About an hour and a quarter later the 15 disks were loaded and I was given the choice to recover to factory setup or the backup which was previously made. I chose the factory.

45 minutes later XP was up and running, but I noticed that the hard drive space had been reduced by about 10 gig. I tried to uninstall the Rapid Recovery backup, but it said no backup was found.

Also Windows disk manager showed the service partition as drive E: with a size of 15 Gb.

So I reloaded the 15 cds and this time recovered the Windows basic backup in about the same amount of time. After that I was able to uninstall Rapid Recovery which deleted the hidden backup and restored the hidden partition this time to 2.26 Gb.

At least I know the drill if I want to migrate to another drive or lose my recovery partition.

Apparently the factory recovery does not resize the partition after being changed by Rapid Recovery.

[jtt3011]

Strewth!

I don't think I would have enough time left to complete that lot ..............

Since you've already admitted you've got at least one other spare disk - next birthday ask someone to get you True Image or 'Disk@Image'. Think of how much extra spare time it will add to your life.

[dlbeaty]

Strewth!

I don't think I would have enough time left to complete that lot ..............

Since you've already admitted you've got at least one other spare disk - next birthday ask someone to get you True Image or 'Disk@Image'. Think of how much extra spare time it will add to your life.

Yeah. It was the misleading help file in IBM tools that started me down that path. I plan to get some cloning software, but I had to stay around the house this weekend for other reasons. Anyway, I thought I could make a typical recovery CD which I wanted to have on hand anyway.

There are times when I prefer to reinstall windows and my basic programs to clean things up. Upgrading to a new HD is a good time for that, and all the times I have had problems with cloning in the past is another motivation to have an installation cd.

[jtt3011]

I have an old 20GB drive containing a clone of a newly installed XP system, including basic utilities and system updates to the time of the installation. Used it 2 or 3 times in the last couple of years - worth its weight in gold! Pop it in the Ultrabay in place of the CD/DVD; fire up Migrate easy from either drive; clone the fresh installation to the working drive. Just make sure you don't clone the working drive to the 'fresh install' disk. I've done it only once, and now I'm paranoically careful. Good tip is to make sure to give your drives unique header labels, not just leave them at 'c' or 'd' or whatever. True Image includes the full headers in the final set up display, for you to see, before you take the final plunge.