Beyond the Routine Back Up
[by Judy Herrmann]
Everyone reading this blog should already be backing up their data regularly. If not, or if you’re not sure how to set that up, check out dpBestflow’s section on back ups.
An equally valuable CYA habit is to create a bootable back up drive. Bootable back ups include a pristine copy of your OS and applications. If your OS gets corrupted or your primary hard drive fails, you can boot off the back up drive, keep working and deal with the problematic drive at your convenience. You can even boot someone else’s computer off your drive and keep working with minimal downtime.
You can purchase a “bootable external drive” which comes with its own cloning software or create your own. For the DIY route, you’ll need cloning software – Super Duper! and Carbon Copy Cloner for the Mac or Acronis TrueImage for PCs – and the right kind of drive. Power PC based Macs require a Firewire drive with an Oxford-based Firewire Bridge set – Oxford compatible chipsets won’t work. OWC, WiebeTech, Lacie and Maxtor Firewire drives should be a safe choice. Intel Based Macs can boot off Firewire or USB 2. Windows machines require USB 2.
At a minimum, put your OS and key applications onto your bootable clone. This will let you boot up your computer and keep working. Depending on your computer’s requirements, you may be able to use a thumb drive, iPod or even your cell phone’s memory card. This approach is particularly useful for location photographers who don’t want to lug any extra weight around.
For extra safety, create a bootable mirror or shadow drive that includes a complete clone of everything on your primary hard drive – your OS, applications, personal settings, actions, presets, font library, etc. You can even include any current projects that you’d want immediate access to if your hard drive failed.
Most computers from 2007 to present can boot off an external drive with no problems. If your computer is circa 2006 or earlier, check to make sure that the BIOS (basic input/output system: the firmware that initializes system devices and launches the OS) is capable of pointing to an external drive. If not, you may be able to upgrade the firmware to a version that supports an external boot.
