Which Backup Option to Choose

[guitarfiend]

Need some advice on how best to "backup" my system in case something happens like what happened last night that nearly gave me a heart attack.I wanted to install the latest Synaptics Touchpad driver as mine has not been responding "completely" after re-starts.For some reason,after a re-start,it seems like the touchpad driver is not loading (completely). I can use the touchpad but,features like two finger sc crolling are disabled until I physically load the Synaptics program myself from the start menu.Once I load the program myself,all is fine.The program used to load at startup and remained hidden in the taskbar.I'm not sure what happened in order for this program to stop loading.But,apparently,there is indeed an update available from the Synaptics website.

Windows AND HP can find no updates on their own.Synaptics informed me to uninstall the old driver before installing the new.I THOUGHT that the Windows proprietary touchpad driver would kick in upon reboot so that I could then install the new driver.Instead,upon reboot I was then unable to use the pc AT ALL Once the pc was booted to the log in screen where I was to then enter my Windows password,I found that I was completely locked out of the pc due to the entire keyboard being disabled ! Ugh !! So,I had to perform a system restore.Everything was fine after the restore.But,again,I am still stuck with the old,outdated driver.

As I'm not really used to "backing up" my pc (I just relied on "system restore" if anything went wrong.But,like last night,I was afraid that the restore option was going to cause me to lose things (updates,etc) due to possible having to restore to too early of a point.Thank God this was not the case).So,before I attempt this again,I 'd just like some advice on which backup option I should choose.I know there are several.Like "creating a system image" (?) WHich would all of you choose ? Which is the best ? Which would be the best for me ?

Remember,technically,all I'm trying to do is simply uninstall a driver/program so I can then install the new one.And,I really don't need "the scare" that I ended up having last night.All that being said.....thank you all Very,VERY much for any & all input.All help is IMMENSELY appreciated !

 

[richc46]

Download the free Macrium Reflect. Every 2 weeks make an image of your entire hard drive and put it on an external hard drive. No matter what happens you use the image to go back to where you were.
It saved me twice, once I could not even boot due to a virus. I used the image virus is gone.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

The standard step beyond System Restore is to use imaging.

You periodically make an image file of your Windows partition(s) and store it on some other drive. The image file is a representation of the ENTIRE contents of those partitions---including Windows, configuration, licensing, installed applications, etc.

Effective, time-saving, and worthwhile, but not quite foolproof. Worst case scenario is it fails and you do a clean install and reinstall your applications.

When disaster strikes, you boot from a recovery disk and "restore" the image file to the hard drive---or to a new hard drive.

Doable with Windows built-in tool, but most here would recommend Macrium Reflect or some other third party tool due to a superior interface and less likelihood for confusion and error.

Takes maybe a half hour to restore. Might take 5 to 30 minutes to make a new image file every week or month or quarter, depending on the size of your C partition.

Do you have a separate drive on which to store image files?

 

[guitarfiend]

ignatzatsonic- I've done some more "research" through Google and saved a link on my FF toolbar about "creating a system restore point" so's that I can create a "fresh" point.So,I THINK I've solved this particular type of dilemma for now.And according to Windows Explorer this pc actually has 4 separate drives ! There's the Local Disk (C,Recovery (D,HP_Tools (F and Local Disk (Q. Plus,I actually do have an external hard drive.

Now,I haven't actually set up "Backup" on this pc and I haven't created a system image anywhere either (like on my external or CD's/DVD's).I've dealt with a fried hard drive before.So,I know the risks.But,this laptop is only between 2-3 years old.So,I figured I still have at least another year to do this (I like to live dangerously) Ha,ha.BUT ! again.....your input is IMMENSELY appreciated !! Thanks,EVERYBODY !!! BUT....I'm STILL "scared" to uninstall this touchpad driver so I can install the new one (biting my nails).

Now,if anyone can explain to me why keyboard input was disabled after restarting by my uninstalling the synaptics touchpad driver ??? And,WHY Windows "proprietary" touchpad driver didn't kick in AND HOW to stop this from happening again ?????????

 

[ignatzatsonic]

............saved a link on my FF toolbar about "creating a system restore point" so's that I can create a "fresh" point..........according to Windows Explorer this pc actually has 4 separate drives ! There's the Local Disk (C,Recovery (D,HP_Tools (F and Local Disk (Q. Plus,I actually do have an external hard drive.............Now,I haven't actually set up "Backup" on this pc .............(I like to live dangerously)

System Restore will solve most problems, not all. If you try to use it 100 times, it will probably not complete a few times. Even when it completes, it's not certain it will resolve all issues.

Your PC may have 1 drive with 4 partitions. Being an HP, that's probably what it has.

If you wanted to use imaging, you'd make an image of the C partition for sure and maybe one other partition. We can't tell which other partition for sure unless we see a pic of Windows Disk Management.

You could store the image files on your external just like any other file.

Your call entirely. If you like to live dangerously despite what happened yesterday, that's up to you.

 

[Layback Bear]

guitarfiend make sure you are not confusing partitions with hard drives.

 

[guitarfiend]

Sorry.I'm not (the most) tech savvy.I had done some reading and I was indeed thinking that these were indeed partitions and not separate drives.Doh !

 

[guitarfiend]

So,again (so,s I don't run into this again).....if anyone can explain to me why keyboard input was disabled after restarting by my uninstalling the synaptics touchpad driver ??? And,WHY Windows "proprietary" touchpad driver didn't kick in AND HOW to stop this from happening again ?????????

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

X3 on imaging and x2 on Macrium Reflect Free (here is a good tutorial on how to use Macrium Reflect). I've had problems with using System Restore in the past. I've found imaging with Macrium Reflect to be so reliable, I depend on it solely and have turned off System Restore.

Of the two most popular forms of backups—imaging and folder/file syncing—imaging is the only one that can be used to restore system files (the OS, aka Operating System) and programs. An image is like a photograph negative, pretty much useless as is but can be used to create a print. While ideal for backing up one's OS and programs, imaging is inefficient for backing up data because it would take too long and eat up too much drive space. The best way to use imaging is to have the OS and programs on their own SSD, HDD, or (if you have only one drive) partition. That way, the time it takes to make an image is dramatically reduced and the amount of space needed to store images is also dramatically reduced.

Folder/file syncing programs, such as FreeFileSync, though not suitable for backing up system files and programs, are the most efficient way to backup data. After the initial data backup has been made, when running a backup with a folder/file syncing program set to mirror mode, the program will compare the folders and files on the source drive to those on the destination drive and copy and paste, copy and replace, and/or delete files on the destination drive so it the destination drive will be essentially identical to the source drive. Since there is only one copy of the data kept on the destination drive, much less space is needed than what multiple images would have required. Also, since only files on the source that have changed since the previous backup are being written or deleted on the destination drive, backups are also much faster.

All backups are best stored on external HDDs kept disconnected form the computer except when updating a backup.

 

[AddRAM]

The best backup is an image of a perfectly working windows

Either with Macrium or windows native imaging or both, as suggested.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/663-backup-complete-computer-create-image-backup.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html

 

[guitarfiend]

Actually,Addram,all I did was UN-installed a driver.I was instructed to install the new one after a restart.So,I ask again.WHY would uninstalling a touchpad driver affect the use of my keyboard after a reboot ? And,is there a way to keep this from happening again ? Should I just uninstall the old driver and then,immediately install the now one before restarting ? OR ! is there a way to fix this problem with having to physically load the software after every reboot ? And,again,thanks for all input !

 

[AddRAM]

Drivers are a set of instructions that tell a piece of hardware how to work with the OS, or vice versa Most of the time they work perfectly and sometimes vendors even try to make better ones. If you`re still having problems, I would uninstall any and all drivers and their traces. Then go to the manufacturer`s website and get the first driver ever made and try that. Report back your progress. We will take it from there. I am also stumped why that driver would have any affect on the keyboard, unless it too uses the same driver in some way, strange.