[Ham-Computers] RE: info on backing up files

[Hsu, Aaron]

Some comments in general...

Most "major" manufacturers now do very little "real" troubleshooting and just have you restore the system back to factory defaults.  To troubleshoot and fix over the phone takes a lot of time and often doesn't resolve the problem.  Taking it to a local computer repair center (or your local "expert") is a better suggestion, but might cost $$$.

As an example, in order to "properly" configure a system from scratch, the following needs to be done...

  * Install the OS
  * Install low-level drivers (motherboard chipset)
  * Install drivers for video/audio/network
  * Install drivers for other devices
  * Install OS patches
  * Install system utilities
  * Install applications
  * "clean-up" system for proper imaging (empty trash, del temp files, sweep registry, etc).

This is much more easily done with a manufacturer's "Restore CD", it takes less time, and guarantees (to tech support) that the system works the way it's supposed to "out-of-the-box".  Unfortunately, this never helps identify exactly what went wrong so that it can be prevented.  Also, restoring from the CD still doesn't ensure the problem is resolved - in this case, the system would still be vulnerable to the Blaster worm until the patch is downloaded and installed.

Dell probably instructed you to backup everything (your data), run the Restore CD to get the PC back to a "known" state so they can easily fix the printer problem, and then restore your data.  Basically, a "shotgun" approach to save time.  Remember, you still need to patch the OS (available from Microsoft).

As for backup solutions, your best bet is to get a second drive (cheap these days), a removable drive caddy, and some type of drive "imaging" program like Symantec's GHOST.  Install the drive as a second drive and then run GHOST to create a complete image of the system.  You can create multiple backups on the backup drive by creating an image file instead of "cloning" the drive.  When done with the backup, remove the drive (the reason for the caddy) and put it in a safe place.

If your primary drive should ever fail, fix the problem, then reimage the drive using the GHOST image.  The resulting restored system will be identical to the way the system was when you created the backup image.

It's quick, relatively cheap, and you don't have to worry about a stack of CD's (or DVD's).

As for fixing your printer...strange...Blaster shouldn't have done anything to your printer.  Exactly what isn't working properly with the printer?

73,

  - Aaron Hsu, NN6O (ex-KD6DAE)
    {nn6o}@arrl.net
    {athsu}@unistudios.com
    No-QRO Int'l #1,000,006
    . -..- - .-. .-   ".... . .- ...- -.--"
 

  - Aaron Hsu
    Sr. Configuration Analyst
    USG-ITS Client Services (LAX)
    Universal Studios, Inc.