Johnbee58
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Backup Suggestions?
I've been making music on my Lenovo i5 for 3 years now. I've also over the years accumulated quite a few plugins, free and ones I paid for. When I set up my current system in June 2015 it took me 16 hours to download, install & configure the relatively small amount of software I had back then. I don't even want to think of how long it would take me now if I ever had to reformat/rebuild or replace my HDD or perhaps even the whole computer with a new one. It would take WEEKS, for sure! In an attempt to be pro active, I wonder if anybody here could suggest perhaps some kind of program or technique to make this process faster if (when) I have to reload from scratch. I do religiously back up EVERYTHING on each project, even things I wouldn't have to, because I always want to have access to anything I need in case of a failure. I also know that programs like Bandlab Assistant will help set up the DAW as will the other program managers I have such as Toontrack Program Manager, Waves Central, Native Access and others like it, but not all programs have those kind of set up managers (I wish they did. They are a BIG help). I also recently made an extensive list of all my plugins and programs to check off at the time. Does anybody else have any suggestions? I would appreciate it.  John B
Lenovo Core i5 4460 Desktop PC (Windows 8 64 bit), Focusrite Scarlett 6i6, Nektar LX61 Keyboard MIDI Controller, Avantone Pro CV-12 tube condenser microphone, JBL LSR308 8" active monitor speakers. Cakewalk by Bandlab, Reason 7, NI Session Strings Pro, NI Strummed Acoustic Guitar, Miroslav Philharmonic, Auturia DX7 V, Garritan JABB 3, EZ Keys, EZ Drummer. "I will create music the way I want to whether a million people are listening or no one is listening." Dan Fogelberg, Singer/Songwriter-1951-2007
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Jim Roseberry
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Re: Backup Suggestions?
2018/10/20 20:51:27
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☄ Helpfulby Shambler 2018/10/22 15:42:38
Acronis True Image Home
I've used it hundreds of times over the past 12+ years.
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fireberd
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Re: Backup Suggestions?
2018/10/20 20:57:57
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I make periodic full disc image (all partitions) backups to a separate hard drive (currently a USB connected). Then if something were to happen either a data corruption or an actual disc failure I can restore from the disc image. I actually use two external USB drives and alternate the backups (and keep the last two backups). Maybe overkill but that protects in case one of the USB drives would develop a problem. I use the free version of Macrium Reflect to do the disc images (backups). From what I see on computer forums I participate in, that is the most popular disc imaging program. I have my Sonar projects on a separate drive and just do a disc copy from that drive to a USB connected drive to backup the projects. The only issue is if you were to get a new PC. You are then faced with reinstalling everything. Macrium Reflect: https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree
"GCSG Productions" Franklin D-10 Pedal Steel Guitar (primary instrument). Nashville Telecaster, Bass, etc. ASUS ROG Maximus VIII Hero M/B, i7 6700K CPU, 16GB Ram, SSD and conventional hard drives, Win 10 Pro and Win 10 Pro Insider Pre-Release Sonar Platinum/CbB. MOTU 896MK3 Hybrid, Tranzport, X-Touch, JBL LSR308 Monitors, Ozone 5, Studio One 4.1 ISRC Registered Member of Nashville based R.O.P.E. Assn.
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Johnbee58
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Re: Backup Suggestions?
2018/10/21 11:25:16
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Thanks for the suggestions. The OS on this PC is Windows 8.1. I have a 1 TB portable USB hard drive that I made a bootable image (as per Windows 8 backup and recovery program) back shortly after I set up the PC (which means it doesn't have much on it). I'm wondering if I could remake that image now for a more up to date version. I know Windows usually allows this only once, but I also recently was able to make a backup via Windows Backup and recovery of just the OS (factory default setting) and I put that on a flash drive. What do you think? John B.
Lenovo Core i5 4460 Desktop PC (Windows 8 64 bit), Focusrite Scarlett 6i6, Nektar LX61 Keyboard MIDI Controller, Avantone Pro CV-12 tube condenser microphone, JBL LSR308 8" active monitor speakers. Cakewalk by Bandlab, Reason 7, NI Session Strings Pro, NI Strummed Acoustic Guitar, Miroslav Philharmonic, Auturia DX7 V, Garritan JABB 3, EZ Keys, EZ Drummer. "I will create music the way I want to whether a million people are listening or no one is listening." Dan Fogelberg, Singer/Songwriter-1951-2007
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msmcleod
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Re: Backup Suggestions?
2018/10/21 12:33:46
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I use clonezilla, which is also free: https://clonezilla.org/downloads.php This does full disk imaging, or full partition imaging. This works for me as I also use it for imaging my Mac and Linux drives too. You burn an ISO image to CD (or DVD) and boot from that. Not the most friendly user interface, but once you get used to it it's fine.
Mark McLeod Cakewalk by BL | ASUS P8B75-V, Intel I5 3570 16GB RAM Win 10 64 + Win 7 64/32 SSD HD's, Scarlett 18i20 / 6i6 | ASUS ROG GL552VW 16GB RAM Win 10 64 SSD HD's, Scarlett 2i2 | Behringer Truth B2030A / Edirol MA-5A | Mackie MCU + C4 + XT | 2 x BCF2000, Korg NanoKontrol Studio
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BobF
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Re: Backup Suggestions?
2018/10/21 13:11:51
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Macrium Reflect is another option.
Bob -- Angels are crying because truth has died ...Illegitimi non carborundum --Studio One Pro / i7-6700@3.80GHZ, 32GB Win 10 Pro x64 Roland FA06, LX61+, Fishman Tripleplay, FaderPort, US-16x08 + ARC2.5/Event PS8s Waves Gold/IKM Max/Nomad Factory IS3/K11U
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Johnbee58
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Re: Backup Suggestions?
2018/10/21 16:51:53
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Hi. I just looked on my PC and Lenovo has an Image backup system that's already on the PC and ready to use. It will take about 2.5 hours to back everything I have up but it will be worth it. I just have to pick a day that I can let it run for that long without tending to it. I have a 2 TB USB Passport that I can use.
Lenovo Core i5 4460 Desktop PC (Windows 8 64 bit), Focusrite Scarlett 6i6, Nektar LX61 Keyboard MIDI Controller, Avantone Pro CV-12 tube condenser microphone, JBL LSR308 8" active monitor speakers. Cakewalk by Bandlab, Reason 7, NI Session Strings Pro, NI Strummed Acoustic Guitar, Miroslav Philharmonic, Auturia DX7 V, Garritan JABB 3, EZ Keys, EZ Drummer. "I will create music the way I want to whether a million people are listening or no one is listening." Dan Fogelberg, Singer/Songwriter-1951-2007
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stratman70
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Re: Backup Suggestions?
2018/10/21 17:54:39
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John
Have you looked at the free image programs? I have been using acronis True image for many years but its not free.
But Macrium refelct is.Or like mentioned above Clonezilla.
The reason say this is the time factor may be much less with macrium or clonezilla compared to Lenovas bu. Also I would bet you get more options with the dedicated image makers.
Just a suggestion and it's free.
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Johnbee58
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Re: Backup Suggestions?
2018/10/21 19:23:35
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stratman70
John
Have you looked at the free image programs? I have been using acronis True image for many years but its not free.
But Macrium refelct is.Or like mentioned above Clonezilla.
The reason say this is the time factor may be much less with macrium or clonezilla compared to Lenovas bu. Also I would bet you get more options with the dedicated image makers.
Just a suggestion and it's free.
Yeah, I guess it's worth looking into. Couldn't hurt. Thanks! JB
Lenovo Core i5 4460 Desktop PC (Windows 8 64 bit), Focusrite Scarlett 6i6, Nektar LX61 Keyboard MIDI Controller, Avantone Pro CV-12 tube condenser microphone, JBL LSR308 8" active monitor speakers. Cakewalk by Bandlab, Reason 7, NI Session Strings Pro, NI Strummed Acoustic Guitar, Miroslav Philharmonic, Auturia DX7 V, Garritan JABB 3, EZ Keys, EZ Drummer. "I will create music the way I want to whether a million people are listening or no one is listening." Dan Fogelberg, Singer/Songwriter-1951-2007
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fireberd
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Re: Backup Suggestions?
2018/10/21 20:06:15
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I used to use Acronis but now use Macrium, like most of the techies on computer forums I visit.
Macrium also has an (mostly) automated procedure to create a WinPE bootable "rescue disc" media (USB flash drive is fastest) in case its needed.
"GCSG Productions" Franklin D-10 Pedal Steel Guitar (primary instrument). Nashville Telecaster, Bass, etc. ASUS ROG Maximus VIII Hero M/B, i7 6700K CPU, 16GB Ram, SSD and conventional hard drives, Win 10 Pro and Win 10 Pro Insider Pre-Release Sonar Platinum/CbB. MOTU 896MK3 Hybrid, Tranzport, X-Touch, JBL LSR308 Monitors, Ozone 5, Studio One 4.1 ISRC Registered Member of Nashville based R.O.P.E. Assn.
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Johnbee58
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Re: Backup Suggestions?
2018/10/21 20:52:01
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fireberd
Macrium also has an (mostly) automated procedure to create a WinPE bootable "rescue disc" media (USB flash drive is fastest) in case its needed.
That might come in handy, although I did already back up the OS in Windows 8 Backup & Recovery mode. I made a bootable thumb drive with it. JB
Lenovo Core i5 4460 Desktop PC (Windows 8 64 bit), Focusrite Scarlett 6i6, Nektar LX61 Keyboard MIDI Controller, Avantone Pro CV-12 tube condenser microphone, JBL LSR308 8" active monitor speakers. Cakewalk by Bandlab, Reason 7, NI Session Strings Pro, NI Strummed Acoustic Guitar, Miroslav Philharmonic, Auturia DX7 V, Garritan JABB 3, EZ Keys, EZ Drummer. "I will create music the way I want to whether a million people are listening or no one is listening." Dan Fogelberg, Singer/Songwriter-1951-2007
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Kev999
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Re: Backup Suggestions?
2018/10/21 23:51:42
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Johnbee58
...I don't even want to think of how long it would take me now if I ever had to reformat/rebuild or replace my HDD or perhaps even the whole computer with a new one. It would take WEEKS, for sure!...
One important set of files to keep a backup copy of is the sample content, so that the sample content can be easily reinstalled whenever necessary by copying over a folder rather than running an installer. This can save a lot of hassle if the sample content has been added to since its initial installation. For example I have had Dimension Pro and Rapture since 2007 and have added various expansion packs and also created some additional content of my own. To install all this again from scratch would be a horrendous task. Fortunately I have never need to do this as I have always kept a backup copy each time I added an update. Note that, for these two softsynths, it is necessary to backup "Program" files as well as multisamples.
SonarPlatinum∞(22.11.0.111)|Mixbus32C(4.3.19)|DigitalPerformer(9.5.1)|Reaper(5.77)FractalDesign:DefineR5|i7-6850k@4.1GHz|16GB@2666MHz-DDR4|MSI:GamingProCarbonX99a|Matrox:M9148(x2)|UAD2solo(6.5.2)|W7Ult-x64-SP1
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Having fun at work lately
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stratman70
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Re: Backup Suggestions?
2018/10/22 01:54:50
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fireberd
I used to use Acronis but now use Macrium, like most of the techies on computer forums I visit.
Macrium also has an (mostly) automated procedure to create a WinPE bootable "rescue disc" media (USB flash drive is fastest) in case its needed.
Macrium is a stellar program and so is Acronis... just depends. Many use Macrium because the free version is nice- One is not better than the other . Just sayin'. But that is why I recommended the free Macrium to John B
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