The first thing you need is good backup software (most of us use Acronis True Image Home) and then a large external harddrive so you can use it on more than one computer (including transfering or restoring between machines).

As for the external harddrive, you could get one that plugs into a USB port or you can go the route that I (and others) have and get one of those "toaster" external harddrive bays that you can then use with any normal harddrive (just plug it in).  When I replaced my internal drives with a 2 TB ($60 at the time) and a 3 TB ($129), I kept the ones I took out (two 250Mb's and two 300Mb's) to use only for backups and archiving.

@craig... I do actually have a cage somewhere fresh in the box that I think can handle SATA drives (bought it ages ago for something else but it never got used) I just need a drive and I can't really afford ANYTHING right now. I was also looking at Norton Ghost for image software but I should probably take another look at that stuff. For now however I will need to rely on Win7's back up system which has disk image stuff (finally)... but... it probably is substandard. I did make a full back up image of my system after I got it initially set up onto DVDs using it so IDK... i guess it worked but I haven't had to restore to that point so who knows. Whatever... I just really wish I could get down to making some bleedin' tunes instead of having to dork out every day. It just ain't my speed yanno?

I've been using one blasted computer or another for over 40 years now (started programming when I was seven), and I can't stress more how much I just want to USE them not work on them...

I'm very willing to let someone else build the car, I just want to drive the damn thing!

Yup... if I had the dough I'd have a guy like Jim on my speed dial. Fork this carp!

craigb


The first thing you need is good backup software (most of us use Acronis True Image Home) and then a large external harddrive so you can use it on more than one computer (including transfering or restoring between machines).

Other disk imaging software is available...

I use Active Disk image now you've made me feel left out...

I use to use inactive disk imaging but a fake crash scared me into being more proactive (the OS stopped seeing the drive for a while - I thought the disk was toast and I didn't have any backup at the time).

FWIW the update to Flash Player 11 has been notorious for issues.  I'm still on version 10.

The last Windows update to actually cause me issues was back when IE8 first came out, generally WU isn't the arch-villain it's often made out to be.

Of course the ideal is to have a dedicated DAW machine that is hermetically sealed in foil, but many of us have a single set-up where some general usage is unavoidable.  If I was running professional studio services then the machines involved with that wouldn't be on-line but for many of us there is a happy medium between excellent DAW performance and general use computing.

Looking back at the reliability monitor since January I have had a total of 3 application hangs, and bear in mind I've been beta testing a few products in that time, otherwise my reliability is a straight line at the max.  I've seen studio machines that are isolated from the web that frankly I wouldn't use because of the mess of issues that are unattended leading to all sorts of unwanted behaviour.  A good policy to keep a secure, well-found and maintained machine is a more important consideration than merely whether it is connected to the internet or not.

Frankly I've got better things to do than check the specifics of each Windows update when they are offered so I choose all the important one offered generally and roll-back if any issues arise.  It's far quicker than finding out what each one is for. 

By keeping my drivers and system updated my computer is faster and more efficient now than it was when I got it, yes, sure it would be working still like the day I got it had I not updated it since, but trust me it's working a whole bunch better than it did, even purely for DAW use, being as updating since then has led to a 2 ms reduction in RTL over it's original configuration.

There are no rules, but there is plenty of good guidance to be had.

yeah - like Guitarhacker says, if it ain't broke.....why update?

daryl1968


yeah - like Guitarhacker says, if it ain't broke.....why update?

Well Done!

I like Daryl.

I have to keep my PC on the internet, like probably a truck load of people.

If you don't visit "dodgy" sites then where is the problem ? A bit like safe sex, no ?

Agreed, I downloaded the latest (11.3) version of Flash, but then had multiple problems so un-installed it and put 11.2 back on the PC. No problems since.

Windows updates : no problem. They download discretely and ask me if I want to install them.

There was an article by Martin Walker of SOS (last year, September (?) in his PC notes) about whether or not one should be connected to the web. Its a moot point. And a subject that has been thrashed to death in many different forums.

So far, no problems here. I can't afford the luxury of 2 PC's or a PC and a laptop.

Cheers,
Jerry