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Question

Back Up With Dual Boot

Jul 29, 2016 5:23AM PDT

How can I use my external HDD to back up with dual boot Windows 10 and Linux Mint 18?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
First you decide which type of backup you want.
Jul 29, 2016 8:49AM PDT

For some, all we need to save are our files. Others want a system backup.

For files, any of those sync apps will do fine.

For a complete backup you would try CLONEZILLA and save an image of the boot drive to the external. This is a system I've used for over a decade and is on the web so I'll pause here.

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Back Up HDD
Jul 29, 2016 1:20PM PDT

Do I have to prepare or format my HDD before CLONEZILLA use? Mine is a WD My Passport Ultra 1TB.
Thanks

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That's yes.
Jul 29, 2016 1:32PM PDT

For me my external HDD was good to go out of the back. It was already formatted so I used it as-is. Since you asked I have to take the reason you asked is it's blank and not ready to use.

The neat part about Clonezilla is I can backup the entire HDD to a folder on my external. Then using sync apps, sync up files that I want to keep current without a full disk backup.

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It has software in it.
Jul 29, 2016 2:16PM PDT

HDD has WD software in it which worked very well with Windows 10 alone in my pc's drive.
But now that I have Dual Boot with Linux Mint 18 other questions come up. HaHa!

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I never use the maker's software.
Jul 29, 2016 2:41PM PDT

So far, the number of times they bungled has me go without their apps.

In fact my stance is they should stop such work and save the money for other projects.

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Answer
Backup
Jul 29, 2016 1:10PM PDT

Look at easeus todo backup free.
See if it has the features you want.

Whatever backup method/prog you chose you better test the restore function.

You can spend a lot of time doing backups only to find that when you need it the restore function does not work.