Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

Seagate Go Flex EHD

May 25, 2012 7:16PM PDT

My computer has been powering off and on on its own every once in a while. Two nights ago the screen went to a dark color and I could barely see what I had open on the screen and everything that was in the toolbar kept going away and coming back. The next thing I knew the computer completely powered off.

I have purchased a Seagate Go External Hard Drive, 500gb. I went to do a backup using the backup program that came on computer. It would not let me choose drive C to backup. It only wanted to backup drive D. Can you tell me what I need to do so I can do a backup? I'm not familiar with external hard drives as in the past have backed up to USB and DVD's. I thought it was time to have a complete back-up of everything on my computer for the just in case.

Also if I go to do a backup say every week while the backup only backup what I've done my computer since the last backup?

Thanks for helping me

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Answer
Re: backup
May 25, 2012 7:48PM PDT
- Collapse -
Confused
May 25, 2012 8:10PM PDT

I read the link that you provided and still have questions. I have Windows Vista which I should have stated earlier. I did learn that when you backup your drive C that it does not include backing your data and files which I thought was included. Will the Seagate external drive hold both backups for me? I am wanting to backup both my drive C and my files and folders with my data. I want to make sure I have a copy of everything in case something happens. If I understand the link you sent me it sounds like I should get Norton Ghost. Is there a free program that will do the same thing? I'm fairly good at programs just not when it's really technical so I want something user friendly.

Since I have a side job that I do on my computer from home I need to make sure that I keep a weekly backup of everything.

Thanks again.

- Collapse -
Can you tell us more?
May 25, 2012 8:32PM PDT

In your top post you said the computer was shutting off. Is the system working properly now or are there still problems?

If there are still problems it would be best, at this stage, simply to copy over to some external drive your personal files and data so that they are preserved should the OS go south, (fail). If Vista works then copying is just a matter of connecting the external, opening two instances of Windows Explorer, with one window opened to your external and the other where you navigate to where your personal files and data are and then 'dragging' those files across to the first Windows Explorer window. In this case, (internal drive to external drive), dragging leaves the original file where it is and creates a copy onto the external drive.

As to a full backup, firstly may I say, never use Windows' own backup feature. It rarely works the way we want and these forums are full of instances where it has failed.

However, your Seagate drive should already have backup software installed on it. If you look at http://www.seagate.com/external-hard-drives/portable-hard-drives/standard/goflex/ and the basic description under the "Compact and powerfully flexible", you will see where it says "Preloaded with easy to use backup software".

But there is more. Because this is Seagate, you have access to their "Disk Wizard" software which includes a version of Acronis TrueImage. I assume that is a licensed version to Seagate. I have downloaded that myself and use it to create complete system images of the OS drive. These 'image files' can be stored on the external drive as many times as you like. The Acronis software also allows you to create a Boot Disk, (CD or DVD), which you can then use to re-load a hard drive with one of the image files.

For that, just go to Support in the Seagate web site, then Downloads, then Disk Wizard. It is all free.

So, no need for Norton Ghost or any other software if that was what you are looking for.

Having used Acronis a few times now I am getting used to it and its Help files are very useful, if a little confusing at first. But recently when my Win 7 failed, I used the CD I created to install my latest backup onto the drive with no problem and it took about half an hour or so.

You mentioned in your top post that something wouldn't back up from the C drive. What more can you tell us about that?

Mark

- Collapse -
Working At The Moment
May 25, 2012 9:53PM PDT

It seems to be working at the moment. I'm concerned because of how the screen went dark and I could barely see what I had open and all items that were open in the tool bar would go away like they were closing and then reappear. It kept doing that for maybe 4 minutes or so then the computer shut completely off. I do book-keeping for 4 companies from home using Quickbooks. I just want to make sure that I have everything in case my computer is on the verge of dying and needing to be replaced. Better safe than sorry.

I've never done what you suggested with having two Internet Explorer's open. Sorry for sounding like a dummy but that doesn't make sense to me.

When I installed the Seagate external drive no software downloaded. I will go to their website and download the software. Thank you for letting me know about that.

What I meant by not being able to backup the C Drive is when I go to Accessories, Systems Tools, Backup Status & Configuration I chose in the settings for it to backup to my external hard drive and it would not let me put a check mark in the box beside the C drive. The C drive was greyed out.

I really appreciate you helping me with all of this. I have to work today and also have some bookkeeping to do when I get home. Before I start anything I want to make sure I've got a good backup.

- Collapse -
Not Interent Explorer
May 26, 2012 3:45AM PDT

Not Internet Explorer, Windows Explorer.

The same as "Computer", or "Documents", or "Pictures" etc. It is Windows own file manager.

Mark

- Collapse -
Re: confused
May 25, 2012 9:06PM PDT

If you backup the c:-drive (using Ghost, or Acronis or any disk imaging program) it makes a backup of everything that's on that drive. If your 'data and files' are on another drive (but you didn't tell about that) that isn't included.

Generally, we don't recommend the use of the standard Windows Vista backup program from Microsoft. It seems to be unreliable.

For backing up your data the best option is a simple file copy of new and changed files from the computer to the external drive. A good program for that is SYNCBACK, or Microsofts free SYNCTOY. Be sure that it you set it in such a way that it doesn't propagate deletions to your backup. Then you wouldn't be able to restore a file you deleted by accident.
But if you're not afraid of using the command prompt a free program called XXCOPY is very useful also. Just use the /backup-switch. It's what I use for the occasional backup of my data to an external disk. The free version doesn't handle network shares, so I can't use it to backup to a folder on another PC on my home network. But that wouldn't be a problem for you.
Also, you can see if Seagate's backup software, mentioned by Mark, works for you.

Kees

- Collapse -
Did Full Backup
May 26, 2012 6:17AM PDT

I wanted to let you know that when I got home from work and was on my computer it did that thing I mentioned in my post again. I did a hardware system test and it passed. I then did a motherboard test which also passed. I also did a file file system errors and scan for & attempt recovery of bad sectors.

After I did all of that I downloaded the Disk Wizard from Seagate. I did a full system backup. If I understand this correctly that means it backed up everything: data, files, folders, letters, programs, etc. If I'm not understanding this correctly can you let me know what it would not backup as I do have a USB flash drive I can also backup to.

I only have Drive C and Drive D on my computer. Sorry I didn't mention that before. If there is anything else you need to know please don't hesitate to ask.

I really appreciate you taking the time to help me.

- Collapse -
Re: Seagate Disk Wizard
May 26, 2012 6:31AM PDT

I don't have that program myself, so I can't tell you if "a full system backup" includes both the c: and the d:-drive. And I don't know if it's possible to restore invidual files, or only the whole system.

Mark told you about that program, and he uses it. So if anybody here can answer (or ask you for more information to be able to answer) it's him!
If he doesn't answer in a day, I'll mail him and ask to have a look to help you further.

Kees

- Collapse -
You should be able to check
May 26, 2012 8:36AM PDT

If I remember rightly you should be able to check.

Open Explorer and navigate to where the backup file is, then see if you can open it. If so, it should display the same file structure as you see for drives C and D.

If it is a full system backup then everything is saved. But on my system I didn't have anything on the D drive as this was my backup drive, (internal not external USB), where the backup file was going to be located, so I never checked the correct way to select more than one drive.

But thinking about this, have you considered what will happen if ever you have to use it? You say the back up file has everything from C and from D. So, if you ever have to use it, say for example the C drive fails and you get a new one, what will be restored, just C or C and D? What if there is no longer a D drive, or the D drive is now full?

If you are not sure then I would go through the Disk Wizard settings again, just to see where you selected both drives to backup.

Mark

- Collapse -
It Worked
May 26, 2012 9:05AM PDT

I opened the Seagate External Hard Drive and saw everthing that was on my C Drive. I did not make a backup copy of the D Drive since I never used it.

After reading your comment about the D drive I have decided to go back and do a full backup for it as well. The only thing on my D drive says recovery. I know I will need that if the unforeseen should happen.

One last question, when I go to backup the next time it will back up from the point of this backup or does it backup everything again? I do my backups every Saturday morning after I do my weekly maintenance scans.

After reading everything I feel like I need to take some kind of course on this stuff if there is one. I've never understood why you would have more than just your C and D drives.

Thanks

- Collapse -
That's a good question.
May 26, 2012 8:04PM PDT

I'm glad you managed to confirm that the backup file is a full backup.

You ask a good question but I don't really know the answer. Disk Wizard is a licensed version of TrueImage and I know that it is capable of incremental backups, but I don't know how that works or how effective it is.

My suspicion is that it should work, because we can see the file structure in the backup file, so 'changes' can be made.

However I don't do that. I create new images every so often whenever something major changes on my system. For example, I installed Virtual PC and XP Mode on this Win 7 system recently, so I created a new backup soon after that. I now have two backup image files and I can restore either one, (because I tested each one).

I know you use your system differently as yours is for your own work, but I would suggest that with your work you only need to back up data files, (copy/paste customer records), to some safe storage media. Working on customer records doesn't make huge changes to a system and my feeling is that a either a whole image backup or an incremental backup is not called for.

But only you know which is more appropriate for you.

Good work though. It's all a lot to learn isn't it.

A couple of things I should add.

1] A backup isn't a backup until you have tested it. I am not sure how easy that would be for you to do. I recently read where Pixar, the animated movie company, had created numerous backups of one of their major films when their original crashed. They tried all of their official backups and they all failed. However, one person had taken her own backup home to do some work on it, and as a last resort they tried that. It worked;
http://www.cloudbackuping.com/how-pixar-nearly-lost-toy-story-2-to-a-bad-backup/

2] Only one backup isn't really a backup. If the original fails then that single backup suddenly becomes the original, with no backups! We always say here, backup, backup, backup; That means, backup 3 times, onto 3 different media.

Worth thinking about.

Mark

- Collapse -
Re: backup
May 26, 2012 10:06PM PDT

Such a full backup in a proprietary format is nice to restore the whole bunch (all-or-nothing) on the original machine.

But now imagine the following situation:
1. You machine fails next year.
2. You buy a new PC (say, with Windows Cool.
3. This version of the backup program doesn't run with Windows 8 so you need a new version of the program.
4. The new version of the program isn't compatible with the old backup format.

Now none of your files on the backup are accessible on your machine. That's not what you want.

So I would definitely recommend that you use a program like Syncback or Synctoy (free) to backup your personal data in a simple file copy, so you can retrieve them on any PC just in My Computer or Windows Explorer.

Kees

- Collapse -
Backup
May 27, 2012 3:41AM PDT

Thank you Mark and Kees. You both brought up very valid points. I was thinking that since I could see that was on my computer was also on the external hard drive means that it worked. I'm thinking that they way I could test it would be to take the external hard drive to work and see if I can open anything on my computer at work which is Window's 7.

I have some dvd's and usb flash drives which I can also make backups too. This would give me three backups in case one of other backups would fail.

If you know of a website or anything else that would be help to learn more about all of this I would appreciate you letting me know. I tried to search through the forums here but it doesn't allow you to search just in the forum you're in.

Renee

- Collapse -
It seems that is possible
May 27, 2012 5:53AM PDT
- Collapse -
Am looking at it
May 27, 2012 5:58AM PDT

Thank you for giving me that information. You both have been great in helping me and I appreciate you taking the time to do that.

Have a Happy Memorial Day to you both!

Renee

- Collapse -
We don't do Memorial Day here in The Netherlands.
May 27, 2012 7:06AM PDT

But it's very, very nice weather and I'm free from work because it's Whit Monday (that's a free day here) and my wife has her birthday party, so I trust it will be a very nice day indeed.
Thanks!

Kees

- Collapse -
Didn't know that
May 27, 2012 7:21PM PDT

I didn't know that you were in the Netherlands. Hope you have a great Whit Monday and that your wife has a happy birthday!

Thanks again for all of the help,

Renee

- Collapse -
By the way ...
May 27, 2012 7:25PM PDT

Mark lives in England. They don't have Memorial Day there either. But I'm sure he appreciates your wishes just as well as I do.

These are truely international forums.

Kees

- Collapse -
Yep, I live in the UK
May 27, 2012 8:33PM PDT

For my sins Happy

Mark

- Collapse -
thanks
May 27, 2012 7:35PM PDT

I have some similar problem, but now, I can know how to deal with it