Software mirroring
Hello, I just bought 2 Western Digital 1TB HDDs and I would like to use only them in my new PC. I have lots of very important files and I want to set up mirroring for the entire disc. So what I mean is I would like to have only one disc with single partition called C: and have it synced and safe with the other HDD. Is it any possible? Seems like Windows 7 won't launch from the dynamic partition for I am dropped to an old Windows I have installed on the old HDD I still have connected, although this HDD has the lowest boot priority. It looks dull to me that Windows can't mirror itself - having the system with all the registers and personal information whatsoever always backed up would be very nice and sort of what I need very much. Is there any way to do so or I would have to create a small partition for the OS only and use the other to have everything stored there and mirrored? Thanks.
January 30th, 2011 10:02am

Hi pokrishka, You can buy mirrored external hard drives(pre configured with Raid 1. but they are more expensive, over £100 for a 2TB one. or just use an imaging app like ghost and synch with synchtoy http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?familyid=c26efa36-98e0-4ee9-a7c5-98d0592d8c52&displaylang=en Hope this helps. Regards,
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January 30th, 2011 1:10pm

It is recommended to keep the OS on a separate volume, so you can, for example, back up the OS as image, and data - incrementally. Also it may be worth to install the OS on a small but very fast drive. And all issues of booting the OS from nonusual drives are eliminated because data drives are not bootable. For a very reliable data store there are special RAID-like external enclosures like Drobo. --pa
January 30th, 2011 1:24pm

So with that SynchToy it is possible to do what I want - have everything stored on one partition on one disc that is always kept synced with the other HDD? Or you think it would be best to create 2 partitions, one huge for everything and one small for OS only and set up the Windows Backup feature for backing up the system as image and use mirroring to keep the data partition backed up? Well, that sounds fine if system image really does save absolutely all connected to the System. If HDD dies it possible to restore system from image with zero losses? I guess I'll do that, how much space would be enough for the system (Windows 7 Ultimate) so I can just forget about that partition and how do I set up all the default folders like Program Files, Documents and others to be on the other partition? Thanks a lot for your help, seems like I'll finally get rid of fear of losing my projects :)
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January 31st, 2011 2:52am

Hi, If you download symnatec backup or other programs you can choose what you back up and when, have a good search around and read reviews before you buy and see what one fits the best. Regards,
January 31st, 2011 4:08am

Got one more question. If I reinstall my OS completely, formatting the partition it's installed on - what will be with the mirror of another partition I have set up? Or I shall put this question the other way: I'm going to remove my OS and install it once again on the same partition. I have another partition that is being mirrored to another HDD. What shall I do to have the same mirror in my new OS? I'm installing the same Windows 7 x86 - got a software that spoiled the system, so I have to reinstall.
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February 9th, 2011 7:08am

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