Using FFS to update a second imaged backup drive

Posts: 2 · dbdigital 19 Nov 2012, 20:42

I was wondering about using FFS to update a second imaged drive. I realize that it wouldn't back up a partition table or MBR but once a full image is done couldn't FFS keep the rest up to date (and faster if only a few files have changed)?

Posts: 7279 · Zenju 20 Nov 2012, 10:29

I guess that's doable, but a more "standard" approach which is also faster would be to only sync your personal files. Backup is a precaution for the case of disaster. If that happens it's not a problem to get the Operating System and other programs up and running again. But you do want to have your personal files backed up.

Posts: 2 · dbdigital 22 Nov 2012, 00:22

Well my thought was if the other drive could just be swaped if something happened to the main drive. Far quicker than rebuilding the system from scratch. And quicker to update just the changed files to the backup drive with FFS than image a entire drive.

Posts: 141 · srjones67 22 Nov 2012, 01:33

I run a monthly image of the system disk to a foldet in an external HD and run a daily FFS of personal files to another folder on the same HD. In the event Of a catastrophic failure I would image back to my system disk and run a reverse FFS of my daily sync. You could also clone your system disk to another disk in your pc and FFS to an external HD. So all you'd have to do is swap the cloned drive to the primary spot and run a reverse FFS.

Posts: 141 · srjones67 22 Nov 2012, 01:34

You can't use FFS to duplicate a system disk.