So what could go wrong? Nothing - right?
It was whilst chatting with my wife, Terri, that she asked about my back-up system. I, with a proud smirk on my face, explained how I had it covered. She thought for a moment and said "what about all of your software programmes?'
A cold shiver ran down my spine. A high percentage of programmes now are downloaded from the internet so no DVD back-up is available. Also, what about the system software? It has taken years to get my PC (actually Mac in my case) how I like it. The thought of starting from scratch if meltdown occurred is horrifying.
I immediately hit Google to find an answer. PCs and Macs can produce a system image which you can go to and restore from in such cases (PC - http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows7/back-up-your-programs-system-settings-and-files) (Mac - http://mac.appstorm.net/how-to/os-x/creating-disk-images-with-disk-utility/) but, if you are like me, you will probably do this and then forget about it for a year or two making it totally out of date when you need it.
The answer for me came in a programme called Carbon Copy Cloner. Once set up (which was easy) this programme makes a complete copy of your hard drive onto an external drive which can then be used to start up from in cases of emergency. It also keeps the copy up to date. It can then clone the hard drive back to your repaired or new Mac. Unfortunately this product is Mac only but there are many out there for PCs. A quick Google search revealed that Norton Ghost will do the same job.
Like all insurances you hope you'll never need them. However, yesterday my Mac stopped responding. After all the usual quick fix options (restarting, trying to run fixing programmes etc.) I started up from the back-up disc and wiped my hard drive clean, then re-installed everything from the clone. It took a few hours but I am now running as usual and breathing a massive sigh of relief.
Don't leave it until it's too late - sort out your back-ups now!
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