I have a Free Agent Go Flex external hard drive that came with Memeo, a
pre-loaded backup software. Can I erase that software and load Macrium backup
software in place of the pre-loaded software that came with this device without
any problems?
In this excerpt from
Answercast #56, I look at using an external drive without its pre-installed
backup program.
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Use Macrium on my drive?
The short answer? Yes, absolutely. In fact, it’s one of the first things I
do whenever I get a new external hard drive.
What I recommend you do (at least the first couple of times) is, instead of
simply erasing it:
-
Copy it off;
-
Back it up somewhere;
-
Save a copy of everything that’s already installed on that hard disk, just in case someday later you want to go back;
- Use it.
You can also leave it alone.
It’s just a drive
There’s nothing that says you have to use what’s on that hard disk. Even
just leaving it there, it’s not going to take up a whole lot of space. That’s
pretty safe too.
I almost always end up deleting it, just because I know that I’m not going
to use it. It’s taking up a little bit of space that I’d rather use for
backups.
I’d go ahead and use the drive with Macrium Reflect or
whatever other backup program you might want to use.
So, short answer – yes, absolutely!
Next from Answercast 56 – After resuming from Sleep, the keyboard works in Linux but no longer in Windows. What should I do?
The link for “Macrium Reflect” results in a page not found for me. I found several links when I did a search of “Ask-leo.com” – this one seemed a good place to start for those unfamiliar with the product: Brief Overview of Macrium
@Dan,
The link is fixed now. But that’s a good page to read about how it works.
can an external desktop drive be used as my “C” drive.
28-Sep-2012
As a matter of course I format or wipe any new or used drive I get. You never know what might be hiding on it.
Ezikeal,
No. The OS programming won’t work from an external drive. More in this article:
Can I install programs on an external drive?
28-Sep-2012