Software update procedure - one final question

Re: my italicized questions above - do you have a quick short reply? If not, I'll do more homework and read the links. 🙂

Thanks from a currently lazy,

Mrs H

baltwo wrote:

You can check the HD's state using DU from either. However, you have to boot with another volume (or disc) to do any repairs.

Thanks. Now I remember that - fortunately, I've never had to do same.

One last 😉 question: do you go through the ritual described above for every update (drivers for printer update, iTunes update, iPhoto new camera type update - you get my drift...) or just system software update?

Mrs H

baltwo wrote:

I usually have two or three bootable clones that I keep up to date, so it sort of depends on when I last updated them. Using Carbon Copy Cloner, the incremental update takes about 5-8 minutes; thus, it's a simple thing to do that while reading e-mails or surfing the web, then apply the update.

Not sure if you are answering the question I thought I asked. 😉

Do you go through the ritual I describe in my original question at the top of the page here - from restart in safe mode (and do you do that? or do you shut down and start up again??) through repair permissions, verify state,..unplug peripherals,... etc etc ...for every update you do, not just system updates?

Can one do a backup (yes, it does take me about 6 minutes, I do them often too...) while doing those other things?

What external HD's do you use? I like my LaCie's but have been reading some negative things about them and Lion (but I think the trouble the people are having refers to the LaCie backup software, which I don't use, - I use SuperDuper) but I'm not going to Lion any time soon as you already know. 🙂

Thanks again,

Mrs H

So. I guess you are saying no, you don't do the whole ritual as described in my original question.

I can only think of one final question (he gives a big sigh of relief! 😉 ).

With the iMac there is only one firewire port. If I want to use my 3 HDs - though I only keep one powered up for daily backups (the others I do weekly) - it looks like I'll have to get a firewire hub. Is that the way you do it? Or do you keep plugging in the firewire to different HD's - very annoying - this is how I've functioned since getting the new iMac.

Would you take a look at this please - any thoughts?

http://store.moshimonde.com/ilynx-800.html?gclid=CNmpi_2z9aoCFYHc4Aodq1HCOw

Mrs H

John.Kitzmiller wrote:

You can daisy chain FireWire devices. It actually works really well.

duh, why didn't I think of that? Thanks for the suggestion, John.

It doesn't slow things down, or does it?

As long as I leave the first one in the chain always on when the iMac is awake (it has an automatic setting which #2 does also, but not #3) and turn on #2 when I want to access #3 this should work with 3 - right? I could even leave 1 & 2 always on since they both have an auto switch, #3 seems to stay awake when attached even when iMac is asleep...

Mrs H

baltwo wrote:

As the other John (the one currently from Chitown—I grew up there) said, daisy chain them. I don't use hubs at all.

See above to other John,

Didn't know you were John either.

Thanks, John,

Mrs H

baltwo wrote:

😀

Just when you thought you were finished with me - I have a daisychain (henceforth ref to as dc) question, I'll ask it here - and/or you can direct me to where it would be better placed.

The new iMac is causing me to re-organize my computing life and therefore my desk and Mr H's MBP. Such chaos and confusion...

I've done a ton of dc reading, YouTube watching (yes, there's a YT on how to set it up) and I still have a question of you two dc'ers (by way of Chitown that is):

A. I've read elsewhere that my model of LaCie's needed to be powered on in order to dc and to have FW pass through. Is it more stressful on the HDs to leave the power on and let them cycle down when not in use or to climb behind the desk and turn off the last one in the line (#3) which I'll probably only use once a week?

Or for that matter turn them all off and just turn them on (once a day) when I use them. I assume on and off is more stressful than just idling and this last idea is not good. When they are not accessed they just sit there, but they are attached to power and power is on (one of them has an LED that glows for a time, but I can hear it and it's not cycling (though every once in a while it seems to cycle on) - it's brand new so I'm monitoring how it goes). Eventually when not accessed, they go to sleep...

B. I know you will tell me not to do this, but I've done it for years with no ill effects (and I do have multiple - 3 or 4) backups of the MBP and iMac so sharing one HD for both is a not-to-worry.

Now to the question - the MBP is being back'uped on a tiny 1TB USB2 HD. If I bring that over to the desk with the iMac and connect it to an available USB2 port can I then clone from the USB HD directly to one of the FW drives in the chain which is connected to the iMac? Both drives will be mounted on the desktop so I assume I can do it.

I really can't wait til I get all this set up and resolved. It's driving me crazy and I assume I'm driving you crazy. 🙂

Mrs H