How does Seagate dashboard work?

[Derpyderp]

Hi everyone, I just bought a 1tb Seagate backup plus drive and I'm having some issues regarding the way the dashboard works.

As I understand it the Seagate dashboard uses a lot of automated and scheduled backup times but these scheduled backups assume that I have my external HDD plugged in at all times. Firstly, is this the norm? I thought most people only plug in an external drive every few weeks or so.

Secondly, assuming that I only plug in this drive every few weeks how do all the automated backups work? Will it just backup my pc again as soon as I plug it in and overwrite/replace stuff that hasn't changed since the first backup in the same folder or will it create a new backup/snapshot of that day in a different folder. I'm asking because I don't want 5 versions of backups with overlapping files on my external drive as this will fill up my drive way too fast

Will clicking on ''make backup now'' create such a snapshot or will it just add some new files to my existing backup?

And assuming that I have a backup scheduled every two weeks via the dashboard, how would this work if I plug in my drive after 3 weeks? Will the schedule be off?

Just note that all I really want is to get 1 backupfile that backs up my entire pc and that just adds new files to my original backup.

Note that I've read and watched some Seagate tutorials but these haven't been that helpful, so any help on how to go about this stuff would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Darkbreeze]

I wouldn't be inclined to use any of the automated tools. I'd recommend performing backups manually. I like to install the application, whatever it may be, and then disable it's startup routines or uncheck it's automatic settings and only run the application when I want it to run. Otherwise, the services needed will likely be always running in the background and eating up resources that it doesn't need to be. As far as the external being plugged in only so often, never heard of that, ever. I leave mine connected at all times unless I need to take one somewhere to have the data with me. If you're using it for a system backup to store disk images I'd recommend using something like Acronis True Image.


I've used the Seagate backup before and while in general I like Seagates drive tools, I've had issues with the disk mode not creating the boot partition correctly. Perhaps it was just a singular occurance or something with the system I was working on but I've never had issues using Acronis and True image allows for both full and incremental style backups.

 

[Derpyderp]

But is there really a downside to leaving it unplugged apart from convenience? Assuming I only backup data every few weeks wouldn't it be useless to keep it plugged in all the time?

 

[Someone Somewhere]

Why would you only back up data every few weeks?

 

[Derpyderp]

Because I don't often download/install things that I consider that important. I normally only backup data if I'm working on some type of important document, which isn't everyday.

 

[Darkbreeze]

I think we're talking about two different kinds of backups here. One backup reflects the system while the other is only personal documents. If you're only backing up personal document, such as downloaded programs, pictures, music, etc, then you can just back them up when you feel like it, or simply download them to that location to start with.

If you're backing up the system settings, operating system image, etc., it's probably better to do so at least once a week, preferably twice. I guess it depends a lot on how much you do and how often you do it. Myself, if I go more than two days and lose the installation due to a malware infection, hardware failure or something similar, I'd lose a lot of information that had changed in those two days. Another person might be able to roll back to a backup from two weeks prior and not really be missing much at all if their time on the computer was infrequent or they hadn't done much more than browse the web looking at interesting sites and reading the news.

If office documents or graphic projects are your thing, you probably want to back them up each and every time you make a change. So, while there's really nothing to lose by only connecting your external drive when you need to back something up, there's also nothing to lose by keeping it connected. The amount of power used by an external usb drive during the day, especially if its set to sleep during inactivity, is probably less than it takes to charge your phone for an hour or watch the prime time programs on tv.

 

[GeoPe]

DerpyDerp is not talking about the kinds of backups other mention.

Seagate Dashboard ignores "system settings, operating system image, etc." so, as DarkBreeze wrote, it's got nothing to do with the frequency of the backup or whether a drive is left plugged in or connected each time a backup it wanted.

DerpyDerp was very clear about what he wants to do so advising him to do something different doesn't answer his question. In fact, he wants to backup his drive as I do (whenever I want to do a backup) and not leave the Seagate drive plugged in on those days when no backup would be done.

I wanted to know the answer to his question for the same reason he wants to know it. In fact, I could have written his question. That's what brought me to this thread.

As for keeping it connected? Why bother? It's a drain on the drive, takes up unnecessary desk space, and takes a USB port out of use.

This Youtube video is helpful in that it discusses Snapshot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMKG2SUFSlE

Snapshot does a complete backup. It's for those who like manual control. Will not back up again until you tell it to. The next time you want to update your snapshot, you go to the main screen. Click on "Update Backup" and it will create an additional snapshot version that will contain any new files you added ... or changes you made to existing files since the original snapshot.

This second video (by Seagate) says the same thing. Snapshot is used for manual backups.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBBPxxLq4z4

Both videos were made in 2012. I believe that changes made to Dashboard since 2012 most likely pertain to features and efficiency and not to the "labels" per se. There would be massive confusion if the meaning of Snapshot changed.

In this second video, Snapshot is used if you want to do manual backups. After the first backup has been completed, can go to the "protect" screen and select "Backup Now" to update the Snapshot.

I am using version 4 of Dashboard and see very little difference between my version and the ones in these videos and the videos on Seagate's site.

I do not want to keep the drive plugged in. I want to do backups when I want to, and then disconnect the drive. That's why I chose "Snapshot."

HOWEVER, Snashot does something unwanted. It does not do "incremental" backups. It only does full backups. I have trouble believing that it would not be incremental, but that's what Seagate says:

"One-time, full backup
The Snapshot executes the backup plan only once. Every time a snapshot is performed, it will do a full backup at that point. Dashboard stores all the backed-up data into a folder (see Document ID: 005072 - Where are my Seagate Dashboard backup files stored?). Every Snapshot backup will produce a folder in which all of the backed up data is stored."
http://knowledge.seagate.com/articles/en_US/FAQ/004979en?language=en_US

That means, to do an incremental backup on one's own timetable (e.g., manually) one needs to set it up do do a backup once each week or once each month ... and ignore it. Rather, plug in the drive when one wants to do a backup and and tell it to backup.

That's what technical support told me to do.

 

[Milt_07]

But is there really a downside to leaving it unplugged apart from convenience? Assuming I only backup data every few weeks wouldn't it be useless to keep it plugged in all the time?

I'll give you a much more important reason NOT to leave it plugged in all the time. I just bought my Seagate drive so I could keep a backup of all my important files OFF LINE, in case I blunder into some malicious code that hijacks my computer. I don't want my backup drive hijacked also, because then it is useless. I have another backup on line to keep a more up-to-date backup, but hope to be able to recover all my files to within a week or so, if needed, with the Seagate. My plan is to plug it in once a week, do an incremental backup, then unplug it, to protect it from a potential hijacker. If I ever am hijacked, I can then rebuild my system, reinstall my programs, reload my data from the Seagate, and I should be good to go. I wasn't sure how to do an incremental backup when I plug it in, which is how I came to find this thread.

 

[Someone Somewhere]

Nice thread necro. Please make your own thread.