TOKU - Treasury of Knowledge for Users

Windows Backup and VMs

Drew shared his computer backup strategy using Macrium Reflect and demonstrated various virtualization tools and techniques, including BIOS, bootloaders, and operating system concepts. The group discussed cloud storage options and data backup methods, with Drew showcasing different approaches to managing files across multiple platforms and services. The conversation ended with discussions about virtual machine usage, Wi-Fi technology, and upcoming presentations on wikis, security, and Wi-Fi 6/7 technology.

Drew shared a detailed overview of his computer backup strategy using Macrium Reflect, explaining how he uses both full and differential backups on an external hard drive. He discovered that his computer's connectivity issues and JavaScript problems could have been mitigated by having more recent incremental backups, leading him to consider upgrading to the paid version of Macrium Reflect for $100 per year to enable incremental backups. Drew also demonstrated Macrium VI Boot, a companion program that allows imaging backups to be taken while the computer is running, and showed how he uses it to create virtual machine copies of his system.

The group discussed the relationship between BIOS, bootloaders, and operating systems, clarifying that the BIOS is hardware-specific and handles hardware initialization, while bootloaders determine which operating system to load. Drew explained that both Windows and Linux can use the same BIOS and that dual-booting is possible. They also discussed virtualization software, with Drew mentioning his use of VMware, VirtualBox, and Microsoft's virtual machine software. Drew demonstrated how Macrium Reflect's free version can create a Microsoft virtual machine from a backup image, which can then be converted to other formats using third-party tools.

Drew demonstrated how to create and manage virtual machines using Hyper-V Manager and discussed methods for upgrading to Windows 11 Pro, including a $10 license through Groupon. He explained the process of converting virtual machine formats using Starwind Software's V2V Converter and encountered some login permission issues but found a workaround. Drew also showcased the ability to create a Windows 11 developer environment quickly and emphasized the convenience of testing software in a temporary virtual machine before committing to a full installation.

Drew explained the differences between full, incremental, and differential backups in Macrium Reflect, clarifying that a differential backup contains all changes since the last full backup and can restore the system directly without needing additional steps. LCC raised concerns about data loss in case of a major catastrophe, emphasizing the importance of off-site backups, and Drew agreed, suggesting storing an additional backup with a family member as a 3-2-1 backup strategy. The group also discussed issues with OneDrive's automatic synchronization and file storage policies, with Drew demonstrating how to manage folder availability and access OneDrive files without synchronization using Rclone.

Drew explained how he uses pCloud for cloud storage with a lifetime 4TB plan, and syncs his Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive files using Free File Sync for backup purposes. LCC discussed her concerns about Microsoft's cloud storage options and mentioned she uses Backblaze, but encountered issues with OneDrive that she plans to address by setting files to “always be available on the PC.” Drew shared his experience with Microsoft's OneDrive, noting that while it offers convenient automatic photo backup from his Samsung phone, Microsoft has restricted storage options to either 100GB or 1TB, requiring Office 365 subscription for the latter.

Drew demonstrated how screenshots taken on his phone automatically upload to multiple cloud services including OneDrive, iCloud, and pCloud, and shared links to software for converting virtual image files. He also explained a method for improving mobile hotspot speeds using PairVPN software, which creates a virtual tunnel between a phone and computer to achieve full data throughput even when cellular service is throttled. Drew noted that while home internet service is generally reliable, this method could be useful during power outages or in hurricane zones where cellular service remains operational.

Drew explained the benefits of using PairVPN to avoid throttling when connecting devices to mobile hotspots, contrasting it with the limitations of standard mobile hotspot connections. LCC raised concerns about the revenue model of the free VPN software, questioning how the developers sustain their business. The discussion concluded with LCC conducting a poll on virtualization usage and interest, and Drew sharing his technical expertise on different virtualization tools and their practical applications.

Drew demonstrated how to connect and disconnect external drives to virtual machines, explaining that the drives revert to the host machine if the virtual machine crashes or is terminated. The group discussed the use cases for virtual machines, including running software trials and testing different operating systems like Linux. Drew mentioned he uses virtual machines to install and test various software without affecting his main system, and shared an example of a friend who runs Windows software on a Linux machine using a virtual machine.

The group discussed virtual machines, with LCC explaining how to set up a Windows environment within Linux using Docker. They scheduled presentations for December 3rd, with Steve planning to cover wikis and security, and LCC offering to present on Wi-Fi 6 and 7 technology, which Drew had experience with after purchasing a new ASUS Wi-Fi 7 router. Drew shared his findings on Wi-Fi performance comparisons between 5GHz and 6GHz bands, as well as the benefits of his new router's 5G cellular tethering capability.