Need help with Backup

I recently purchased a seagate freeagent go usb harddrive http://review.zdnet.com/hard-drives/seagate-freeagent-go-80gb/4505-3186_16-32378615.html. I want to use it to back up information on my computer. Here are my questions:

1) If I try to use it and run Rescue and Recovery it tells me that the usb harddrive is not bootable and that it needs to be formatted in order to make it bootable. If I do this it will likely erase the software on USB HD, right?

2) Is it worth formatting it this way? If so, will the left over space continue to be usable?

3) Is R&R really worth doing or should I just use the software on the Seagate Freeagent Go (Ceedo)? I don't think that this software is actually rescue and recovery software, but it will back up the information, just not all of the applications...I think. Here's the Ceedo link: http://www.ceedo.com/

4) Finally, one way or the other I want to use this usb HD to back up my t61, and I can use it simply as a harddrive (without the ceedo software). If none of these options is ideal, I'd love advice on what direction to go (for cheap) and still be able to use this HD.

Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to be detailed so that it would be easier to respond. Thanks!

 

I bought an external Maxtor 320 GB hard drive when I first got my T60. I find it very valuable to use the thinkvantage backup program, I've had to restore several times because I keep tinkering with the laptop. Basically hook it up externally, use the thinkvantage blue button and go to data protection, and then backup my data. Follow the menu to choose the USB drive and it will ask you to make it bootable, say yes. I have all the space and keep several backups. Only caveat is when you want to clear out some of those backups in my case it only works if I delete ALL the backups, just checking one of the earlier ones doesn't work. You have to go in order backwards from most recent or to all of them when deleting, try it out and see if you have better luck with deleting backups. But that's another topic. Hope that helps.

S

 

I use Seagate's Disc Wizard which is free and works well. It's powered by Acronis and looks the same. I like to do a clean install. When I have everything the way I like, I make a backup image which you can put on any external drive. When you want to recover, you just put the boot disc in and point it to the the image. Takes about five minutes for the just the OS and apps. If you have more data on their, it will take longer.