How to make effective backups?

vst's are dll's so no, you still have to install them all.  As for presets: depends on what sequencer you're using.  You can create a directory called 'plugin presets' and save all your pluginpresets there.  If you're working in FL, they're all saved in the same directory (with subdirectories per plugin when you're using fl8).

You should buy a separate firewire disk and use it for a full carbon back-up.On a Mac you can use  Time Capsule or Carbon Copy  . I'm sure there are similar Back-up SW on PC     This way you don't even loose the cracked SW ... not that you have any cracked SW on your computer off course 

Hm..so you can't make a disc or something that would restore everything like it was? :s...That brings extra questions for example: If I would make a backup of all my samples, vst's and .FLP files on a couple of cd's or something and my computer crashes..when I reinstall everything and I copy the files from the backup to my computer again, Will FL be able to detect all samples I used in the .FLP files? because if I move a certain sample I used in a project and I open the project again, FL can't find the sample anymore...So after a crash I should make sure that every sample or vst is in the exact same directory as it was before, if I want to open old .FLP files...

Or am I way of track here? :)

Edit: gonna check your reply Bp, but since I'm not that technical maybe you could give some more details :) (work on a pc btw, but just some details of what a "full carbon backup" is for example :) )

go to your fruity map, then the file under wich al your samples are stored, copy paste it to your HD, no problem about finding your samples, i had this problem the first time when i updated from fl 4 to 5, Fruity will find your samples in the right place, but as for vst's as bandarlog said, create a map in wich you store al your presets, and make a back up of them. Then when your pc crashes, lets hope not. You just have to copy paste those maps into the right place, and voila. I even think you don't have to re instal the vst's, Could be wrong, not shure

Originally posted by : MrNice

Hm..so you can't make a disc or something that would restore everything like it was? :s...That brings extra questions for example: If I would make a backup of all my samples, vst's and .FLP files on a couple of cd's or something and my computer crashes..when I reinstall everything and I copy the files from the backup to my computer again, Will FL be able to detect all samples I used in the .FLP files? because if I move a certain sample I used in a project and I open the project again, FL can't find the sample anymore...So after a crash I should make sure that every sample or vst is in the exact same directory as it was before, if I want to open old .FLP files...

Or am I way of track here? :)

Edit: gonna check your reply Bp, but since I'm not that technical maybe you could give some more details :) (work on a pc btw, but just some details of what a "full carbon backup" is for example :) ) 

You clearly haven't discovered the magic button "export/save as zipped loop package". When you finish a project, save in this mode and you have a selfcontained zip pack with all your samples in them.

If you buy a Firewire disk from for example LaCie , the back-up SW ( both Mac or PC ) are included.If you make a full ( carbon) backup of your PC/Mac on regular intervals ... you don't get these dramatic problems of loosing all tracks , VST, SW etc... when the computer crashed or get stolen ....  

(I use Allway Sync to update my backups...verry handy)