You don't have to backup to one drive.
Applications can go on one, home folder on another or, split whatever directories across different drives.
As long as you know what is where then it's all good. (8+)

Mark

Personally I wouldn't back anything up other than data. Everything else (OS and applications) should be restored from the original disks or download sources and then have all the appropriate updates applied. Custom application preferences should be recreated from scratch. I know that might be long and boring, but that way you can be as sure as possible that you are simply not restoring any corrupted application or preference files. Test at each stage to see if the problem returns and if it does you might have a better idea of what is causing it.

Yeah, looking through folders now to see what data file I can move around. I've got a bit of space on my own USB drives which will take the bulk of it. If I can get a server connection steady long enough I can copy some there too. There's a fair amount I can delete. I've still got a 150gb back up from when our old server corrupted in case people came across files not updated, so most of that can go.

Trying it here again this morning, it's still doing it. Even start up was slow again. First start up (connected) it hung on blue screen, second (unconnected) was a bit slow but fired up, third (connected again) hung on blue screen until I took the cable out - then launched immediately. It's in now (server not mounted) but apps crash after a while. I may not even get this post up when I hit reply!

Thanks for the help so far guys - I appreciate it. Just such a weird issue. After it was all okay at home and now gone to pot while back here there's *something* it doesn't like with the network, or the network doesn't like about it... why all of a sudden though?

One thing I did enjoy ant home was being on a wired connection to my fibre optic broadband... blimey was it quick!

Actually, knowing how long an TimeMachine back up takes, not doing that might save me several hours/days anyway!

Well, *fingers crossed* all seemed to be well after the wipe so far. Just rebuilding everything now, and installing Mavericks while I'm about it...

Don't know what the issue was, and will probably never know, but thanks for the suggestions guys. Much appreciated.

IME there comes a point in troubleshooting, especially when you are not really getting anywhere with tracking down the problem, when it becomes easier and ultimately quicker to simply wipe and re-install. I tend to do it every couple of years with my Macs whether there is a problem or not. It also cleans out all that software you've been installing but not using. My policy is to not install anything until I need to use it. It's extra useful when it comes to system level utilities and deciding exactly how vital they are to the running of the Mac and my current workflow (or not).

Indeed. Many apps won't be going back on just through sheer lack of use...!!