Need Recommendation For Backup Program.

sugarprincess · Joined: Dec 05, 2002 Posts: 650

but I can't find the thread(s).

After a three-day vacation, we came home to a WinXP Pro computer that wouldn't boot...missing the NTDL (or whatever) file so the OS wouldn't boot. Lovely. The auto recovery (DOS's fixboot) wouldn't work, so we just reinstalled and reactivated. Now we're finding all sorts of things that don't work (cable internet and ethernet card for starters--Belarc doesn't even recognize any network stuff whatsoever). It's not a good night. Sad

Anyway, it got me wanting to start doing RELIGIOUS backups. I do them half-heartedly and I have my most important files backed up...but I need something more serious. I've downloaded a few backup programs that I've seen recommended along the way but that I've never done anything with. I've searched WebAttack and get overwhelmed... so I need some good, solid advice. I'd prefer free, of course. Smile

I don't have an external hard drive, so I would prefer to use CDs. (I have some room on another hard drive, but the point is to get the backup OFF the computer, right?) :)

Thanks!

gsterry · Joined: Dec 05, 2002 Posts: 6949

One program we've discussed is Drive Image.

Once you get your system in 'perfect' order, boot into Drive Image with either the two floppies or a bootable CD and then select the partition(s) to image. Once done, you can then copy the image(s) to CD-R(W).

I Use DriveImage 5.0 and do not have the ability to image directly to CD-R(W). Perhaps newer versions can do this.

sugarprincess · Joined: Dec 05, 2002 Posts: 650

Hmmm. I wasn't even thinking about an image--I was just thinking about data backups. I do have Ghost...I imagine that would do the same thing?

gsterry · Joined: Dec 05, 2002 Posts: 6949

:huh: Oh... sorry but, yes, Ghost would do the same thing.

If you put all of your important stuff in My Documents, then you could make a daily/regular habit of putting it on CD-RWs.

DrUltima · Joined: Apr 23, 2003 Posts: 151

An image backup has advantages and disadvantages:

Advantage: Complete backup - does not require programs to be reinstalled after a hard drive failure.
Advantage: Inexpensive (relatively speaking)

Disadvantage: not scheduleable - might miss important data on a frequently changed machine
Disadvantage: slower - no such thing as a differential image. :D

On a PC, Ghost or DriveImage work fine, for most people. You could also get a freeware program like EZBackItUp to copy data to a DirectCD on a scheduled basis for rapidly changing data.

killahgrag · Joined: Aug 10, 2003 Posts: 1146

syntax · Joined: Dec 11, 2003 Posts: 115

If you can spare it, I would highly recommend you take that other drive you have and convert it to an external drive. I think the enclosures can probably be had for #20 -$30, a small price to pay for sanity. If your PC has USB2 or Firewire, it's even better. Even the original USB isn't too slow for data backups in a home environment. What I would do in your situation:

1) Do full format/reinstall of WinXP, drivers, and your favorite applications.
2) Use DriveImage or Ghost to make an image of your clean install to your second hard drive. Use the option that lets you split the image into segments (about 680MB each) and then you can burn them to CD's.
3) Format this second hard disk and put it in your new external enclosure. Install necessary drivers.
4) Grab a copy of Karen's Replicator from Karenware.com and configure it to copy the folders you want to your new external hard disk daily, or more often if you feel it necessary.

Now, in the event of such a catastrophe, you could restore your hard drive's image and all your critical data in just an hour or two!

surrealist · Joined: Feb 28, 2003 Posts: 1039

goretsky · Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2004 5:47 am Post subject:

Hello,

There have been several previous discussions of backup methodologies and software on the forum that you might be interested in reading here, here, here and here.

Perhaps one of the threads will give you some ideas about which approach(es) would be best for your particular situation.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

User: inactive Posts:

Sugar Princess..

If you are using an Image....Ghost, Drive Image or Acronis True Image, you do not have to save it OFF computer...just as long as u save it to a partition that is NOT the one you are imaging is just fine. Of course, it is GOOD to have an image on cd for safety's sakes.....but as long as it is on a diff partition suffices in that even if your os should bag it and completely trash your c: drive, you are still safe, because all restores of the c:\drive have to be done from a dos environment...ie...you reboot to either a diskette or cd that your main image program makes for you (called a rescue disk) This disk/cd is the most important disk/cd you have because if your os is trashed, you just plug in ur diskette/cd ....boot up to it, and it pulls up ur image program that restores your saved image that you have on either another partition or cd.

It's just that simple.

albert

keith1066 · Joined: Feb 04, 2004 Posts: 1

a really good backup program is goback by symantec. I use it and it works really well :ph34r: