Backup tools

[TFoS_Fan]

Anyone knowe any goodbackup programs that let you backup all the files on your harddrive to a CD-r or something similar. I don't know much about this so some info would be appreciated as I have vowed never to loss anything again to PC gremlins.

[method77]

just use nero

[Krell]

What O/S are you using?

In W2000 and XP you should be able to back up to CD with the backup thats built in.

Also, this is for everyone, I highly advise you to backup your hard drive info, the partition info and boot records, using Ontrack, or Norton, or any other util that will do that, label those floppies, make them read only, and hide them for safe keeping.

Nero and Easy CD will do back ups as well, what in particular so you want to back up? Your media, or your Windows environment? If you back up Windows, you want to make sure you back up the System State data too.

[TFoS_Fan]

Thanks Krell. Could you tell me how to go about backuping using XP?

I really just want to make up backups that would allow me to not lose any of my files and if possible to backup my Windows configuration so I could boot up my exist windows instalation even if I had a problem with a corrupt windows file or something.

Hope you get what I meant by the last bit, I have not said it too clear, i'm sure u will be able to come up with something though:wings

[TFoS_Fan]

So krell or anyone tell me how to do it using XP please

[method77]

I don't use XP but this link should help you.

link (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/howto/security/backup.asp)

[alliercollins]

Look up some of the Acronis Tools. The best for the situation would probably be their True Image. If you have a second harddrive, Migrate Easy will also work.

http://www.acronis.com/products/trueimage/

[TFoS_Fan]

Ok, I am trying the Method Backup link idea,it appears that I cannot use a CD-r and I would have to do about million floppys to backup everything, is there anyway to backup using CD uding this method, and also what can I actually fo with this backup.

Will look into other method from alliercollins now.

[TFoS_Fan]

Acronis True Image looks great! Thanks!!

[Krell]

Acronis True Image 6 is good, I am also in the process of of trying Backup Buddy 3, File Recovery 3, NTI Backup Now, Paragon Drive Backup 5, Stomp Backup, Viritas Backup Exec 8.6 and 9, . . . . before I make any recomendations.

Ease of use, and CDR support and spanning are the minimum criteria.

Veritas is the backup thats already built in to W2000 and XP, just a strippier version, just like XP already has the stripped down Roxio EZ CD built in.

I suggest that for now, you go to the web pages of the companies listed and get a feel for their products.

[TFoS_Fan]

Well I have ust recieved (*cough* online download purchase is so good) Acronis True Image so I am going to give it a go.

[TFoS_Fan]

Program seems fine, I am going to do a backup tommorrow, when I have a spare 3 hours!

[TFoS_Fan]

One more question

Once I make my CD-R Backups how do I use them, do i just stick them in when pc is about to start up?

[Krell]

No


Thats another reason why I didnt answer you sooner.

It is also why I encouraged you to read the web pages to familiarize yourself with the choices, and not run headlong.

There are different types of backups. There are full back ups and there are images that you can make that boot from CD and restore.

If you make a full back, you still have nothing to boot to, so you would have to reinstall Windows, then do a full restore to overwrite the files with the newer data, and any other data that you had lost.

There are incremental backups, that will only record the changes since your last backup, that you would also put on after a restore.

I think the best immediate goal, is to make a Restore Point in XP, and burn it to CD's. Next is to back up your entire C: drive using one of the back up utils.

TAKE your time with this, and be prepared to burn a lot of CDs, and be prepared to test them.

If you cant test your backup, then for all you know, they are worthless to you.

It is possible to make a restore CD, with your particular data on it, but it takes time to do, and the right software. With such a CD, you could boot from that CD, and write the image back to your HD, as if it had alsways been there.
.

[TFoS_Fan]

Ok, thanks krell, could you tell how I actually go about making a restore point in XP to a CD? I know how to make a usual rectore point to hard drive but do not have a clue how to put this on CD that can be used to boot my PC.

Thanks in advance

[RACKnRAIL]

I've been using Norton Ghost for back up images. Works great for me...although this is only an opinion!

[jabbahudson]

Same here RacknRail i use Norton ghost as well, but b4 for that i just use to wack the whole backup on to a cd using a burning program!!!