What do you guys use for your PC backup software?

fenix-store
G

geepondy

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Apr 15, 2001
Messages
4,896
Location
Massachusetts
Here's what I want to do with my XP system. I want to back up my entire partition that contains the XP OS (about 50Gig) to an external hard drive. I also want to back up individual data files that are located in other drives to the same external hard drive. In the event of a system crash, I want to be able to load back the copied OS partition like nothing ever happened. What do you guys use for your backup software that can accomplish this? The only two I'm really aware of is Norton Ghost and Acronish True Image.
 
Fitz

Fitz

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
May 14, 2004
Messages
1,080
Location
Missouri
I've used Acronis True Image for years and have had to use it several times to re-image a drive/partition. Works very well and simple to use. Highly recommended.
 
Sub_Umbra

Sub_Umbra

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Mar 6, 2004
Messages
4,748
Location
la bonne vie en Amérique
Hi-

I just set my wife up with a 20GB NTFS partition for XP Pro -- all of the data files are on another partition. We use Clonezilla to back up the partition with the XP business to a FAT partition. Clonezilla is free (GPL) software with no malware or other unexpected costs. The site linked to above has good documentation that may be assimilated quickly. I DLed the iso, burnt the CD and booted with it. It asks many questions but it's set up in such a way that all I needed to do was use the defaults.

On this machine Mrs Umbra backs up the data partition to another partition using a GUI 'diff' type program, WinMerge. It's another free GPL program and can mirror directory structures.
 
Last edited:
G

geepondy

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Apr 15, 2001
Messages
4,896
Location
Massachusetts
Guys I bought True Image, now I have another question which I'll ask here and see if I get an answer before starting a new thread or asking at other places.

When I put together my system, I partitioned the main drive into two NTFS partitions, a smaller one for the OS and program files, etc. and a larger one for data files. I have now realized I made the original one too small as it is almost full. Can I somehow on the fly, make it bigger by subtracting some unused sized from the second partition?
 
S

scott.cr

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Jan 10, 2006
Messages
1,470
Location
Los Angeles, Calif.
I use carbonite.com, an online backup service. For a 50 gig initial backup, it would probably take 3-4 days depending on your upload speed though!
 
B

BobVA

Enlightened
Joined
Aug 10, 2003
Messages
416
Location
North VA
For the individual files/folders, try SyncToy - free download from Microsoft. It lets you set up relationships between drives/folders using a variety of rules (e.g. Copy new files left to right only, copy newer files each direction, etc.)

For OS backups I'm pretty happy with Drive SnapShot. Extremely fast, runs under XP (i.e. doesn't require a boot to DOS) and, using a very small utility, you can mount the backup file(s) as a virtual drive so you can access/restore individual files, check dates, etc.

Regards,
Bob
 
K

ksonger

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Dec 30, 2006
Messages
75
hmm, i seem like i am in the minority here but i am in the business and use ghost to back up and restore partitions on almost a daily basis with no problems.

ken
 
E

eluminator

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Mar 7, 2002
Messages
1,750
Location
New Jersey
I've used SyncToy but it's a hassle for me. I have multiple users and invariably there will be some files that don't have read permission for the Admin account I use for copying.

I tried the latest SyncToy a few months ago. I copied hundreds of thousands of files. It seemed to fragment every damned file. It took hours to defragment. I don't know if the earlier SyncToy did that.

I now use Western Digital's Data Lifeguard program. That thing will copy everything, every time. Actually it copies too much. When copying a whole partition it tries to copy recycler and "system volume information". There's an easy fix though. I make a temporary folder on the destination partition and copy to that. Then drag everything but those two folders up to the root.
 
tvodrd

tvodrd

*Flashaholic* ,
Joined
Dec 13, 2002
Messages
4,987
Location
Hawthorne, NV
Several years ago, I bought Casper (the friendly ghost) and succeeded once in creating a mirror of my drive on another drive in the same box. Saved my butt when a WD drive crapped! Unfortunately, the cloned program ceased to work and would crash the box when trying to use it. I read the manual for Acronis, and it scares me.

When the Seagate 80 gig, 10krpm SCSI enterprise-class drive decided to fail on my previous box, it gave me plenty of warning, and with the help of folks here, was able to copy the majority of my files (including emails, and such) into another drive, and save them!

I've been watching this thread because having recently purchased an external HDD, would like to do a full image of my 18mo old current box. And do the same for a friend. I will continue to watch!!

Larry
 
G

geepondy

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Apr 15, 2001
Messages
4,896
Location
Massachusetts
Larry, as I mentioned I bought Acronis True Image and I haven't even looked at the manual but find it very easy to back up either whole drives or partitions to my external drive. I haven't yet tried to do a restore but I assume it should be straight forward as well.

tvodrd said:
Several years ago, I bought Casper (the friendly ghost) and succeeded once in creating a mirror of my drive on another drive in the same box. Saved my butt when a WD drive crapped! Unfortunately, the cloned program ceased to work and would crash the box when trying to use it. I read the manual for Acronis, and it scares me.

When the Seagate 80 gig, 10krpm SCSI enterprise-class drive decided to fail on my previous box, it gave me plenty of warning, and with the help of folks here, was able to copy the majority of my files (including emails, and such) into another drive, and save them!

I've been watching this thread because having recently purchased an external HDD, would like to do a full image of my 18mo old current box. And do the same for a friend. I will continue to watch!!

Larry
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

raggie33
what would you change about your self physically?
2
Replies
20
Views
2K
raggie33
raggie33
Monocrom
Do you own a GM vehicle? You need to see this....
Replies
14
Views
372
TPA
T
S
IT guys on CPF
Replies
1
Views
141
letschat7
letschat7
X
  • Locked
If you like your car, good luck keeping it.
Replies
7
Views
245
Mister Ed
Mister Ed
raggie33
How do all you all get from point a to b? How do you get around?
2 3
Replies
45
Views
2K
TPA
T

Latest posts

Top