System Backup

[SrDriver]

I run both Windows XP Media Edition and Linux off of one hard drive in a dual boot mode.

Have found that later versions of Norton Ghost will backup both the NTFS and Linux partitions.

I have a 500 gig external hard drive and too have backed up by booting off a CD into Norton Ghost and backing up the system to DVD+R disks. Have found that the -R Disks don't work.

Last night I did something stupid and trashed my O/S. Had recently completed a backup to the external hard drive. Booted of the CD and restored everything including both Linux and Windows.

Worked like a charm and soon was back in business.

Have learned over the years it is not a question of if but when!

Before retirement at work we always kept the last 3 backups and did one each day. One set was kept off site just in case the building burned down, etc.

 

[LarryD]

An image backup is the way to go. We do a full backup each week along with daily incrementals - all to an external USB hard drive. Ghost and similar image backup programs use the shadow copy feature of Windows to backup live data so the entire OS and data can be restored without worry of booting failure.

Always good advice, SrDriver.

 

[Drew99GT]

Indeed; I use EZ-GIG II (stripped down version of True Image).

System gets messed up, even the smallest little thing, an image can be restored in 15 minutes..............faster then fussing around with things.

It's a great tool if you ever get a nasty piece of malware. The best anti-malware can only do so much to clean a system, where as a back up is 100% fool proof.

 

[SrDriver]

If you are running Windows Vista, Windows XP, etc, and have an external hard drive, the free DriveImage Program works well for backup - restore.

You can also make a recovery bootable Windows CD and add Drive Image to it for a complete free backup and recovery system!

Link to DriveImage XML

Info about Bart PE is on the web site.

 

[tmorris1]

If you use an external USB drive for backup, make sure it is unplugged and disconnected for a true safe backup. If lightning or a power surge fries your PC, it will also fry your USB drive if it is powered up all the time. Just a thought. I use an external USB drive, but also keep important things on DVDs in my safe.

 

[SrDriver]

I do the same thing too. + I keep things like important documents, photos, etc., on DVDs and keep a copy which I update periodically in the safety deposit box at the bank.

A few years before I retired, having a backup off-site was a real lifesaver! Saved months of work and untold thousands of dollars!

It is not a question of if but more like when!

 

[drm7]

I'm seriously looking at Windows Home Server when it comes out this fall. I've got a friend doing beta testing of it and loves it. He has already had to restore a failed drive and it worked flawlessly. It can be run on most older machines you might have in a closet or a $300 Dell/HP deal.

 

[tmorris1]

How does Home Server restore a failed drive?

 

[drm7]

Sorry for the late post, been out for a while. Win Home Server makes a sort of image backup of your machine. You replace the drive in the failed machine, tell Win Home Server that that machine (with new drive) is this "image" and it will restore the new drive to look like the old. You don't lose any data or installed programs. My friends that are beta testing report that it works great.

 

[tmorris1]

You can do the same thing with any disk imaging software and a spare hard drive.

 

[Mudcat]

Quote:

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You can do the same thing with any disk imaging software and a spare hard drive.

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I'd like to expand on this point.

One of the features of Windows Home Server is to provide backup. The server can provide backup to multiple PCs--up to 10 the last time I checked.

If one only needs to backup a solitary system, then yes, probably any disk imaging program is fine. However, if you have more than one system to protect, Windows Home Server looks intriguing.

 

[sprintman]

Acronis True Image is the go and PC Authority agrees. Not free