Author Topic: Best Backup System? (Read 423 times)

Halo · « **on:** November 12, 2003, 11:27:52 AM »

I'm looking for the best backup system for Windows XP Home. Its Restore feature won't work since it doesn't like a MIDI driver I installed, so that got me to looking at the entire question of backup systems.

Right now I am almost to the point of installing Ghost from Norton Systemworks 2004 to not only give me restore points but to also preserve the entire hard disk drive to an external hard disk Maxtor 5000 DV with 200GB storage.

Any of you have this setup or something like it? Recommendations?

In related issues, I have Norton Antivirus always running, and apparently that screws up many Restore type programs because it messes up their restore points. In addition, I understand backup programs like Ghost impact system speed, maybe reducing it noticeably in some cases.

I've toyed with a couple backup programs in the past, but was never impressed with any of them. The few times I've had total crashes I just re-installed everything over a couple days. I'm a home user with no crucial stuff. The few files I really need I save to floppies or CD-R.

So my backup needs are thus probably typical home user, but with quite a few programs and updates that might justify a good overall backup system if reliable and easy to use.

What do you expert Aces High warriors do when faced with the choice between optimum flight sim performance, virus protection, and system restore and backup?

Reschke · « **Reply #1 on:** November 12, 2003, 02:42:06 PM »

Virus Protection 1st and foremost. My computer is the only one with critical info for my second job and its also my gaming rig. Then I start worrying about backing up data but thats why I have a second computer and another hard drive that sits on a shelf to hook in and backup every thing.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #2 on:** November 12, 2003, 04:39:30 PM »

I use a DVD Burner (4.7GB per disc is pretty good) to back my stuff. If you plan and layout your system correctly it is pretty easy to backup.

Tip: Keep all user data in a sub-directory, on its own partition, if possible. This way you backup that partition, then all your data is covered. If the HD dies, you have to reinstall the applications and OS, but the data is preserved.

Halo · « **Reply #3 on:** November 12, 2003, 10:42:43 PM »

I've spent another day reading too many gloomy reviews about backups.

I'll just continue backing up essential files on floppies or CDs and wade through all the operating system and applications reinstallation if it ever becomes necessary (yes, I have had to do that a couple times, hence the interest in any quick and easy total hard drive backup).

I was also surprised at some of the horror stories about simply upgrading programs from one year to the next. Some truly scary stuff out there.

Guess it's the classic lesson: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #4 on:** November 13, 2003, 10:23:11 AM »

I look at it this way. If it is Windows based, it is always broken, you just have to find the level of comfort to handle it.

Most problems I have found with upgrades are people just do not pay attention to what they are doing, or they just do not read the normally provided README before jumping headlong into an update.
In some cases, an update will fix one problem and introduce another. Not always, but it happens. It's just a matter of getting back to that level comfort again.

By the way, the RecordDX program that comes with the Sony DVD Burner is a peach of a program to use for backups. It allows you to build a list and recall it for regular backups. Makes backups pretty painless.
I wish the program could be had as a standalone, but Veritas does not appear to offer it unbundled.

FOGOLD · « **Reply #5 on:** November 13, 2003, 11:31:54 AM »

I use an Amacom Flip2Disk external hard drive for work stuff. It's great and mirrors your hard drive incrementally and is bootable.
Also I back up data on a regular basis to Zip disks. My work has a small ammount of v important data, so in a disaster it's not too much of a chore to reinstall all programmes then data. The flip2disk is belt and braces.

Remember, if you make uncompressed copies of word and excel files they will read on just about any other PC in an emergency. The main thing is to back up every day for data and every week for entire drive if you do that.

I have a seperate games machine. Doesn't matter much what happens to it!:D

llama · « **Reply #6 on:** November 13, 2003, 01:26:28 PM »

Ghost rules. Really, I couldn't live without it.

I review software for a living, so I am CONSTANTLY backing up, installing new software, playing with it, and then Ghost-ing back to the pre-install state. I also Ghost my systems every few weeks so that, if something happens like a virus, a crash, or whatever, I can go back a few weeks and be back where I was. This is also handy before installing new hardware or perforing a Microsoft critial update.

The easiest and fastest way to use it is to install a second hard drive in your PC for nothing but ghost images. You then boot off the ghost floppy, spend 30 seconds pressing keys, and you're off!

Another good way is with an external USB2 hard drive. Just plug it in, boot from the floppy, and go.

Ghost also recognizes burnable optical media. You can just insert blank CDs or DVDs into your burner and it will automatically write to the disks and prompt you for the next one. This takes longer, but it works great.

Finally, you can also tell ghost to break up the image files into, say 650 meg chuncks, and it will name them in series on your hard drive, and then you can manually burn them with Nero (or whatever turns you on).

I can honestly say thta Ghost makes my life 20 times easier, and I sleep better at night that my systems are backed up easily.

-Llama

Vipermann · « **Reply #7 on:** November 13, 2003, 02:13:11 PM »

I second that. Ghost = Winner

beet1e · « **Reply #8 on:** November 14, 2003, 04:04:18 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Skuzzy
I look at it this way. If it is Windows based, it is always broken, you just have to find the level of comfort to handle it.

ROFL, Skuzzy! Made my day reading that.