Backup 101

[Robert]

Hello XPers

How do you backup your files? Other than just copying everything onto a CD?
I'm looking to backup several gigabytes worth of data in case my hard drive
crashes. Using XP Home.

Can these new USB drives be used for backups?

Robert

 

[Guest]

XP Home edition does not have a backup feature. XP Pro does. You can
buy a third party app like Symantac's Ghost drive. Backing up personal files
such as documents, photos, etc. to a CD or an external USB drive is also
good.
XP Home does have a Restore feature but that is only for system files.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

USB2 drives are excellent for backups. The XP backup utility is not
installed during setup but you can install it from the cd or from this
source:
backup.exe http://www.onecomputerguy.com/windowsxp_tips.htm#backup_home

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

XP Home has the same backup program Pro does. It is just not installed
during setup. It is on the Home cd.

 

[Ken Blake]

In

XP Home edition does not have a backup feature. XP Pro does.

No, that's not correct. They both do, but unlike with XP
Professional, it's not automatically installed on XP Home. If you
have the complete XP Home CD, find backup on the CD, in
\ValueAdd\MSFT\NTBACKUP and install it yourself by doubleclicking
the file ntbackup.msi.
If you don't have an XP CD, you can download ntbackup.msi at

http://www.onecomputerguy.com/software/ntbackup.msi

Also see http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=302894

It's far from the best backup program in the world, and I too
would prefer a third-party choice, but it does exist.

 

[Guest]

Hello, Have you considered installing a second harddrive? Or an external
"firewire or usb2" drive. Another option a DVD burner.
Alone or in combination all the above listed methods work well for my backup
needs.
Take Care.
beamish.

 

[JustMe]

Buy a 2nd hard drive if you have the room, they're dirt cheap and a great
place to put backups of your files
..
Hello XPers

How do you backup your files? Other than just copying everything onto a CD?
I'm looking to backup several gigabytes worth of data in case my hard drive
crashes. Using XP Home.

Can these new USB drives be used for backups?

Robert

 

[Guest]

Hello XPers

How do you backup your files? Other than just copying everything onto a CD?
I'm looking to backup several gigabytes worth of data in case my hard drive
crashes. Using XP Home.

Can these new USB drives be used for backups?

Robert

=============

A lot of people get second hard drives and are happy with them for
backup. Personally I prefer a DVD drive because:

1) I can set my machine up to make regular automatic backups, and
periodically (daily, weekly, or whatever) replace the DVD with a new
one. This gives me several generations of backup that I can use in
rotation. If I do something dumb to my data and don't realize it for a
week or two I still have a good backup stored somewhere. With a single
hard drive backup you're screwed in that case, once you back up damaged
data over top of your only good backup copy.

2) What is going to destroy your existing primary data drive that you're
trying to protect? Well, how about a failed power supply zapping the
electronics maybe? Lightning storm? Software bug? Virus attack?
These things will also potentially all screw up your second hard drive.
With a backup DVD sitting in the closet I'm secure. If necessary I can
buy a new computer and plug in my data from my DVD and be back in business.

3) What else can destroy your data? Maybe your house burns down. Or a
burglar steals your computer. If you have critical data only in your
computer then once again you're screwed. With DVDs you can store a
backup in another location away from your house and still have your
records intact.

I realize this all sounds paranoid, but then why do we back up data in
the first place? A DVD by the way stores about 5GB of data which is
actually a lot. You don't need to back up the executable code for Word
for example since you still have your installation disks -- you only
need to back up your Word data files.

My personal choice for software to do the backups unattended in the
middle of the night is SmartSynch. There are a lot of other choices out
there too though.

Good luck...

Bill

 

[Robert]

Thanks.

XP Home edition does not have a backup feature. XP Pro does. You can
buy a third party app like Symantac's Ghost drive. Backing up personal
files
such as documents, photos, etc. to a CD or an external USB drive is also
good.
XP Home does have a Restore feature but that is only for system files.

 

[Robert]

Thanks.

XP Home has the same backup program Pro does. It is just not installed
during setup. It is on the Home cd.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)

XP Home edition does not have a backup feature. XP Pro does. You can
buy a third party app like Symantac's Ghost drive. Backing up personal
files
such as documents, photos, etc. to a CD or an external USB drive is also
good.
XP Home does have a Restore feature but that is only for system files.

 

[Robert]

Thanks.

In


No, that's not correct. They both do, but unlike with XP Professional,
it's not automatically installed on XP Home. If you have the complete XP
Home CD, find backup on the CD, in \ValueAdd\MSFT\NTBACKUP and install it
yourself by doubleclicking the file ntbackup.msi.
If you don't have an XP CD, you can download ntbackup.msi at

http://www.onecomputerguy.com/software/ntbackup.msi

Also see http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=302894

It's far from the best backup program in the world, and I too would prefer
a third-party choice, but it does exist.

 

[Robert]

Thanks.

USB2 drives are excellent for backups. The XP backup utility is not
installed during setup but you can install it from the cd or from this
source:
backup.exe http://www.onecomputerguy.com/windowsxp_tips.htm#backup_home

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)

Hello XPers

How do you backup your files? Other than just copying everything onto a
CD? I'm looking to backup several gigabytes worth of data in case my hard
drive crashes. Using XP Home.

Can these new USB drives be used for backups?

Robert

 

[Robert]

Thanks.

Hello, Have you considered installing a second harddrive? Or an external
"firewire or usb2" drive. Another option a DVD burner.
Alone or in combination all the above listed methods work well for my
backup
needs.
Take Care.
beamish.

 

[Robert]

Thanks.

 

[Robert]

I agree that keeping your backup separate from the computer is a good idea.
I don't need automatic daily backups though. I'll probably get whatever is
cheaper - DVD or USB. (USB2 ?)

Thanks.

 

[Harry Ohrn]

Acronis TrueImage is an excellent choice.

 

[Harry Ohrn]

The NTBackup program that ships with Home is not able to do ASR.

--

Harry Ohrn MS-MVP [Shell/User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp

XP Home has the same backup program Pro does. It is just not installed
during setup. It is on the Home cd.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)

XP Home edition does not have a backup feature. XP Pro does. You can
buy a third party app like Symantac's Ghost drive. Backing up personal
files
such as documents, photos, etc. to a CD or an external USB drive is also
good.
XP Home does have a Restore feature but that is only for system files.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

No, it is not. I'm not sure what the connection is to the OP.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)

The NTBackup program that ships with Home is not able to do ASR.

--

Harry Ohrn MS-MVP [Shell/User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp

XP Home has the same backup program Pro does. It is just not installed
during setup. It is on the Home cd.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)

XP Home edition does not have a backup feature. XP Pro does. You can
buy a third party app like Symantac's Ghost drive. Backing up personal
files
such as documents, photos, etc. to a CD or an external USB drive is
also
good.
XP Home does have a Restore feature but that is only for system files.

:

Hello XPers

How do you backup your files? Other than just copying everything onto a
CD?
I'm looking to backup several gigabytes worth of data in case my hard
drive
crashes. Using XP Home.

Can these new USB drives be used for backups?

Robert

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

A hard drive is able to store a complete backup in a single file and can be
left online for weekly incremental backups while in use for other storage as
well. The device itself is easily portable. DVD's are also OK but
sometimes a bit more cumbersome.

 

[Guest]

A hard drive is able to store a complete backup in a single file and can be
left online for weekly incremental backups while in use for other storage as
well. The device itself is easily portable. DVD's are also OK but
sometimes a bit more cumbersome.

-------------

The one thing that came as a surprise to me with DVD+RW was how slow it
is. Sometimes it doesn't seem any faster than the tape drives I used to
use long ago. But since I set it up to run at night anyhow it doesn't
really matter to me. As mentioned earlier, I find the ability to make
multiple copies, stored away from the computer, to be a bigger benefit
than the slow speed is a detraction. Different strokes....

Bill