Backup Utility/Software Input Needed

[InfoQuest]

I have used Windows XP Backup Utility and been happy with the recovery
ability of files from the backup. Looking at the following site, it appears
that the Automated System Recovery feature should allow recovery from a
complete hard drive failure. Is this true and can it be trusted? In the
event of a complete hard drive failure, can you still get to the backup on
an external USB 2.0 Hard Drive?

http://www.windows-help.net/WindowsXP/howto-18.html

Are there advantages to using products like Drive Image 7 and Ghost 2003?
Which is better? Due to the high percentage on CNET that didn't recommend
and provided negative feedback, I am uncertain what would be the best backup
process and software that will allow recovery from a complete hard drive
failure. Thoughts?

http://reviews.cnet.com/4505-3682_7-20186188.html?tag=search

http://reviews.cnet.com/PowerQuest_Drive_Image_2002/4505-3682_7-9850156.html

 

[Sharon F]

I have used Windows XP Backup Utility and been happy with the recovery
ability of files from the backup. Looking at the following site, it appears
that the Automated System Recovery feature should allow recovery from a
complete hard drive failure. Is this true and can it be trusted? In the
event of a complete hard drive failure, can you still get to the backup on
an external USB 2.0 Hard Drive?

http://www.windows-help.net/WindowsXP/howto-18.html

Are there advantages to using products like Drive Image 7 and Ghost 2003?
Which is better? Due to the high percentage on CNET that didn't recommend
and provided negative feedback, I am uncertain what would be the best backup
process and software that will allow recovery from a complete hard drive
failure. Thoughts?

http://reviews.cnet.com/4505-3682_7-20186188.html?tag=search

http://reviews.cnet.com/PowerQuest_Drive_Image_2002/4505-3682_7-9850156.html

I have created ASR backups before but have never tried it for a restore so
will leave it for others to comment on its usefulness and effectiveness.

There are many disaster recovery solutions available. Nice if you can find
one that is available as a trial download. That gives you a chance to test
if the software will work with your hardware and system configuration
before laying out the cash.

Personally, I use "Image for Windows" :
http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/imagew.html
It is capable of working with many types of drives and configurations. Have
used the recovery process (from bootable DVDs created by the program) and
it has worked very well for me.

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

I don't use ASR for precisely the reasons you question, if you are backed up
to an external drive, there's always a question as to whether or not you'll
have access.

As to Imaging software such as Drive Image 7 and Ghost 2003, they are about
equal; I have used Ghost in the past and I'm currently using Drive Image
2002. If you are asking as to whether you should use these as opposed to
your backup software, my suggestion is to use both.

I have a clean image file of my setup with only XP installed along with
drivers for current hardware and settings. A separate image as above but
also inclusive of my primary applications. All images I supplement with my
backups which are essentially my data files.

The images help me get up and running quickly after a crisis after which I
only need to restore my most recent data backup. For the most part I use
the image that includes the applications. The other image I use if I wish
to redo the application image from scratch; this way I don't need to also go
through XP installation. That's the advantage of having an image that
includes the OS and at least your primary applications as a crisis doesn't
require reinstalling the OS, then your applications which can take hours to
do, plus reinstalling all your drivers and then restoring your backup.

It's very empowering and if I know I'm going to be doing something risky,
I'll also create a current image inclusive of OS, apps, drivers, data, etc.
everything right up to the minute, then if anything goes wrong, I can simply
restore that image and I'm exactly where I was before my system tanked.