A Question about system back up.

[ANNlearner]

I bought a dell laptop a year ago, and I reinstalled the Windows XP
system a few weeks before. Now I prepare to back up my system so that I
do not need to take troubles to reinstall all the device drivers when I
want to recover the system to a previous date.

My first Question is: I know that Ghost and Acronis can do that,
however, dell has defined about 3.5G of hard disk space for system
recovery, and I know it can help to restore the system to the original
state, I wonder can it allow us to back up the system at any time? Such
as after I install some software, so that when I restore the system, I
do not need to reinstall those softwares? I have formatted the space
dell has defined as system back up and used it as my C drive in the new
installation, maybe that is a bad move : )

My Second Question is: The Windows XP has the function of system
recovery itself, such as we can recover the system to a previous date,
I wonder what is the advantage of Ghost or Ancronis over the system
restore of Windows XP and the backup and restore of Dell?

Thanks a lot for your help!

ANNlearner

 

[Guest]

It's likely that the reserved space you formatted and considered as you
laptops recovery space was a bad move because it not only had a copy of
windows but also contained all of the softwares and device drivers unique to
your laptop.

A particular software would be the "Recovery" software that is required to
make a disk image of your active system (with all programs you added); and to
restore the system from the disk image (which would have been stored on that
special space). A disk image is like a backup and can be made at any time
you want and where to store it, like into a special partition, or home
network drive, external hard drive, cd's or dvd's.

So It is likely that the original disk image would have been stored on a
different partition other than your main partition and maybe you did not
delete it. Possibly when you reinstalled windows on your c drive, it simply
formatted the c drive only, but left the d drive intact.. But, it is hoped
that in addition to your windows cd you also have a set of cd's for your
recovery. If not it is likely Dell can sell you a set. Basically, without a
"recovery / disk imaging" program, the stored image of your original laptop
system can not be retrieved.

 

[ANNlearner]

Thanks for your reply. I formatted the researved space becasue I think
it can only allow me to restore the laptop to the moment I got it.
However, I don't think that moment is the optimal for me. Since Dell
installed some softwares to it, and some of them are not usefule for
me.

If that reserved space can allow me to back up the system at any time
like Ghost did, then I really made a bad move and should learn lessons
from it.

ANNlearner

 

[Guest]

well, if your machine is working exactly as you need it to be then maybe all
is not lost. It is correct that the laptop comes with it's original
restoration backup/image. And this is always handy to have. But it is
better to have a current disk image of your system, especially if you have
installed your favorite software. Using a disk image software can help you
make a disk image of your system and restore the image back if needed. It is
a good idea to keep the disk images off the main partition and where your
active system resides. In addition to the disk imaging software, don't
forget you also have windows restore feature. At your convenience windows
can backup does vital files and can quickly restore your system if you
encounter problems. My restore feature has not failed as of yet and creates
an automatic restore point whenever I install a program. Sometimes I create
an extra one manually just to be sure i am insured when i install trial
software or make registry changes. In addition I make a disk image at least
once a month because I create many docs and pics eventhough i may not add new
software. And if all my safegaurds fail, then i have the original restore
files. So basically I am covered 3 ways........

 

[ANNlearner]

Hi, databaseben:

Thanks a lot for your help. I learn a lot of useful ideas from your
reply!

Have a good night!

ANNlearner