IE said:
I want to re-install XP and I want to back up my data to a second
hard drive first. The second drive would be slave to the drive I want
to reformat. Can this be done?
Sure. Nothing to do it. In this case you don't even need a backup program.
Just copy the data.
Doing this is fine if you want to do it for the reinstallation. But if you
are planning on making this your permanent backup strategy, I urge you to
rethink that idea. I don't recommend backup to a second non-removable hard
drive because it leaves you susceptible to simultaneous loss of the original
and backup to many of the most common dangers: severe power glitches, nearby
lightning strikes, virus attacks, even theft of the computer.
In my view, secure backup needs to be on removable media, and not kept in
the computer. For really secure backup (needed, for example, if the life of
your business depends on your data) you should have multiple generations of
backup, and at least one of those generations should be stored off-site.
My computer isn't used for business, but my personal backup scheme uses two
identical removable hard drives,I alternate between the two, and use Acronis
True Image to make a complete copy of the primary drive.
