Back Up...please help...

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I have been wanting to do back up on my computer for a long time. I do back
up my files from my documents regularily by cutting and pasting, but wanted
to do a more complete back up including software etc. I was told that I could
not cut and paste software programs etc as well as regestry information etc.
I was also told norton ghost does a complete back up but does windows back up
do the same thing? I have windows xp and have obtained a 100 gig hard drive
that I use to back up all my files....so in essence I have a seperate hard
drive to store this information. Please give me some advice about the back up
that window xp has or else should I spend the money on something like norton?
.....I am hoping that I do not have to spend more money on norton but at the
same time want to be sure that I am doing back up the right way....thanks in
advance for your time
 
writer AKA (e-mail address removed) in
microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain on 6/18/2006 after much
thought,came up with this gem:
I have been wanting to do back up on my computer for a long time. I
do back up my files from my documents regularily by cutting and
pasting, but wanted to do a more complete back up including software
etc. I was told that I could not cut and paste software programs etc
as well as regestry information etc. I was also told norton ghost
does a complete back up but does windows back up do the same thing? I
have windows xp and have obtained a 100 gig hard drive that I use to
back up all my files....so in essence I have a seperate hard drive to
store this information. Please give me some advice about the back up
that window xp has or else should I spend the money on something like
norton? ....I am hoping that I do not have to spend more money on
norton but at the same time want to be sure that I am doing back up
the right way....thanks in advance for your time
Click to expand...
*********************************************************************

Windows backup does not backup everything. There are better products
than Norton Ghost. Acronis True Image is one that comes to mind.
http://www.acronis.com/
max
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Thanks for the information...you have been very helpful..... but What about
Microsoft's Synctoy ....is that an adequate back up with the same
capabilities of norton or acronis? If not what does it lack in capabilities
when compared to the other products? Thanks again for your help....
writer
 
writer AKA (e-mail address removed) in
microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain on 6/18/2006 after much
thought,came up with this gem:
Thanks for the information...you have been very helpful..... but What
about Microsoft's Synctoy ....is that an adequate back up with the
same capabilities of norton or acronis? If not what does it lack in
capabilities when compared to the other products? Thanks again for
your help.... writer
Click to expand...
*********************************************************************


It all depends on your needs. For the average home user,a cd burner to
make copies of pictures and a few documents should be fine. It is
fairly easy to use the restore disks that come with most systems(which
restores the computer back to the day you brought it home).
max
--
Virus Removal Instructions: http://home.neo.rr.com/manna4u/
Keeping Windows Clean: http://home.neo.rr.com/manna4u/keepingclean.html
Windows Help: http://home.neo.rr.com/manna4u/tools.html
Specific Fixes: http://home.neo.rr.com/manna4u/fixes.html
Forums for HiJackThis Logs:
http://home.neo.rr.com/manna4u/forums_for_hijackthis_logs.html
To reply by e-mail change nomail.afraid.org to gmail.com
nomail.afraid.org is setup specifically for use in USENET
feel free to use it yourself. Registered Linux User #393236
 
What's in a Name? said:
writer AKA (e-mail address removed) in
microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain on 6/18/2006 after much
thought,came up with this gem:

*********************************************************************

Windows backup does not backup everything. There are better products
than Norton Ghost. Acronis True Image is one that comes to mind.
http://www.acronis.com/
max
Click to expand...

What doesn't NTBackup backup? It can actually be used to backup things that
most programs can't like Active Directory, IIS webservers, SQL servers,
Exchange servers, and the like. It is a very hard to learn program and has
some limitations like not working easily with removable media but it
certainly does backup everything and can be used for bare metal restores.

All that said for most people an easier to use program would be better. Both
Norotn Ghost and Acronis TI are excellent disk imaging programs. A good
easier to use backup program is Novastor NovaBackup.
 
writer said:
Thanks for the information...you have been very helpful..... but What
about Microsoft's Synctoy ....is that an adequate back up with the
same capabilities of norton or acronis? If not what does it lack in
capabilities when compared to the other products? Thanks again for
your help....
writer
Click to expand...

SyncToy is an excellent way to synchronise folders between two different
hard drives or computers. I use it to keep copies of all my pictures,
documents, and music. It is not a backup program. The difference is subtle.
A backup program is used to store a snapshot of files and folders. SyncToy
synchronises two folders based on rules you set up. The other programs that
have been mentioned, TI and Ghost are disk imaging programs. These programs
can clone a disk (make an exact duplicate) or create an image of a partition
(instructions to make an copy). They all overlap each other in what they do.
I use all three. I keep a couple of images of my system on an external drive
and also on a network share on another computer. I use Acronis TI for this.
This is updated whenever the system changes i.e. Install a new program,
Install Windows updates. I use SyncToy to keep copies of my data on a
network share on another computer. I use NovaBackup to backup my data to
DVDs. With this method if I mess up a data file I have immediate access to a
copy on a network share. If my OS gets corrupted I can restore an image then
copy the data from either a network share or from DVD with NovaBackup. If
the worst happens and my house burns down I still have a backup of my data
(the only stuff that can't be replaced by money/insurance) on DVD at another
house.
 
I do appreciate your help as well....especially with some new names of some
products....But what about Microsoft's Synctoy ....will that copy the
software as well? Or does it only copy the things like my documents?
 
writer said:
I do appreciate your help as well....especially with some new names
of some products....But what about Microsoft's Synctoy ....will that
copy the software as well? Or does it only copy the things like my
documents?
Click to expand...

See my other post. SyncToy sychronises files and folders. It is not a backup
program. It would copy the program files from one folder to another. There
is more to a program than just the files in it's own folder. There are
registry settings and often files in the Windows or other system folders. It
is best used for data only.
 
writer said:
thanks I think I am finally getting it....you guys are great!
Click to expand...

Your welcome. You are way ahead of most people. You are actually thinking
and learning about backups. Most people don't until it is too late.
 
yes I put your thank you post in the wrong spot.....I think I am finally
getting it....and thanks for giving me the info on the microsoft product....
 
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