Backing Up a VISTA Computer

[Wexford]

I have a Toshiba Satellite P205-S6327, which came with Vista
installed. I recently discovered that the systems back up disks that
com with the computer are flawed. Is there any way to create a
complete systems back-up with Vista on, say, a few DVDs?

 

[Bob]

Check your user guide for Recovery Disc Creator software which may be
pre-installed.

 

[Wexford]

Hi Wexford,

It depends on what version of Vista you have. If you have the Vista
Enterprise, Ultimate, and Business versions, then Vista comes with a
complete PC backup built into it.

Backup:http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/99709-backup-complete-computer.html

Restore:http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/99718-restore-complete-computer.html

If you do not have one of these Vista versions, you will need to use a
3rd party backup program like Acronis True Image instead. You can try
out a 15-day fully functional trial version here to see if you like it
or not.

'Complete hard disk drive copy, cloning and image backup software:
computer files and disk copying'
(http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/)

Hope this helps,
Shawn

--
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*There are no dumb questions, just the people that do not ask them.*
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*Please post feedback to help others.*

Thanks for the reply.

It's probably Vista Home (or whatever the cheaper version is). There
is no disk backup utility. I looked for it.

 

[Wexford]

Check your user guide for Recovery Disc Creator software which may be
pre-installed.






- Show quoted text -

Thanks. I tried that, but I couldn't find a complete disk recovery
utility.

 

[C.B.]

--
mdiehl13

*-Core2 Quad Q6700-*
*-EVGA nForce 680i SLI TR-*
*-4Gb G.Skill PC6400 4-4-3-5-*
*-EVGA GeForce 8800GTS OC 320MB-*
*-
-*

mdiehl13,

The only consistent problem I have with Acronis True Image 11 is its
failure to be able to make a single full backup, overwriting the previous
backup. It doesn't matter how I configure the backup (by managing or
editing), it WILL NOT make only a single backup. I have configured it to
make a full backup, overwriting the existing backup each time but it will
not do so. I have configured it to use only a certain amount of disk space
to no avail. It continues to write NEW, additional full backups. I have
configured it to make only one backup and that doesn't work either. It has a
mind of its own. It will continue to make additional full backups regardless
of my settings.
I have had many discussions with Acronis support. I send them
screenshots of my configuration screens to prove my point. I send them
screenshots of the backup folders showing 50GB-100GB of backups in the same
folder. I don't think much of Acronis support. I seem to get only standard
answers as if they are reading from a training manual. I gave up seeking
support as they don't have any answers. Their support department is almost
as bad as those of Webroot and Norton/Symantec.
I back up to two locations, the Acronis Secure Zone and an external
hard drive. I then backup the external to a second external, giving me three
backup locations in the event I have problems with one of them. I have also
configured the settings in the Acronis Secure Zone for only one full backup,
overwriting the existing backup, to no avail. I now have 50GB of full
backups in the secure zone. The only way for me to correct the backups in
the secure zone is for me to delete the secure zone and recreate it,
allowing only enough space for one backup. I won't do this because I would
then have to recreate the Acronis Secure Zone and create another Acronis
Bootable Rescue Media based upon the newly created secure zone. It would be
a simple matter for me to do so, and it would not take too much time, but I
simply refuse to do it due to my own stubbornness.
I have used Acronis successfully to restore from both the Acronis
Secure Zone and my external drive. I did this to make sure the restore would
be successful. I had no real need to do so. However, I don't trust the True
Image software because it will not configure properly and there seems to be
no fix for this issue, or at least Acronis support is unable to fix it. I
also do a weekly backup using the embedded Backup and Restore function
embedded in my Vista Ultimate OS because again, I don't trust the Acronis
software. I don't completely trust the Ultimate backup either so I also do a
weekly backup using the backup function of my WD MY BOOK external drive. I
am a firm believer in redundancy. It may be overkill, but I sleep soundly.
I don't use the compression feature and I don't use incremental or
differential backups. I choose to use full backups only because of the speed
of the restore from a full backup as compared to the speed of the other
options. I don't worry about disk space as I have two 500GB WD My Book
external drives and a 320GB internal drive. I just wish the Acronis software
would do what it is supposed to do based upon the configurations I
implement. I solve the excess backups problem by waiting until the backup
folders on my two external drives have about 150GB-200GB of backups and then
I delete the backup folders altogether. I then start over. I leave the
Acronis Secure Zone as it is in the event I must do a restore before the
external folders are repopulated with new backups.
I'm sorry I don't have an answer for your problem as the Acronis 11
software, as you say, is full of bugs. I hope you find an answer.
Have a nice day.

C.B.

 

[toasale]

You can get Toshiba/wherever you bought the unit to replace these, unless
it's a used unit and not in warranty or original owner did not transfer
ownership to you. Isn't the "complete" load built into a separate partition

 

[C.B.]

Hello C.B.

Sorry Acronis is giving you such a problem. Just goes to show things
don't work as thet should for everyone(Murphys Laws).

When I make incremental backups Acronis always creates a new smaller
image to accent my original full backup. Beats the dickens outa me whats
going on with you. And you gave more information about your problem then
anyone in the history of this forum.

I also agree you are commiting overkill with you backups...but...I also
backup my image to one of my 5 internal drives, that I keep dedicated to
just backups. And the images are also backedup to 2 additional external
HDs. One stays permanently docked to my desktop while the other is a
portable drive I keep with my main laptop. Since I started posting this
morning I have travel a looooong way from home and am now in a small
cabin next to a river whos name I will not attemt to spell. But I got my
portable backup and no worries.

Hope you find a solution soon and if I come accross an answer for it
I'll let ya know.

Good Luck.

joel406,

Yes, I have a big mouth. Sorry. I'll try to be less mouthy in the
future. Thanks for the reply.

C.B.