backing up entire system

[Wendy R]

How do I back up my entire system on a regular basis? Can I copy everything
to CD without going to each separate file or folder? I've lost everything on
my hardrive a few times in the past and need to know how to protect my
system from that again. I looked in Help and Support but didn't see what I'm
looking for.

thank you very much!

Wendy Ramsay

 

[CWatters]

How do I back up my entire system on a regular basis? Can I copy everything
to CD without going to each separate file or folder? I've lost everything on
my hardrive a few times in the past and need to know how to protect my
system from that again. I looked in Help and Support but didn't see what I'm
looking for.

The best solution I've found is to use a program like Drive Image (DI) from
Power Quest. This can backup an entire system including system files that
can't be backed up using simpler backup programs. It can be used to back up
an entire PC direct to CD but that has disadvantages. The main problem is
the number of CD's required. I would need 22 CD's to back up my entire C
drive and it would take many many hours. Plus the fact that if one is faulty
you may have to start over depending on the program you use. A better option
would be to use a writable DVD as fewer disks are required and data rates
are faster.

If you can afford it I recommend using a program like DI to backup your
drive C to an external USB 2.0 Hard Drive every night. DI can be configured
to do this automatically so you don't have to remember to do it. In fact you
don't even need to be there, just leave your PC on. Then once a week (once a
month?) copy a backup from the External Drive to DVD R/W. DI can be
configured to retain a certain number of backup images and discard older
ones. This stops the external drive filling up. It can also be configured to
send you an email message when it's finished - so you don't need to hunt
around in log files to see if the last backup worked ok, just read your
email. This set up needs quite a bit of expensive hardware but once it's set
up it needs very little of your time to manage - which means backups tend to
get done and not forgotten.

Note: I recommend an external HD rather than a second internal drive because
it's not unknown for a power supply to fail and totally destroy everything
connected to it (eg both drives). An external drive with it's own power
supply should survive this kind of failure.

Colin

(e-mail address removed) (remove BOX to get real address)

 

[Alex Nichol]

How do I back up my entire system on a regular basis? Can I copy everything
to CD without going to each separate file or folder? I've lost everything on
my hardrive a few times in the past and need to know how to protect my
system from that again. I looked in Help and Support but didn't see what I'm
looking for.

You need third party software. I regard the system and data files as
being separate matters. I keep the size of the system/boot partition,
C: down to 7.5 GB with 5.5 of data on it, though I would want more like
10 with 7 of data if I did not have some major applications on a
separate partition. 7GB of data will compress to a single DVD - it
would take about 6 or 7 CDs. For that I use Image for Windows from
http://www.BootitNG.com ($27 shareware - 30 day full functional trial).
There are other programs like Drive Image and Ghost for the same purpose
of creating an exact image of the partition that can be restored.

Then data on a separate partition for which you can back up
'incrementally' on a file by file basis, as new files are created or old
ones changed. Either simply by copying files to CD, or the NTBackup
provided in XP Pro and also on retail Home CDs (but not usually the
restore ones that come with new machines), or again third party software
like BAckUpMyPC from www.stompinc.com

 

[Sharon F]

You need third party software. I regard the system and data files as
being separate matters. I keep the size of the system/boot partition,
C: down to 7.5 GB with 5.5 of data on it, though I would want more like
10 with 7 of data if I did not have some major applications on a
separate partition. 7GB of data will compress to a single DVD - it
would take about 6 or 7 CDs. For that I use Image for Windows from
http://www.BootitNG.com ($27 shareware - 30 day full functional trial).
There are other programs like Drive Image and Ghost for the same purpose
of creating an exact image of the partition that can be restored.

Then data on a separate partition for which you can back up
'incrementally' on a file by file basis, as new files are created or old
ones changed. Either simply by copying files to CD, or the NTBackup
provided in XP Pro and also on retail Home CDs (but not usually the
restore ones that come with new machines), or again third party software
like BAckUpMyPC from www.stompinc.com

Alex, I've seen you speak highly of Image for Windows in the past. Needed
to replace my Drive Image so gave it a try. I was very impressed with the
program and purchased it. Did the ultimate test yesterday: allowing it to
actually replace the system drive with an image. It worked flawlessly.
Thank you for the recommendation.

 

[grdh20]

get a usb external drive and Norton Ghost.

Alex, I've seen you speak highly of Image for Windows in the past. Needed
to replace my Drive Image so gave it a try. I was very impressed with the
program and purchased it. Did the ultimate test yesterday: allowing it to
actually replace the system drive with an image. It worked flawlessly.
Thank you for the recommendation.

 

[luminos]

get a usb external drive and Norton Ghost.

Get another drive or external drive and Powerquest Drive Image.

 

[Sharon F]

Get another drive or external drive and Powerquest Drive Image.

No thanks, guys/gals. Got something that works and am sticking to it.
Thanks anyhow.

 

[Jim]

Thanks for the comments, Sharon, I JUST installed Drive Image 7 for Win XP,
and was wondering how it might work if I ever did need the restore function.
I've had other programs that just wouldn't do a good restore, and left me
feeling disappointed. so Thanks for the test and the good results
ciao
Jim


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[Sharon F]

Thanks for the comments, Sharon, I JUST installed Drive Image 7 for Win XP,
and was wondering how it might work if I ever did need the restore function.
I've had other programs that just wouldn't do a good restore, and left me
feeling disappointed. so Thanks for the test and the good results

You're welcome and I hope you like the program. I liked it very much until
it stopped working with my hardware (worked with the old CD burner but not
with the new DVD burner). I guess I could have upgraded it but instead
tried a different program.

 

[Wendy R]

Maybe what I should have asked is how to easily back up personal files and
folders. Is there a way to do that other than going to each individual one
and copying to CD etc? I know it's probably a pretty basic question....but
I'm a pretty basic user )
thanks!
wendy