Backup. I didn't get any replies

[Guest]

I posted a query about Backup on 13 November but haven't received any
replies. In fact, I couldn't find my question when I went to the site one
way (it simply wasn't there) so I'm wondering if other people can see it.

I just think that I should have backed up my whole system, rather than
'Documents and Settings' and wonder if I can put my whole Backup icon in the
Recycle Bin and start again. I am worried that my computer will give up the
ghost if I do that. (It was such a long time ago that I did the backup that
it will be out of date now anyway). I think I'm just too old for all this.

 

[Mike Hall - MS MVP Windows Shell/User]

As long as you have backups of anything generated by yourself, the OS and
applications can be easily re-installed from original installation media..

You do need to make regular backups, because if the system fails today, a
backup made some months ago will hardly reflect the state of the machine
just prior to failing..

Rather than 'backup', you could just burn your important stuff to a CD/DVD
now and again.. and don't forget e-mail..

 

[Anna]

I posted a query about Backup on 13 November but haven't received any
replies. In fact, I couldn't find my question when I went to the site one
way (it simply wasn't there) so I'm wondering if other people can see it.

I just think that I should have backed up my whole system, rather than
'Documents and Settings' and wonder if I can put my whole Backup icon in
the
Recycle Bin and start again. I am worried that my computer will give up
the
ghost if I do that. (It was such a long time ago that I did the backup
that
it will be out of date now anyway). I think I'm just too old for all
this.

Fran27:
I assume the query you previously posted is the one in your second paragraph
above. Is that right? Or was there more?

I assume the backup program you're presently using is the one built-in to
the XP operating system or possibly some third-party backup program. Is that
right?

So now you're considering using a backup program that will back up your
entire system, including your operating system, all your programs &
applications, all your created data - in short, everything that's on your
day-to-day working HDD. Is that right?

If so, that's a worthwhile objective and I strongly recommend it. So if the
time ever comes when your system fails for one reason or another, say a
defective HDD or a corrupt operating system that can no longer boot, or the
system is dysfunctional in one way or another - you can restore the system
to a functional state. That's your objective, is it not?

Consider a disk imaging program such as the Acronis True Image you may have
heard about. It's a neat program and I think it would meet your needs if I
understand your objective. It's relatively easy to use and quite effective.

Hopefully you have a USB external HDD at your disposal or would be willing
to purchase one. You would use that device as the recipient of the "clone"
of your internal HDD or the recipient of the disk image. You could also use
a second internal HDD as the recipient of the "clone" or disk image but for
various reasons it's usually best to use an external HDD in this type of
situation.

If you think you may be interested in this methodology, you can obtain a
trial version of the ATI program from http://www.acronis.com. It's a
full-featured program that you can use over a 15-day period.

I recently posted (I believe to this newsgroup) step-by-step instructions
for using the Acronis program. If you're interested I'll post them again.
Anna

 

[Jim Robin]

Hi Fran,

Just as a little postscript to the replies that you have already had, if you
use Outlook Express for this newsgroup (as I do) you can keep an eye on your
thread by clicking on the icon that is a pair of spectacles (eye-glasses).
This makes your post and any replies turn red and thus easily found.

Jim

 

[Gordon]

Hi Fran,

Just as a little postscript to the replies that you have already had, if
you use Outlook Express for this newsgroup (as I do) you can keep an eye
on your thread by clicking on the icon that is a pair of spectacles
(eye-glasses). This makes your post and any replies turn red and thus
easily found.

Jim

And in fact an even EASIER method is to click on View-Current View-Show
replies to my posts.......

 

[Guest]

Dear Mike Hall
Thank you for your reply. I feel horrible embarrassed by admitting that I
simply can't understand most of the replies I received, apart from the fact
that I ought to have been backing up regularly. I just felt that I might
have chosen the wrong option in the first place and didn't know what to do -
so did nothing. Hopeless!

I really just wanted to know if I could put the Backup icon that I've got
into my Recycle Bin and delete it and start off from scratch. I would then
use the wizard regularly (whatever that means).

Everyone was so kind to reply and try to help me and I'm sure it must be
very exasperating for you that I'm such a dimwit. So sorry!
Thanks again
Fran

 

[Mike Hall - MS MVP Windows Shell/User]

You are not obliged to use Windows Backup.. if you have a CD/DVD burner, you
can use Nero or other CD burning software to burn/save your important stuff
to a CD/DVD.. it is easy to do..

Traditionally, Windows Backup was designed to back up small files, word
processing, and stuff like that to either a floppy diskette or a tape
drive.. while backing up, the program also compressed files where possible..

Unfortunately, Windows Backup has a history of not being compatible either
forwards or backwards with versions included in the various stages of
Windows development, and for this reason I do not suggest that the home
computer user employs it.

Instead of thinking 'Backup', think of 'Saving' and use your CD burning
software and CD burner instead...

 

[Guest]

Dear Mike
Thanks very much for your response and all the information you have given
me. I'll do what you say.
Thank you again
Fran

(I can hardly believe I wrote 'horrible embarrassed' and hope you realised
it was a typing mistake. I was horrible embarrassed when I spotted it!)

 

[Mike Hall - MS MVP Windows Shell/User]

No problema, Fran..