Backup Question

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camaz

Acronis and Norton Ghost do an "Image" - other backup programs, like CMS, do
a "System" backup. Can someone tell me the difference between these
actions? I'm thinking that they are essentially the same, but ???
 
camaz said:
Acronis and Norton Ghost do an "Image" - other backup programs, like CMS,
do a "System" backup. Can someone tell me the difference between these
actions? I'm thinking that they are essentially the same, but ???
Click to expand...

Without reading more at the companys' sites, I can't say. However, be aware
that both terms are really directed at corporate buyers who may have many
machines whose hardware is identical. If one of their machines dies, they
can blast an image onto an identical one and have a user up & running
quickly. If your computer dies and needs to be replaced with a different
one, even from the same manufacturer, those full system backups or images
will probably be useless. A Windows XP installation on one machine is
somewhat specific to the hardware involved. It's good to have full backups
in case you screw something up, but hardware failures are equally likely.

What you should be asking is this:

1) Can the product be aimed only at the folders where you keep your work?
That will make for smaller, faster backups, so you'll be willing to do them
daily. You do a full backup from time to time, and smaller ones in between.

2) Once you've told the software which work folders to back up, can the plan
be saved as a job/task, with a name and an icon? If not, you won't use the
product often enough.

3) Will the product back up to all the possible media you might ever use?
Tape drive, CD, external hard drive, zip drive, etc. Assume nothing unless
it's spelled out.
 
camaz said:
Acronis and Norton Ghost do an "Image" - other backup programs, like
CMS, do a "System" backup. Can someone tell me the difference
between these actions? I'm thinking that they are essentially the
same, but ???
Click to expand...

With an image usually the smallest "backup" you can do is a partition. With
a backup the smallest backup you can do is one file. The way the software
has evolved the differences between the two have become less. It used to be
that with an image you could only restore the complete image overwriting
what was currently there. With backup programs you can restore individual
files or a partial set of the complete nackup. Newer programs like the
current version of Acronis True Image allow you to mount an image and then
restore individual files from the image so there is a lot of crossover
between the two types of backup.. The important thing is to pick a program
and use it regularly. Test the restore process so you know how it works. The
worst time to learn the restore process is when you are in a panic because
your hard drive crashed. Also keep multiple copies of your backups. It is
heartbreaking to find out your only backup is corrupted after your system
crashes.

Kerry
 
Something akin to "who's watching the watchers", huh? At some point I guess
you just have to trust the computer gods. I've had a hard drive failure
(three years ago) and a Windows XP 'meltdown' (last month), so after hearing
a presentation on Acronis' True Image, figured I needed a second hard drive
and an imaging program so I'd be prepared for next time. So now I've got a
Seagate 160GB drive for the secondary, and it came with a CMS program called
BounceBack Express that I think will do what True Image or Ghost would do.
After reading your posting, I think I'm on the right track, but I'd hate to
go to all the cost and trouble and still not be protected. Any more
comments, guys (and girls)?
 
camaz said:
Something akin to "who's watching the watchers", huh? At some point I
guess you just have to trust the computer gods. I've had a hard
drive failure (three years ago) and a Windows XP 'meltdown' (last
month), so after hearing a presentation on Acronis' True Image,
figured I needed a second hard drive and an imaging program so I'd be
prepared for next time. So now I've got a Seagate 160GB drive for the
secondary, and it came with a CMS program called BounceBack Express
that I think will do what True Image or Ghost would do. After reading
your posting, I think I'm on the right track, but I'd hate to go to
all the cost and trouble and still not be protected. Any more
comments, guys (and girls)?
Click to expand...

You've got a good start. Keep a copy/image of your system on the new drive.
Keep multiple copies of your important data on CD/DVDs. In the long run the
data is the important thing so you want multiple copies.

Kerry
 
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