Acronis True Image has become
the leader in imaging products that even
Symantec is now copying.
I bought in myself but as of yet I don't know how True Image performs when
needing recovery.
Imaging makes an entire copy of the entire hard drive where as backing up
allows selective choices at the file level if neccessary.
My preference when backing up requires the use of 'file copy' without any
archiving, compression and most certainly NEVER any proprietary file
archiving format. This allows me to access open and use any file anywhere
and anytime I need using the native application that created the file if
neccessary.
I and my colleagues use multiple hard drives now as they are so
inexpensive.
This double redundancy scheme works well as it is extremely unlikely both
drives will fail at the same time. I also install a second copy of the OS
on
the second redundant drive (which Microsoft now allows) so I can simply
reset the pins and recable allowing me to access the Internet and do mail
while I rebuild or replace the failed master.
Finding an application that supports file copy can be difficult. Besides
Argentum (whcih I intend to evaluatemyself) I also suggest you also
evaluate
Backup2005 Synchronizer [1] (I'm using Backup2001 Synchronizer for several
years and should probably upgrade)
--
<%= Clinton Gallagher
METROmilwaukee "Regional Information Services"
NET csgallagher AT metromilwaukee.com
URL
http://clintongallagher.metromilwaukee.com/
[1]
http://www.backup2001.com/
Clinton & Ray:
Since you have a copy of Acronis True Image and you are using "multiple"
hard drives (I assume you're referring to internal HDs), consider using that
disk imaging program to clone the contents of your day-to-day working HD to
one of your internal drives. For most users (in my view) the most effective
backup system one can employ is using a disk-to-disk cloning program. It's
simple, relatively quick, and most of all, very effective. The resulting
cloned drive is (for all practical purposes) a bit-for-bit copy of the
source disk, containing the operating system, registry & configuration
settings, programs, user data -- in short, everything that is on the source
disk is now on the destination (cloned) disk. So if and when the working
drive goes "south" for one reason or another, the user has his cloned disk
at hand for restoration purposes.
While using a second internal HD as the recipient of the clone is useful,
consider using a USB (or Firewire) external hard drive as another
alternative. The value of this approach is that the cloned external drive is
physically detached from the computer and thus gives another level of safety
& security. The negative to this is that you cannot boot from a USB EHD
although you could clone the contents of the EHD back to your internal drive
and that drive will be bootable.
My own personal preference, and it's a strong one, is to equip your desktop
computer with two removable drives. It's the best of all possible worlds in
my view. If either of you or anyone else reading this posting desires more
information on this hardware arrangement, please so indicate.
Anna
