backup software

  • Thread starter Thread starter michael.proctor
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michael.proctor

Can anyone recomend a good, free backup program? I would like for it to
back up to a cdrw drive. I use XP. Thank you very much! Mike
 
MLC said:
martedì 21 febbraio 2006 michael.proctor ha scritto:


Cobian Backup:
http://www.educ.umu.se/~cobian/cobianbackup.htm

It's Pricelessware 2006.
Click to expand...

Here is a quote from the FAQ that I totally agree with-

<quote>

Q: I am trying to backup to a CD-RW but I get an error that says
"Destination directory no found". Why?

A: This program doesn't include a driver to use with a CD burner. That's
why you cannot backup directly onto a CD-RW. Backup onto your hard drive
and then you can manually burn the backup onto the CD using your favorite
burning software. There are some 3rd party programs as Adaptec Direct CD
(Direct Write) which can make it possible for Cobian Backup to interact
directly with your CD burner. If you have this or other similar software
installed, you can backup directly onto your CD. Be aware that Cobian
Backup is a multithreaded program and therefore multiple threads may be
accessing your CD at the same time. When zipping, the WHOLE zip operation
will go on on the destination directory, and your CD may become unreadable
or corrupted. The bottom line is : do NOT backup directly into a CD-RW.

<quote>

http://www.educ.umu.se/~cobian/cobianbackup_faq.htm#16
 
martedì 21 febbraio 2006 bambam ha scritto:
Here is a quote from the FAQ that I totally agree with-

Q: I am trying to backup to a CD-RW but I get an error that says
"Destination directory no found". Why?
Click to expand...
A: This program doesn't include a driver to use with a CD burner. That's
why you cannot backup directly onto a CD-RW. Backup onto your hard drive
and then you can manually burn the backup onto the CD using your favorite
burning software. There are some 3rd party programs as Adaptec Direct CD
(Direct Write) which can make it possible for Cobian Backup to interact
directly with your CD burner. If you have this or other similar software
installed, you can backup directly onto your CD. Be aware that Cobian
Backup is a multithreaded program and therefore multiple threads may be
accessing your CD at the same time. When zipping, the WHOLE zip operation
will go on on the destination directory, and your CD may become unreadable
or corrupted. The bottom line is : do NOT backup directly into a CD-RW.

http://www.educ.umu.se/~cobian/cobianbackup_faq.htm#16
Click to expand...

I know and I agree me too... Just slipped the "to a cdrw drive" part in the
OP request. A true senior moment! :-\
 
Karen's Replicator
http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptreplicator.asp
Click to expand...

I'm not the OP, but downloaded Karen's Replicator and tried it, but
I'm completely unable to get to grips with the Global folder and file
exclusion rule, could you help please?
I have a folder at
C:\Documents and Settings\default\My Documents\lists\...
which contains some files, as well as some further folders containing
more files.
e.g.:-
C:\Documents and Settings\default\My Documents\lists\Bank\account.txt
C:\Documents and Settings\default\My Documents\lists\Passes\list.txt
C:\Documents and Settings\default\My Documents\lists\phone nos.xls


I want to exclude this 'lists' folder along with all its files and
folders from being copied, but have totally failed to comprehend what
the 'Pattern' business means.
Could you (or anyone) give me a blow by blow means of excluding the
folder, and/or a link which explains to a person of simple intellect
WTF is going on with the Pattern business?
 
"Could you (or anyone) give me a blow by blow means of excluding the
folder, and/or a link which explains to a person of simple intellect
WTF is going on with the Pattern business?"
The way I use it KeithS, is just copy the files/folders I want backed
up. Don't use exclusions.
In other words I have 4 seperate backups running, some backup up every
15mins, some every hour, some every 30 mins. Just a matter of choosing
how important they are.
You are welcome to email mail me & I can send screen shots.
Cheers, John.
 
C:\Documents and Settings\default\My Documents\lists\Bank\account.txt
C:\Documents and Settings\default\My Documents\lists\Passes\list.txt
C:\Documents and Settings\default\My Documents\lists\phone nos.xls
Click to expand...

Try adding a (pattern? I have it installed at the office and I'm at
home now, so I can't pop it up and look) of

C:\Documents and Settings\default\My Documents\lists\*.*

(careful of a line break in there, if one occurs)and checking the
"exclude files with this pattern" or whatever the exact wording is of
that box down near the bottom. Since you can include or exclude (but
not both) any pattern, you can handle any need (and believe me, I have
some folders that need a lot of patterns).

BTW, if you have any problem with any of Karen's programs, even in
just not understanding how to use them, email her. If she's like me,
she'll like knowing that someone else finds a program of hers useful -
that's why she writes them.
 
Al said:
C:\Documents and Settings\default\My Documents\lists\*.*
Click to expand...

Thanks Al, tried that but get an error box
"Invalid File Pattern: Invalid Character - \"
It just doesn't seem to like me putting "\" in the stream.
BTW, if you have any problem with any of Karen's programs, even in
just not understanding how to use them, email her. If she's like me,
she'll like knowing that someone else finds a program of hers useful -
that's why she writes them.
Click to expand...
Think I'll try that, thanks
 
Al Klein wrote:

Try adding a (pattern? I have it installed at the office and I'm at
home now, so I can't pop it up and look) of

C:\Documents and Settings\default\My Documents\lists\*.*
Click to expand...

Ah, just cracked it.
The exclusion is:-

STEP 1. Exclude All Files /next

STEP 2. Exclude selected files if found in this Folder or Path:
"\Documents and Settings\default\My Documents\lists\" /next

STEP 3. Exclude if found on any drive or share /next

STEP 4. Name and Enable this exclusion /next

STEP 5. /Finish

Easy when you know how :(

Thanks
 
I know and I agree me too... Just slipped the "to a cdrw drive" part
in the OP request. A true senior moment! :-\
Click to expand...

But you don't look a day over 25. ;)
As the whole idea of making a backup is to safe guard your important
information, I don't understand why so many people insist on the "direct to
cd option". Much better to use a good backup program, backup to hard drive,
then burn the backup to a cd. Even better if the hard drive backup is to a
second hard drive.
 
mercoledì 22 febbraio 2006 bambam ha scritto:
But you don't look a day over 25. ;)
Click to expand...

I love you! ;-D
As the whole idea of making a backup is to safe guard your important
information, I don't understand why so many people insist on the "direct to
cd option". Much better to use a good backup program, backup to hard drive,
then burn the backup to a cd. Even better if the hard drive backup is to a
second hard drive.
Click to expand...

It's what I learnt to do: with Cobian I backup to a second HD and then
/sometimes/ burn to a CD. Only sometimes because I don't like to be
submerged from too many CDs lying around... I lose myself ;-)
 
But you don't look a day over 25. ;)
As the whole idea of making a backup is to safe guard your important
information, I don't understand why so many people insist on the "direct to
cd option". Much better to use a good backup program, backup to hard drive,
then burn the backup to a cd. Even better if the hard drive backup is to a
second hard drive.
Click to expand...

All I can add to that is if you make it a removable HD so it can be
stored at an off-site location, you have the 'maximum' security,
including fire and theft.

BoB
 
All I can add to that is if you make it a removable HD so it can be
stored at an off-site location, you have the 'maximum' security,
including fire and theft.
Click to expand...

I don't have a removable hard drive, but I do have a DVD writer, and about
20 backup DVDs and CDs in the glove box of my work van.
 
MLC said:
mercoledì 22 febbraio 2006 bambam ha scritto:
....

It's what I learnt to do: with Cobian I backup to a second HD and then
/sometimes/ burn to a CD. Only sometimes because I don't like to be
submerged from too many CDs lying around... I lose myself ;-)
Click to expand...

I am still recovering from a power supply failure that wiped out my
main drive a week ago. I thought it was just the drive that went
defective, so installed my clone of it, made a month earlier. The bad
power supply killed that, too, just before it exploded because of
swollen electrolytic capacitors! :o( Fortunately, I had just burned my
two most important partitons to DVD, and my critical business and
financial files to a USB drve the day before.

So, I *highly* recommend burning your backups to CD/DVD on a regular
basis, and using a USB drive which is kept offline except when making
backups. A few years ago, I had both hard drives on my system wiped
out by a virus and didn't have a complete set of backups. I now keep
a copy of my backup CDs/DVDs in my car, in case the house goes up in
flames or gets burglarized some day.

Cobian is terrific, but make sure you have it send you an e-mail
immediately if a backup fails, e.g., because drive letters change when
a USB drive is online/offline. Otherwise, if you don't examine the
logs after a backup, you will never know if some files didn't get
backed up.

Now, I just need to pick up and install a replacement controller board
for my toasted primary backup drive, and I'll be back in business. It
could have been much worse.

Cheers,
Larry
 
giovedì 23 febbraio 2006 Larry Sabo ha scritto:
I am still recovering from a power supply failure that wiped out my
main drive a week ago. I thought it was just the drive that went
defective, so installed my clone of it, made a month earlier. The bad
power supply killed that, too, just before it exploded because of
swollen electrolytic capacitors! :o( Fortunately, I had just burned my
two most important partitons to DVD, and my critical business and
financial files to a USB drve the day before.
Click to expand...

A power supply failure broke also my HD six months ago, and I didn' backup
anything :-(
Then I bought an UPS and started to backup regularly.
So, I *highly* recommend burning your backups to CD/DVD on a regular
basis, and using a USB drive which is kept offline except when making
backups. A few years ago, I had both hard drives on my system wiped
out by a virus and didn't have a complete set of backups. I now keep
a copy of my backup CDs/DVDs in my car, in case the house goes up in
flames or gets burglarized some day.
Click to expand...

So you don't keep your car in your garage, do you? ;-)
The USB drive is a good idea, I'll think about it.
Cobian is terrific, but make sure you have it send you an e-mail
immediately if a backup fails, e.g., because drive letters change when
a USB drive is online/offline. Otherwise, if you don't examine the
logs after a backup, you will never know if some files didn't get
backed up.
Click to expand...

Cobian Backup is really a wonderful program. I tried others, even commercial
software, but Cobian is what I like best of all.
Thanks for the e-mail tip.
Now, I just need to pick up and install a replacement controller board
for my toasted primary backup drive, and I'll be back in business. It
could have been much worse.
Click to expand...

Good luck, Larry!
 
A few years ago, I had both hard drives on my system wiped
out by a virus and didn't have a complete set of backups. I now keep
a copy of my backup CDs/DVDs in my car, in case the house goes up in
flames or gets burglarized some day.
Click to expand...

While a CD or DVD may last longer, and we now have freeware to make them
bootable - it is not rocket science to safely back up to a second hard
drive: Just pull the wires to the power supply and IDE controller off the
backup hard drive. Now it does not spin, nor is it accessible to any virus
or manuiplation by the PC -- until you re-insert the wires. If you do not
like wires, most PCs have a setting in the cmos screen to disable a
secondary drive.

Backups and restores are still faster from/to hard drives than DVDs and
CDs, and and unused hard drive should last many years.
 
MLC said:
obian Backup is really a wonderful program. I tried others, even
commercial software, but Cobian is what I like best of all.
Click to expand...

When I glanced at Cobian, I noticed it was quite a large program to my
taste. Without installing it, could some happy users tell me: Does the
program require windows to function? Or, can you restore from a command
line, if your windows OS is not working?
 
While a CD or DVD may last longer, and we now have freeware to make
them bootable - it is not rocket science to safely back up to a second
hard drive: Just pull the wires to the power supply and IDE controller
off the backup hard drive. Now it does not spin, nor is it accessible
to any virus or manuiplation by the PC -- until you re-insert the
wires. If you do not like wires, most PCs have a setting in the cmos
screen to disable a secondary drive.

Backups and restores are still faster from/to hard drives than DVDs
and CDs, and and unused hard drive should last many years.
Click to expand...

There are still some major flaws in your backup system. In the case of
fire, flood, or theft, you lose it all. Not a very good backup, is it?
One set of backups must be off site.
 
If you do not
like wires, most PCs have a setting in the cmos screen to disable a
secondary drive.
Click to expand...

Or, for about $35, buy a USB converter/box and run the drive as an
external drive. Turn it off when it's not needed and it can't become
infected.

You can also keep it off-site between backups.
 
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