Backup Utility to recommend

[Tina]

I have windows xp home edition and a dell too...bought in july...it came
with Norton ghost for backup with an expiration date...trial version...is
there a free backup utility that is simple and easy to use so I don't have
to buy ghost? Thanks in advance for the suggestions

Tina

 

[Ken Blake]

I have windows xp home edition and a dell too...bought in july...it
came with Norton ghost for backup with an expiration date...trial
version...is there a free backup utility that is simple and easy to
use so I don't have to buy ghost? Thanks in advance for the
suggestions

Windows XP has a built-in backup utility, but it's very primitive as these
things go. I recommend a third-party utility instead, and my preference is
for Acronis True Image. However it's not free.

If you want to try the built-in one, it is installed automatically on XP
Professional, but not on XP Home. If you have the complete XP Home CD, find
backup on the CD, in \ValueAdd\MSFT\NTBACKUP and install it yourself by
doubleclicking the file ntbackup.msi.



If you don't have an XP CD, you can download ntbackup.msi at

http://www.onecomputerguy.com/software/ntbackup.msi

Also see http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=302894

 

[databaseben]

yeh, I use this http://www.runtime.org/dixml.htm

PS: I wouldn't waste anythime with windows nt backup
but I would diffently ensure that windows restore is working and functional.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I have windows xp home edition and a dell too...bought in july...it came
with Norton ghost for backup with an expiration date...trial version...is
there a free backup utility that is simple and easy to use so I don't have
to buy ghost? Thanks in advance for the suggestions

Tina

Good backup utilities aren't expensive, and if you actually place value on
the data you're going to back up, are an excellent deal.

You should consider the difference between 'backup' and 'imaging' utilities,
and choose which one you actually need. Imaging will create larger files
that can get your entire system back to a running state in a short time;
backup utilities won't create a bootable system, and are more suited to
backing up selected portions of data (not the entire system).

For reference, Acronis True Image, which I like more than Ghost, can be had
for about US$50:
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/

And Backup Plus, which creates .bac files that are really .ZIP files, can be
had for about US$30:
http://www.backupplus.net/

The fact that these are really .ZIP files is important. It means that
should problems arise with the backup archives or should the installed
program be unavailable, you have options for getting access to the backed-up
files. ZIP file formats are well-understood and there are lots of repair
and utility programs.

Whatever way you back your files up, it is important to verify that the
backups worked.

HTH
-pk

 

[Tina]

Good backup utilities aren't expensive, and if you actually place value on
the data you're going to back up, are an excellent deal.

You should consider the difference between 'backup' and 'imaging'
utilities,
and choose which one you actually need. Imaging will create larger files
that can get your entire system back to a running state in a short time;
backup utilities won't create a bootable system, and are more suited to
backing up selected portions of data (not the entire system).

For reference, Acronis True Image, which I like more than Ghost, can be
had
for about US$50:
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/

And Backup Plus, which creates .bac files that are really .ZIP files, can
be
had for about US$30:
http://www.backupplus.net/

The fact that these are really .ZIP files is important. It means that
should problems arise with the backup archives or should the installed
program be unavailable, you have options for getting access to the
backed-up
files. ZIP file formats are well-understood and there are lots of
repair
and utility programs.

Whatever way you back your files up, it is important to verify that the
backups worked.

HTH
-pk

Thanks for all the suggestions....

Tina

 

[---Fitz---]

Give a try to "Cobian". Free and works fine.
http://www.educ.umu.se/~cobian/cobianbackup.htm.