Backup XP

  • Thread starter Thread starter Charles Harvey
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Charles Harvey

I have just had to completly rebuild my system following a hardware
failure and now that I have a working system once again (using XP pro),
I would like to set up a backup regime but I only have available a 100m
Zip or a CD RW. How can I minimise the actual amount that I have to
backup, and any recomadations as to the actual programe would be
appreciated.
 
I have just had to completly rebuild my system following a hardware
failure and now that I have a working system once again (using XP pro),
I would like to set up a backup regime but I only have available a 100m
Zip or a CD RW. How can I minimise the actual amount that I have to
backup, and any recomadations as to the actual programe would be
appreciated.
Click to expand...

Are you looking to protect personal data files only or do you want a
solution for disaster recovery? Or both?

Personally, I have my system setup with XP on C:, apps on D: and all other
files on other partitions. Since it's a desktop, I have "hibernate"
disabled and that's 1.5 GB less that would be included it hibernate was
enabled.

This arrangement allows a single DVD backup for the Windows partition.
Complete recovery is 30 minutes away if Windows is fubar'd.

Occasionally, I'll image the applications partition but since it doesn't
change as often it's not done as often as the Windows partition. Data
backup is done on a regular basis and done separately from both of the
above images. I use NTBackup or the imaging program for this. Backup My PC
is also very nice if looking for a third party solution that will span CDs.

There are many imaging programs available. I like Image for Windows. Works
with all kinds of storage devices and can span CDs if the backup is too big
for a single disk: http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/imagew.html
 
Sharon F said:
SNIP


Are you looking to protect personal data files only or do you want a
solution for disaster recovery? Or both?
Click to expand...

IN truth both, in one go
Personally, I have my system setup with XP on C:, apps on D: and all other
files on other partitions. Since it's a desktop, I have "hibernate"
disabled and that's 1.5 GB less that would be included it hibernate was
enabled.
Click to expand...

As far as I know I do not have Hibernate enabled
This arrangement allows a single DVD backup for the Windows partition.
Complete recovery is 30 minutes away if Windows is fubar'd.
Click to expand...

Unfortunatley I do not have DVD R or RW available, only CD
Occasionally, I'll image the applications partition but since it doesn't
change as often it's not done as often as the Windows partition. Data
backup is done on a regular basis and done separately from both of the
above images. I use NTBackup or the imaging program for this. Backup My PC
is also very nice if looking for a third party solution that will span
CDs.

There are many imaging programs available. I like Image for Windows. Works
with all kinds of storage devices and can span CDs if the backup is too big
for a single disk: http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/imagew.html
Click to expand...

In will have a look at the program, Thanks For your assistance.
 
I agree with the previous reply, that using partitions to segregate XP from
programs from personal files is a good idea. If you have not done this yet,
think about using somthing like Partition Magic to at least make a second
partition for personal files and copy them to it. Then, use something like
XCOPY to backup personal files to wherever, frequently. (The /D parameter on
XCOPY can be used to copy only newer/changed files.) Do not store personal
files in Documents and Settings, since if your user ID is ever corrupted,
you will have a hard time accessing them.

As for XP (and maybe programs) which are left on C:\, I have had good luck
with Norton GHOST (2002 or higher, but only if run from a floppy) and even
better luck with Acronis TrueImage (version 7, build 611; build 5xx was OK
too).

I would forget the ZIP-100 drive, as it is too small, and rapidly becoming
an antique technology. I have a ZIP-250 and find that I more and more I
write CDs, since all my friends can rad those, but few can read a ZIP.
Further, a modern CD writer is faster than a ZIP on a Mb/sec basis. Both
GHOST and TrueImage can write to ZIP, CD, and some DVDs.

TrueImage has another feature and that is the ability to write to an
external USB or firewire disk. For most backups I write to a 120 Gig USB
2.0 disk. I can backup 5.0 Gig from C:\ to external USB in about 8 minutes.
Recovery is equally fast. TrueImage works either from within windows (if
windows is operational), or from a bootable CD that it makes for you, for
cases when windows is not working. Both interfaces look the same, a simple
multi-color window. Overall, TrueImage is friendlier than GHOST.

In theory GHOST 2003 can also write to USB and firewire. However, it is
very touchy. For example, it recognizes only the first USB port, which is
usually the one on the motherboard. It is also particular about matched USB
1.1-11. or 2.0-2.0 devices. In contrast, TrueImage will work on any USB or
combination thereof.

The cost of an external USB 2.0 disk is is about $1.50/Gig (at Circuit City,
less of you shop around). The cost of ZIP-100s is just under $10/disk, or
closer to $100/Gig. The cost of a USB 2.0 PCI card, if you need one, is
about 30 bucks, and they are very easy to install in a desktop running XP.
CD-R media is perhaps 25-50 cents per disk, or under $1/Gig. So, you see
the economic reasons why I have stopped thinking about ZIPs as backup media.

A related option is to install a second internal hard drive, and use that
for casual backups, such as just before installing new software. Obviously
this approach provides little redundancy in case of virus or power surge.
But, it is very fast, and most of my problems have been bad
install/uninstall related. So, I frequeetly backup to the second internal
drive with GHOST, or to the external drive with TrueImage. I less
frequently copy imges to CD-R or DVD-R. Note that both GHOST and TrueImage
can break the image file into user-defined pieces, such as 650 Meg.
 
As Bob said, TrueImage is the way to go. Very easy to use and does the job. Get it from www.acronis.com.

I write the image to another HDD in CD size chunks then burn those to DVD/CD if i want to.

Also, as Sharon wrote, separate your OS, documents, programs. Doing that makes life much easier.

--
Just my 2¢ worth
Jeff
__________in response to__________
| I have just had to completly rebuild my system following a hardware
| failure and now that I have a working system once again (using XP pro),
| I would like to set up a backup regime but I only have available a 100m
| Zip or a CD RW. How can I minimise the actual amount that I have to
| backup, and any recomadations as to the actual programe would be
| appreciated.
| --
| Charles Harvey
 
Bob Harris said:
I agree with the previous reply, that using partitions to segregate XP from
programs from personal files is a good idea. If you have not done this yet,
think about using somthing like Partition Magic to at least make a second
partition for personal files and copy them to it.
Snip

A related option is to install a second internal hard drive, and use that
for casual backups, such as just before installing new software. Obviously
this approach provides little redundancy in case of virus or power surge.
But, it is very fast, and most of my problems have been bad
install/uninstall related. So, I frequeetly backup to the second internal
drive with GHOST, or to the external drive with TrueImage. I less
frequently copy imges to CD-R or DVD-R. Note that both GHOST and TrueImage
can break the image file into user-defined pieces, such as 650 Meg.
Click to expand...


Thankyou for your suggestions thay have given me some ideas.
 
I have just had to completly rebuild my system following a hardware
failure and now that I have a working system once again (using XP pro),
I would like to set up a backup regime but I only have available a 100m
Zip or a CD RW. How can I minimise the actual amount that I have to
backup, and any recomadations as to the actual programe would be
appreciated.
Click to expand...

The program Backup MyPC (written by Veritas, sold by Stomp) allows:

Making a full backup of a drive with all working software & files

Make incremental backups of only new/changed files

Make backups which span multiple Cd's or Dvd's (if have dvd writer)


John Thomas Smith
http://www.direct2usales.com
http://www.pacifier.com/~jtsmith
 
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