Brief poll: experiences with WindowsXP "Backup" utility

[George]

I'm using WinXP-Pro PC, and typically use the popular Stomp (brand)
"BackupMyPC" to route files to a Travan tape. Rather than fool around with
lots of settings and setup, I let the software use a "bulldoze" *everything*
on c-drive into the Travan tape. Besides, that way I get everything in case
need to see...files, what was on desktop, system folder things, you name it,
it's there.

But the tape drive quit, and the CD-writer quit writing at same time--a
Windows problem--I'll need to re-install. In meantime, got to keep backups
going, so got a simple Western Digital external hard drive, 80GB. Problem
is...there are lots of error messages if I try to (bulldoze and) just drag
"c:" over to "e:" (the WD 80 gig drive). So, it looks like will have to use
a backup software. Right?

I wondered if others have had experience backing up this way and what kind
of experience others have had using the *WinXP utility* in Start Prog >
Accessories > Sys Tools > Backup. I wanted to try this WinXP utility, so
opened it up, it seems super-simple (although it does say it will create a
startup CD at the end...a problem since my CD-writer is broken).

Nevertheless, how's the WinXP backup utility work? Great? good? bad? Does
anyone actually use it, or is there more popular software everyone uses.

Thanks for any insights,
George

 

[Kerry Brown]

I'm using WinXP-Pro PC, and typically use the popular Stomp (brand)
"BackupMyPC" to route files to a Travan tape. Rather than fool
around with lots of settings and setup, I let the software use a
"bulldoze" *everything* on c-drive into the Travan tape. Besides,
that way I get everything in case need to see...files, what was on
desktop, system folder things, you name it, it's there.

But the tape drive quit, and the CD-writer quit writing at same
time--a Windows problem--I'll need to re-install. In meantime, got
to keep backups going, so got a simple Western Digital external hard
drive, 80GB. Problem is...there are lots of error messages if I try
to (bulldoze and) just drag "c:" over to "e:" (the WD 80 gig drive).
So, it looks like will have to use a backup software. Right?

I wondered if others have had experience backing up this way and what
kind of experience others have had using the *WinXP utility* in Start
Prog > Accessories > Sys Tools > Backup. I wanted to try this WinXP
utility, so opened it up, it seems super-simple (although it does say
it will create a startup CD at the end...a problem since my CD-writer
is broken).

Nevertheless, how's the WinXP backup utility work? Great? good? bad?
Does anyone actually use it, or is there more popular software
everyone uses.

Thanks for any insights,
George

NTBackup is an incredibly powerful tool. It is also an incredibly hard to
learn and use tool. I recommend you use a disk imaging program unless you
have the time and patience to invest in NTBackup. Don't bother trying to fix
or replace the Travan tape drive. I have had many problems with many brands
of Travan drives. I will not install them any more. Here are some links to
some good imaging and backup programs that I have used.

http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/

http://www.norton.com/home_homeoffice/products/backup_recovery/ghost10/index.html

http://www.novastor.com/pcbackup/backup/n_backup.html

I also use NTBackup but it took years of using it to fully understand how it
works.

Kerry