Complete PC Backup

[Guest]

I have been using Complete PC Backup since I upgraded to Vista Ultimate. The
program apparently stores some files on the main computer and an image file
and other files on the external backup drive.

What happens if the backup drive fails first? Will the program
automatically create a complete and restorable image on a new backup drive,
or will it be misled by the files remaining on the main computer and create
some incremental image that cannot be restored?

 

[AJR]

Conley - As you probably know - There are two main differences between File
and "CompletePC" backups. File backups are zipped files and Complete PC
backups are image files. Files can be backed up to any internal HD (also
external and removeable media) while the image backup must be to an internal
drive which does not contain the OS, an external or removeable media.
Complete PC Backup does not put any files on any drive other than it's
target drive.

Having said all that - if the drive containing the conmplete backup
(computer image) is replaced and the new HD has the same drive letter
Complete PC Backup would still list it as the backup target, however the
program only maintains one image - if a change takes place the original
image is "adjusted" - separate incremental or differential files are not
created (as in other backup programs). Based on that fact, only one image
maintained, I would think that the proram would crated a new complete backup
image.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for responding. Do either of the following points affect your answer?

1. The program does place some files on the main computer in the
Windows/Logs folder.

2. Although only one image file is visible on the backup drive, the text
appearing in the wizard screens refers to saving "only the differences"
between backups and to discarding "older backups" when space requires. This
has always made me wonder whether the program was "hiding" some files on the
backup drive, particularly since I have never been able to reconcile the
figure for "free space" reported by Windows Explorer with the total size of
the files that are visible.

 

[AJR]

You cannot "reconcile" free space reported by Explorer wsith file size.

Any files placed by Complete PC Backup on the drive being backed up are only
informational and not required for restoration - semantics may be invovled
here. Regarding "...refers to saving "only the differences" between backups
and to discarding "older backups" when space requires. ..."
Again, only one complete backup is maintained - changea are made to the
original backup - (Info as per the Vista Resource Kit) the original backup,
in theory, is discarded and replaced with the "up-to-date" backup.