MSBACKUP: Using a second HDD for backing up.

[Richard]

I have two HDDs permanently connected to my PC, the slave I intend to use to
store my backup data.

I have a partition on the slave (Disk 2) that I've set as Z drive.

The problem is, the only option I'm given for a place to backup is my A
drive.

How can I get MSBACKUP to give me Z drive as a backup place option?

TIA.

 

[db]

i think that the second drive
is a good idea.

however, i would not rely on
msbackup to backup anything
except regular files. But for
regular files i would simply make
a straight copy of them and store
them on the other drive - synctoy
is good for this.

use driveimagexml and
make images of the master
and store them on the slave.

in addition store/run the driveimage
program on the slave as well.

in addition, use registry backups
like erunt and store the copies
on the backup drive as well, including
the actual program.

by storing and running the programs
from the slave, you will have access to
them in the event the master fails.

while you are creating this system also
make emergency boot disks and include
on them ntdetect, ntdlr, fixboot, fixmbr

also, you might want to look into
bartspe and integrate yet another copy of
driveimage onto it

- db
I have two HDDs permanently connected to my PC, the slave I intend to use to
store my backup data.

I have a partition on the slave (Disk 2) that I've set as Z drive.

The problem is, the only option I'm given for a place to backup is my A
drive.

How can I get MSBACKUP to give me Z drive as a backup place option?

TIA.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I have two HDDs permanently connected to my PC, the slave I intend to
use to store my backup data.

I have a partition on the slave (Disk 2) that I've set as Z drive.

The problem is, the only option I'm given for a place to backup is my
A drive.

How can I get MSBACKUP to give me Z drive as a backup place option?

I can't answer your question, but I wanted to urge you to rethink your
backup strategy.

I don't recommend backup to a second non-removable hard drive because it
leaves you susceptible to simultaneous loss of the original and backup to
many of the most common dangers: severe power glitches, nearby lightning
strikes, virus attacks, even theft of the computer.

In your case, since you plan to backup to a second partition, what I say in
that paragraph goes double, because you are also susceptible to physical
failure of the drive. What you are doing is the weakest possible form of
backup.

In my view, secure backup needs to be on removable media, and not kept in
the computer. For really secure backup (needed, for example, if the life of
your business depends on your data) you should have multiple generations of
backup, and at least one of those generations should be stored off-site.

My computer isn't used for business, but my personal backup scheme uses two
identical removable hard drives,I alternate between the two, and use Acronis
True Image to make a complete copy of the primary drive.

 

[Rock]

I have two HDDs permanently connected to my PC, the slave I intend to use
to store my backup data.

I have a partition on the slave (Disk 2) that I've set as Z drive.

The problem is, the only option I'm given for a place to backup is my A
drive.

How can I get MSBACKUP to give me Z drive as a backup place option?

I second Ken's advice. You can backup to a second internal drive, but a
copy should be kept on removable media. Take that second drive, and put it
in an external drive enclosure, and connect that by way of USB. Here is one
such enclosure by Kingwin, for sale on Newegg.com.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817146307

If you want to keep that 2nd internal hard drive then pick up another
IDE/ATA hard drive and use that in the external enclosure. Hard drives are
low cost these days.

Sorry I don't know why ntbackup is not seeing the Z: volume. I don't use
ntbackup. I use Acronis True Image Home version 10 to image the drives to
an external USB drive.

 

[AJR]

Are you sure you are not using "ASR" backup utility.
ASR will ask for a floppy to install system files to start the restore
function - afterwards it will ask for backup location.
..net> wrote in message news:[email protected]...

 

[Richard]

I can't answer your question, but I wanted to urge you to rethink your
backup strategy.

I don't recommend backup to a second non-removable hard drive because it
leaves you susceptible to simultaneous loss of the original and backup to
many of the most common dangers: severe power glitches, nearby lightning
strikes, virus attacks, even theft of the computer.

In your case, since you plan to backup to a second partition, what I say
in that paragraph goes double, because you are also susceptible to
physical failure of the drive. What you are doing is the weakest possible
form of backup.

In my view, secure backup needs to be on removable media, and not kept in
the computer. For really secure backup (needed, for example, if the life
of your business depends on your data) you should have multiple
generations of backup, and at least one of those generations should be
stored off-site.

My computer isn't used for business, but my personal backup scheme uses
two identical removable hard drives,I alternate between the two, and use
Acronis True Image to make a complete copy of the primary drive.

What do you mean by "removeable hard drive" ?

My hardrives are in caddy's so I can take the HDD out.

Similar to:

http://www.web-tronics.com/personal-computing-products-hard-drives-removeable-hard-drive-racks.html

So, each of your drives are identical and you can use one or the other.

As it happens I do have Acronis True Image.

You must just backup files and folders and stuff as they are, not compressed
into some special backup file.

How to you ensure each HDD remains identical? Make them identical at the
end of each day/week. Or "on the fly" as HDD data changes?

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

What do you mean by "removeable hard drive" ?

My hardrives are in caddy's so I can take the HDD out.

My removable drives are USB, which I prefer. However using caddies works
too, as long as you are diligent about removing them after you backup, and
not keeping them in the case.

So, each of your drives are identical and you can use one or the
other.
As it happens I do have Acronis True Image.

You must just backup files and folders and stuff as they are, not
compressed into some special backup file.

No, I image the drive, and it is compressed. That means the image has to be
restored to be used. I can't just replace a failed drive with a backup
drive. However, cloning is also a workable alternative.

How to you ensure each HDD remains identical? Make them identical at
the end of each day/week. Or "on the fly" as HDD data changes?

No they don't literally remain identical. They are actually identical only
when the backup is done. As time passes and they differ more and more from
the original, a new backup has to be created. How long to wait before
creating a new backup depends on the individual, what he uses his computer
for, his work habits, and how volitile the data is.