recommend backup program for XP Home?

[idiotprogrammer]

Hi, I just realized that my recent installation of Home Edition does
not include the Windows backup utility. (I had been using Pro before).
Looking at the knowledgebase, I see that it is on my CD, so I can
install it even though it is officially not supported.

However, I wanted to poll people about backup solutions. I prefer
freeware, although I wouldn't mind paying a small fee (up to $50) if it
was significantly better.

I prefer simplicity to lots of features, though having network backup
would be ideal.

Finally, does anyone know why backup xp home isn't supported? Should
that make me leery of using it on Home?

I have a USB hard drive, but not to both my machines. I'm thinking of
either buying another USB hard drive or (probably) a network storage
drive.

I actually have some big files (sound and video) so that's one
limitation. The stuff I can download I can live without, but I create
some videos, so that's important to me to backup.

I await the wisdom of the masters.


Robert Nagle
Houston, Texas, idiotprogrammer
http://www.imaginaryplanet.net/weblogs/idiotprogrammer/

 

[John Barnett MVP]

Backup in Windows XP Home 'is' supported, it just isn't installed by
default. Referring to Backup as not being supported gives the impression
that Microsoft doesn't support this application on XP Home. This is not the
case.

As for backup suggestions, i prefer to use imaging software such as Norton
Ghost, Paragon drive backup, Acronis True Image.

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail is supplied "as is". No warranty of any kind,
either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail. The Author shall not be liable for any
direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use
of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this mail..

 

[idiotprogrammer]

Note: Automated System Recovery is not a supported feature in Windows
XP Home Edition using Backup, but Backup is provided on the CD-ROM as
additional value to help back up critical system data. For additional
information, click the article number below to view the article in the
Microsoft Knowledge Base:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q302894
Aha, I misread the knowledgebase note. Thanks.

 

[Guest]

Hello I-programmer:

I second Wise Master Barnett's suggestions. I have found 3rd party image
software to be infinitely easier to use than XP Backup Utility, thus
facilitating compliance to a regular backup scheme. I use Norton Ghost but
there seems to be good reviews of Acronis.

Mark

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Hi, I just realized that my recent installation of Home Edition does
not include the Windows backup utility. (I had been using Pro before).
Looking at the knowledgebase, I see that it is on my CD, so I can
install it even though it is officially not supported.

It's supported, just not installed by default, as it is in XP Professional.
However ASR is *not* supported.

However, I wanted to poll people about backup solutions. I prefer
freeware, although I wouldn't mind paying a small fee (up to $50) if
it was significantly better.

Windows Backup is a very primitive program and almost any third-party
alternative is a better choice. I personally like Acronis True Image.

 

[idiotprogrammer]

Ok, I'll check out achronis. Any freeware solutions?

BTW, how much space should I allocate to backups? (in terms of
percentages). Full + incremental. is allocating twice the amount of
data to backups reasonable or overkill?

rj

 

[Guest]

If you will be happy without the ability to image your siystem, there are
many so-called "freeware" backup programs which come well-recommended on this
forum.

If you choose to obtain imaging software (recommended) I have not seen a
freeware imaging software that I would trust with this critical task.

As to your space requirement question, if you are asking about how much
compression you can achieve for your backups, that depends on the type of
files you are backing up, i.e.- text files are much more compressable than
say, graphics, sound and/or video. Norton has variable rate compression and
file-splitting which allows you to record the backups in "CD sized chunks".
I assume Acronis has something similar. If you are backing up to a removable
hdd, then it is not likely an issue unless you have MASSIVE amounts of data.

 

[idiotprogrammer]

Thanks. I've noticed that the acronis true image product only allows
itself to be downloaded on a single pc.


(I have a PC and a laptop). I could swing $79, but two licenses sounds
like more than I want. (I could buy one license for my main machine,
and use a free program for the other).

My main requirement is that I be able to back up to a network storage
drive.

Ideas?

rj

 

[Guest]

Do you synchronize the files on your laptop and your desktop on a regular
basis? If so, you could use backups from the desktop to the network storage
drive (after synchronizing) as a sort of "master" backup capable of
re-populating either machine in the event of mishap.

If you do not currently synchronize, investigate whether it would hold an
advantage for you
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotography/prophoto/synctoy.mspx

 

[Guest]

YAK ! Contrary to my previous post, I am not sure that Sync Toy would be a
good choice for synchronizing between laptop and desktop for the purpose of
backing up as suggested. In addition, it would not create the ability to
create an *image* backup of BOTH machines with ONE license.

 

[idiotprogrammer]

first, although I own both, I actually use the laptop and PC for
entirely separate things (and I also dual boot using the laptop in
linux). I might share some data, but not a lot.

I really want separate backup systems. I have a greater need to backup
the desktop. The laptop is somewhat less important.

BTW, Syntoy looks REALLY cool. I'm definitely going to check that out.
Thanks!

rj

 

[Matthew Martin]

Hi,

Go:

http://www.argentuma.com/backup/software/

for ideas on backup software.

"...There are two primary types of backup software to choose from:

Traditional file backup programs.
Disk imaging software..."