Will This Backup Procedure Let Me Restore?

  • Thread starter Thread starter jim evans
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jim evans

As I've joked for years "Backing up is easy, there are lots of ways
to do it. The question is, will you be able to restore?" And that's
my question.

I began using a new backup method a few weeks ago, but I don't know
enough about the inner workings of XP to know if I will be able to
restore completely when the time comes.

There are three steps involved in backing up.

1) I make a copy of my registry using ERDNT.

2) I then copy all files that will copy, using an XCopy like method.
(I only copy changed files so it isn't necessary to copy the entire
drive.)

3) Once a month I use Bart's PE Builder to boot and copy the entire
Windows directory using the same XCopy like method.

If I have a complete meltdown or drive failure the plan to restore is:

1) Use Bart's and restore the Windows directory
2) Then restore the main backup,
3) Then use ERDNT to restore the most current registry.

Will this work or is this scheme flawed?

NOTE: Backing up preferences are a personal preference. Your way may
not suit me, so I not asking for suggestions for other ways to do it.
I've tried many ways, Ghost, Drive Image, and on and on.

I'm asking if this way works.

jim
 
sounds a lot harder than
it should be.

because of the success i've had
i suggest you use driveimage xml or
a similar product/method.

you can also install the driveimage xml pluggin
for bart pe via its addin section.

then create your disk with barts pe
w/pluggin and a copy of the driveimage
xml program and your erunt program and registry
copies.

then create a second set of cd's with
only your hd images....

i took an additional step and
created an extra partition solely for
the backup images and related software.

my personal logic is that i will likely incur
a crash with the o.s. or partition, rather than a hd crash, and
restoring from one partition to the other will
be quicker.

As I've joked for years "Backing up is easy, there are lots of ways
to do it. The question is, will you be able to restore?" And that's
my question.

I began using a new backup method a few weeks ago, but I don't know
enough about the inner workings of XP to know if I will be able to
restore completely when the time comes.

There are three steps involved in backing up.

1) I make a copy of my registry using ERDNT.

2) I then copy all files that will copy, using an XCopy like method.
(I only copy changed files so it isn't necessary to copy the entire
drive.)

3) Once a month I use Bart's PE Builder to boot and copy the entire
Windows directory using the same XCopy like method.

If I have a complete meltdown or drive failure the plan to restore is:

1) Use Bart's and restore the Windows directory
2) Then restore the main backup,
3) Then use ERDNT to restore the most current registry.

Will this work or is this scheme flawed?

NOTE: Backing up preferences are a personal preference. Your way may
not suit me, so I not asking for suggestions for other ways to do it.
I've tried many ways, Ghost, Drive Image, and on and on.

I'm asking if this way works.

jim
 
jim evans said:
As I've joked for years "Backing up is easy, there are lots of ways
to do it. The question is, will you be able to restore?" And that's
my question.

I began using a new backup method a few weeks ago, but I don't know
enough about the inner workings of XP to know if I will be able to
restore completely when the time comes.

There are three steps involved in backing up.

1) I make a copy of my registry using ERDNT.

2) I then copy all files that will copy, using an XCopy like method.
(I only copy changed files so it isn't necessary to copy the entire
drive.)

3) Once a month I use Bart's PE Builder to boot and copy the entire
Windows directory using the same XCopy like method.

If I have a complete meltdown or drive failure the plan to restore is:

1) Use Bart's and restore the Windows directory
2) Then restore the main backup,
3) Then use ERDNT to restore the most current registry.

Will this work or is this scheme flawed?

NOTE: Backing up preferences are a personal preference. Your way may
not suit me, so I not asking for suggestions for other ways to do it.
I've tried many ways, Ghost, Drive Image, and on and on.

I'm asking if this way works.

jim
Click to expand...


With xcopy you have to make sure you use the /o option when copying. Even
then I think you will run into problems with ACLs. You are much better to
use a program designed for backups. The only way you will know if your
method works is to try it. It's not a way that most people use so few people
will know if it actually works.
 
jim said:
As I've joked for years "Backing up is easy, there are lots of ways
to do it. The question is, will you be able to restore?" And that's
my question.

I began using a new backup method a few weeks ago, but I don't know
enough about the inner workings of XP to know if I will be able to
restore completely when the time comes.

There are three steps involved in backing up.

1) I make a copy of my registry using ERDNT.

2) I then copy all files that will copy, using an XCopy like method.
(I only copy changed files so it isn't necessary to copy the entire
drive.)

3) Once a month I use Bart's PE Builder to boot and copy the entire
Windows directory using the same XCopy like method.

If I have a complete meltdown or drive failure the plan to restore is:

1) Use Bart's and restore the Windows directory
2) Then restore the main backup,
3) Then use ERDNT to restore the most current registry.

Will this work or is this scheme flawed?

NOTE: Backing up preferences are a personal preference. Your way may
not suit me, so I not asking for suggestions for other ways to do it.
I've tried many ways, Ghost, Drive Image, and on and on.

I'm asking if this way works.

jim
Click to expand...

What do you mean you used Ghost and Drive Image, are we to assume you
own them. If so, it's tough to figure out how the mickey mouse method
you want to use can be an improvement over products specifically
designed to avoid all the hiccups of trying to use a file backup
strategy for winxp.

If you don't own them, then neither one would be my choice. I use the
terabyteunlimited products bootitng and Image for Windows. I've heard
good things about Acronis, but have never used it. In any event, an
imaging solution is preferable to any other for the os partition. For
data partitions there are numerous choices.
Dave Cohen
 
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