View Full Version : Computer BackUp Software.
DennisP
29-01-07, 05:12 PM
I have just purchased an external USB 250Gb hard drive with the main intention of being able to backup my Windows XP installation from time to time, so that in the event of a failure of the main Windows hard drive, I would be able to reinstall without losing my setup. Unfortunately the drive did not come with any software for backing up files or setup, so I am asking if anyone can recommend good (but not expensive) software which will accomplish what I want to do.
Hi Dennis - highly recommended is Acronis True Image 10. I've used it and it's the easiest backup software to date. You can download a free time-limited version from the Acronis site (http://www.acronis.com/). Last time I looked, it worked out cheaper to buy it from Dabs or Amazon rather than to purchase a licence from Acronis. It shouldn't cost you more than around £25 plus P&P.
Ian
DennisP
29-01-07, 08:06 PM
Many thanks Ian, I will download the trial version and give it a whirl, then if it fits the bill I will take your advice and get it from Amazon.
Regards Dennis
Patrick
29-01-07, 10:45 PM
Many thanks Ian, I will download the trial version and give it a whirl, then if it fits the bill I will take your advice and get it from Amazon.
Regards Dennis
The one I use is Good Sync, free for low volume users a licance about £10 if used very regularly.
Check it out on http://www.goodsync.com/
Patrick
Stephen
29-01-07, 11:16 PM
The one I use is Good Sync, free for low volume users a licance about £10 if used very regularly.
Check it out on http://www.goodsync.com/
Patrick
Patrick I too use Good sync,its an excellent little program, but I soon realised that low volume was too low ;) so I bought a licence. It is however not really intended as a method for a full system backup. Rather it is intended to synchronise two folders on different drives.
I, for example use it regularly to synchonise My Documents to an external drive. This is the folder that changes the most on the PC and therefore it good to be able to synchronise it with one on another drive. Also if one works with files in a particular folder, it will syncronise the same folder on a another drive, so they are kept up to date.
I have in the past used Norton Ghost to create a complete image of Drive to another. However what always confuses me is that if your C drive crashes and you cannot access windows, how do you access the mirror image you have created on the other drive in order to restore things. I am at present using a program supplied by Acer on my Lappy, it creates a ful system backup, but there seems no way to access it if windows crashes,so I'm somewhat confused :confused:
This is an important point - True Image may sound like a photo editor, but it's a drive imager - it takes the contents (or image) of the entire drive and stores it so that the whole drive can be re-'imaged' later, if required, so no need to reinstall OS and applications, etc. You can also access individual files and folders in the backup.
Ian
DennisP
30-01-07, 10:14 AM
Thanks everyone for suggestions,but I think Ian has hit the nail on the head. I need to be able to backup a true drive image and having looked at the trial version of Acronis it would appear to do exactly what I require.
Dennis
rogleale
30-01-07, 11:41 AM
I don't know about Good Synch Stephen, but with True Image after installing the programme you create a boot disc, which enables you to run True Image, and restore the image without starting up the damaged Windows OS.
It has saved my bacon several times!
Roger
Stephen
30-01-07, 11:46 AM
I don't know about Good Synch Stephen, but with True Image after installing the programme you create a boot disc, which enables you to run True Image, and restore the image without starting up the damaged Windows OS.
It has saved my bacon several times!
Roger
Thanks for that Rog, as I say though Good Sync is not a true backup prog so I would never expect it to do the same job. However what is more worrying is the NTI backup software that comes with my ACER lappy. I'm pretty sure it doesn't create a boot disc. I'm looking at the help pages now actually to see if it should. As I say whats the point of creating a backup image on a separate drive if you can't access it to reinstall it. :confused:
Patrick
30-01-07, 07:15 PM
Patrick I too use Good sync,its an excellent little program, but I soon realised that low volume was too low ;) so I bought a licence. It is however not really intended as a method for a full system backup. Rather it is intended to synchronise two folders on different drives.
I, for example use it regularly to synchonise My Documents to an external drive. This is the folder that changes the most on the PC and therefore it good to be able to synchronise it with one on another drive. Also if one works with files in a particular folder, it will syncronise the same folder on a another drive, so they are kept up to date.
I have in the past used Norton Ghost to create a complete image of Drive to another. However what always confuses me is that if your C drive crashes and you cannot access windows, how do you access the mirror image you have created on the other drive in order to restore things. I am at present using a program supplied by Acer on my Lappy, it creates a ful system backup, but there seems no way to access it if windows crashes,so I'm somewhat confused :confused:
If its like PowerQuest now owned by Norton,probably become their latest version of Ghost, you boot from the CD. So presumably you have to make a bootable CD if the program is downloaded.
Patrick
Stephen
30-01-07, 07:27 PM
If its like PowerQuest now owned by Norton,probably become their latest version of Ghost, you boot from the CD. So presumably you have to make a bootable CD if the program is downloaded.
Patrick
Thanks for that Patrick. I've actually looked into it a little further today and discovered that the backup software that came with my Acer lappy is in fact only a system file backup and does not create an image file of the drive and therefore there is no boot disc created. However, I also found that I was able to upgrade it to a complete and more comprehensive package that does the lot and is considerd an upgrade so comes at a preferential price. They will even post you the CD from America for free + delivery.
So the situation for me at least has been resolved and as we speak I'm creating a series of emergency recovery discs to DVD.