Advice on backing up programs?

[the Tester]

I need advice on backing up my programs.
I have a backup copy of my registry already,so I have that 'covered".

I have system recovery and system restore(xp home).
I know that using system recovery won't save third party programs.
I have some programs copied on cd,but with updates and upgrades programs get outdated.

I don't need to backup Windows files because restore/recovery already has them?

I need to backup only third-party programs?(almost all of these programs were downloads,no install cd's)

I have 1.6 gigs in program files.I could weed out some programs.But not many.
Should I compress(zip) the backup?

Will zipped files be installable from a CD?

Is it better to copy to a cd or have the backups on the pc with a backup manager program like WinRescue or Polder?

[root]

Nothing saves you from disaster like an image.
I used Partition Magic and partitioned my drive into three sections. One partition is for storing Images. I usually keep two there. I use medium compression on my images.
In case you get a real nasty bug that totals your entire HD, a basic image on CDs saves a complete fresh install.
Norton Ghost, Powerquest Drive Image or Acronis Tru Image will give you good images, including CD spanning. I think the newer versions include incremental backups. You can definitely restore an image from CDs.
The most important thing about the image programs is to make the boot disks. That's what you use to image and restore most of the time.
Winrescue will definitely help with minor registry problems. It has saved me heartache many times. When you get certain files corrupted though, an image is the easy way to go.

[the Tester]

Thanks for the advice Root.

I checked out some imaging programs.
I found a lot of interesting programs but no freeware.Acronis looks really good to me.
When I have some extra $ I'm going to look into those programs again.

I did have some success with Back4Win.
Polder was too difficult to operate for me.
I did manage to copy(backup) my programs on cd and in a file.
Back4Win is easy to use and will work until I can get an imaging program.

[FanJ]

This is one of the most discussed topics: which imaging-backup program to use?
When you look for example at the DSLR-software forum, you will see the topic coming up again and again:
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/sware

Root gave good advice!

For myself:
I have Ghost 2003, DriveImage 2002, Acronis TrueImage.
For some reason or another I have had problems with all three of them; but that could definitely be my own fault or my system set-up.
At the moment I'm very happy with the latest build of Acronis TrueImage.
I have two internal IDE harddisks, and one external Maxtor USB 2.0 HD connected via a Sitecom USB 2.0 card at my motherboard Asus P2B (W 98 SE, 512 MB RAM, P3 600).
The latest build of TrueImage was able to make backups of all my partitions of my internal HD's straight to that external USB 2.0 HD, divided in parts of about 600 MB so I also would be able to write them to CD-ROM's.
The making of the back-ups was going straight from Windows.

Besides of all that, I am a diehard fan of ERS from Theodore Fattaleh. It lets you make backups of all your important system files, favourites in IE, etc etc, on a bootable floppy.
Great support from Theodore (when asked he also have come a few times here to the forum to give advice); ERS is also mentioned at one of Wilders-pages ( http://www.backtec.com/ ).

[the Tester]

Thanks FanJ.

I checked out ERS.
It's cheaper than Acronis and looks good,but,I have NTFS rather than Fat32..
I don't have a 98 bootdisk.I'll have to research at the link more.
I see that ERS has a 30 run trial.That's a nice trial.
I am really new to this process. I'm learning and researching a lot.
Most everyone that has responded to this question in the forums that I frequent has recommended a drive imaging program.
That's the the way to go.

Hmmm.Got some "homework" to do on these programs. :)

[FanJ]

Hi Tester,

To make sure:
there is a big difference between ERS and a full imaging-backup program:

ERS lets you make backups of all your important systemfiles, registry etc etc. But it is NOT a full blown imaging-backup program like for example Ghost, DriveImage, TrueImage.
Please notice the difference !!!
If you want to have a backup of everything on your harddisks, then you NEED something like Ghost, DriveImage, TrueImage (and there are more of these).

As for ERS:
It IS a very usefull utility to get back in case of an emergency.
There are different versions for W 95-98-ME and NT-2000-XP. Have a look at its site. Indeed it has a trial for some runs (indeed 30 if I remember me well). And Theo will always be willing to answer your questions (or, if you like, I could ask him to come over here).

[the Tester]

FanJ.

Thanks for clarifying the difference between the programs.
I understand that a lot better now.

I checked out ERS and Acronis again.

Acronis user feedback and reviews are impressive!
I downloaded the help file just now and took a look at that.

I prefer a full imaging program.I don't have an os cd.H/P has recovery console.That's fine as long as the system doesn't get corrupted!

In your opinion is Acronis the easiest to use?
(comparing it to PowerQuest and Norton Ghost)
I think an opinion from someone familiar with all of these programs is very valuable.Especially from my position(very inexperienced)

I never set up a dual boot or any of that on this box.It's a"straight up" xp home operating system and some valuable payware programs , personal data(not financial,just user data from programs like passwords,surfing history etc..).

What are your thoughts on Acronis for my relatively "simple" system?

[FanJ]

Oops, I just had written an answer, and then there was some kind of hick-up and it was gone >:(

[FanJ]

Well, in short:

I myself think at the moment that TrueImage is the easiest one. But other people might definitely have other opinions.
In particular experienced users of Ghost might say that that one is the best.

I hope others might jump in with their opinions.

[the Tester]

For me personally,ease of use is a factor.
It looks like Acronis,Ghost,and PowerQuest all can span to cd.

From re-reading the info on Acronis site,XP is a different animal.Probably because of the recovery console?
I had to use that utilty once,and it worked fine.
But I would feel a lot more comfortable knowing that I had an image of everything in case I did need it.Program files wouldn't do me much good if I had an operating system loss.That may be rare with XP,I don't know.

An imaging program appears to be the best insurance.

[root]

Bottom line is I have heard people praise and I have heard people curse all three of these programs.
Acronis and Ghost will both work well for me. (2K)
All you can do is try one. If it installs ok and makes the boot disks ok, use the boot disks to boot and load the program in DOS. If it works that far, it is problably good on your machine.

[FanJ]

A very nice guide for using Norton Ghost:

Radified Guide to Norton Ghost

http://ghost.radified.com/ghost_1.htm


And BTW their forum:
http://radified.com/cgi-bin/YaBB/YaBB.cgi

[FanJ]

And for those of you who can read Dutch:

Breekpunt: Maak een backup met Norton Ghost 2002

(translated: "Breekpunt": how to make a backup with Norton Ghost 2002).

http://www.breekpunt.net/artikel.asp?Artikel=290&art=Yes

[the Tester]

I have been researching via Google for" Windows XP drive imaging programs".

I'm a little disappointed.
It seems that XP with a preinstalled(recovery console,no disk)operating system is a different "beast".

If I understand the info correctly,Acronis and PowerQuest don't do the operating system for XP in that situation.They defer to the Recovery Console.If XP crashed,I HAVE TO RELY on the recovery console.

Does anyone know the particulars technically with XP home preinstalled(Hewlett Packard)?

[the Tester]

I contacted H/P support online and the tech guy told me imaging programs will work on my system.

I e-mailed Acronis and I'll see what they have to say.

Bear with me.I'm learning a lot about this issue.

I ask a lot of questions.I am a real "newbie" when it comes to imaging .

If all goes well with Acronis e-mail,I'm going to try that program.

[the Tester]

I recieved an email from Acronis.
I have heard that Acronis support is good via email.
They answered my multitude of questions.

I'm going to give True Image a try.

[controler]

I use XP home and install much morfe than the average bear. I only had it crash a couple times trying to run multi AV's at the same time.
I also have a HP with recovery CD's which I have never had to use.
I have however beta tested Drive Image and Ghost and both programs
are very good.
The one main thing you MUST concider is how well they restore the image for you from DOS.
If you can boot to CD fine but if not and can't boot to windows, you need to boot to DOS to get your im age back. both Ghost and Drive Image do this.
Some programs use an older form of DOS called Caldera.

[Krusty]

:)

After "Imaging" your active drive C you might want to know how to get everything back in order, see, if you got drive c messed up bad, you are not able to start windows but you can only use M$ Dos.
Then you really need a bootdisk and you go enabling floppy disk boot on bios. Insert the 3½ floppy and turn computer on. When Dos starts you select either CD supported or without CD support command. Then you just type for example if your image is on drive D:
xcopy d:\*.* /a /e /k
It copies everything from drive D onto drive C. Before copying you can always do format C: too to make it sure there are no malware on drive C.
More information at:
http://www.computerhope.com/xcopyhlp.htm#01

;) be secure

Ari

[Krusty]

I forgot to mention all image files should be as they are, not compressed if you desire to get drive C working as it is suppose to using xcopy.

Ari

[Smokey]

-{ Quote: " quoting: the Tester link=board=18;threadid=7501;start=15#50087 date=1046394942]
I recieved an email from Acronis.
I have heard that Acronis support is good via email.
They answered my multitude of questions.

I'm going to give True Image a try.

" }-

I have used Acronis True Image, Ghost and Drive Image, but stick now by Drive Image.

Acronis True Image has a nice interface and a wizard, but to restore a image in the worsest case you need a Dos Boot Disk or a Bootable CD just like the other mentioned programs.

I only can advice you to use Drive Image, it is IMO simply the best.

[the Tester]

Hi.

I purchased True Image.

I have imaged my FAT32(operating sytem recovery files)already and copied them to cd.

I have to wait for C drive.I have a program that needs to be fixed.IE 6!! >:(

I was prompted to burn a bootable disc when I started True Image.I burned that on a cd.(the bad thing is that H/P didn't include an XP disk)

So far I like the wizards and the ease of using True Image.The manual is very helpful.I understand most of it so far.

[jayzzz]

Good luck with your IE6, Tester! mj

[the Tester]

Jayzzz.

It's kind of a "blessing in disguise".
I don't use it and I don't like the browser at all.

But I don't want to back up my system with a program installed that is damaged.
This XP system doesn't have a repair option and I am not sure that I should download and install IE 6 over the damaged IE6.
I'm still thinking about my options on that.
I'll have to decide soon because I want to image and burn to cd my program files soon. :-\

[jayzzz]

At one point, when first noticed I'd lost the Outlook Express spellcheck function AND THE TAB UNDER TOOLS AND OPTIONS had disappeared from the group it had been in, I tried to reinstall, but the site wouldn't let me. It said I had a newer version than what they were offering (which made no sense). Hope you have better luck if go that route, and am very much a newbie so won't presume to offer advice :-X, BUT your own concerns about putting anything "over" a corrupt program sound well-founded to me. mj

[Krusty]

Tester friend.....and Jayzzz..

Here it is one more time ;)
http://www.broomeman.com/support/wsiedown.html
Direct download page for IE

Ari

[FanJ]

-{ Quote: " quoting: the Tester link=board=18;threadid=7501;start=15#53215 date=1049061036]
Jayzzz.

It's kind of a "blessing in disguise".
I don't use it and I don't like the browser at all.

But I don't want to back up my system with a program installed that is damaged.
" }-

Hi Tester,

I understand what you mean with "But I don't want to back up my system with a program installed that is damaged".
But at the other hand: why not make that back-up now?
You can always make another back-up when you've fixed that IE-issue. Well, just a thought ;)

[the Tester]

FanJ.

I have it fixed now.I did think seriously about imaging without fixing IE6 though.
When I get a few hours free time I'm going to image my program files.

Jayzzz and Krusty.
I followed advice from some friends and what I ultimately had to do was a registry value change (RegEdit)and d/l and install IE6 SP1 from MS.
After that I had to go to add/remove programs>IE6 SP1 and when I clicked it, I got an option to repair IE6 and reboot.That fixed the problem.
With that problem behind me I won't be worrying about a corrupt program in my backups. ;)

[Krusty]

Good work Tester! :) .
I was about to tell that but I thought you already knew it how to fix IE on control panel/add/remove programs. Sorry if it gave you an extra headache. Good work anyway !

Ari

[the Tester]

Hi Krusty.

I heard that IE6 could be fixed via add/remove programs feature.
That only works with IE6 SP1.
I "passed on" that Windows Update download so I had the original IE6 that was pre-installed on my computer.
That made things more frustrating.

Thanks Krusty.
I had help though.I recieved some good guidance from a few well known experts,Tony Kline ,CNM and the crew at SWI.