Backup Software

Discussion in 'backup, imaging & disk mgmt' started by jpcummins, Sep 25, 2007.

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  1. jpcummins

    jpcummins Registered Member

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    I am considering purchasing an external hardrive perhaps an 80gig. Any suggestions as to what model to purchase? I am thinking of a Seagate. I had intended on backing up my system and files using the Windows Backup. Has anyone had experience using the backup that Windows provides? I have seen several posts regarding Acronis but do not recall anything regarding the Windows Backup. As always any replies will be most appreciated. Thanking you in advance
     
  2. OldMX

    OldMX Registered Member

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    Windows backup wont restore your system to a working state on a major failure, you need acronis true image, or paragon drive backup, or symantec ghost to create a snapshot of your windows installation which in case of disaster, restore the snapshot and leave the computer fully functional as the time the backup was created.

    For individual file backup, try synctoy, or whatever freeware program is the easiest to use :D

    oldmx
     
  3. ErikAlbert

    ErikAlbert Registered Member

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    I second that. Windows Backup is like most MS Applications MEDIOCRE, it doesn't even restore snapshots of FirstDefense-ISR, while all popular Image Backup softwares do, like StorageCraft, Acronis, Paragon, Terabyte, Symantec, ...
    I use Karen's Replicator (freeware) to backup/restore my data partition, which is in fact the most important backup.
    I use ShadowProtect Desktop to backup/restore my system partition, but all the other ones are good enough and cheaper. :)
     
  4. Bob D

    Bob D Registered Member

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    You may want to consider one of the portable HDs such as Western Digital's Passport.
    Although I regularly backup to conventional HD here in-house, I'm a big advocate of off-site storage (in the unlikely event of theft, fire, flood).
    re: backup soft.s, I must agree with previous posts.
    I'm using Terabyte's IFD (bulletproof, small money).
     
  5. yahoo

    yahoo Registered Member

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    It also depends on which Windows OS you are using. With Vista Ultimate/Business, you can create a system image with the Windows Backup/Restore function, and restore the system without problem. Otherwise, you need to consider a third party application to do that.
     
  6. Skytrooper

    Skytrooper Registered Member

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    I'm partial to Seagate's FreeAgent series of external hard drives. One advantage of purchasing a Seagate is you can download and use Seagate DiscWizard which is a free version of Acronis True Image v10.
     
  7. ErikAlbert

    ErikAlbert Registered Member

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    How do you restore the system with Windows Backup ? With a Recovery CD ?
     
  8. Huupi

    Huupi Registered Member

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    As for reliability of ext. drives,with the the main vendors there is almost no difference between them,some will say Maxtor will fail more then Seagate,others will say Seagate will fail more then Maxtor,there is no concensus about this after reading many opinions ,reviews and tests on the subject.One thing that stands out in all this, is that LACIE gives most complaining about failed drives.
    I must admit i had one failed drive in 6 years,and you guess it was a LACIE.
     
  9. eniqmah

    eniqmah Registered Member

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    Don't back anything up...reinstalling Windows is the most rewarding thing to do because it ensures you have a new and clean OS to work in.
    But if you Really want to work hard...buy Acronis, the best recovery software out there. The end all be all of recovering a smashed box.
     
  10. yahoo

    yahoo Registered Member

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    In Vista Ultimate/Business, you can create backups as what ATI does (onto DVDs/CDs or hard drive). Then you can boot the system with a Vista Disc, and restore the backup (from DVDs/CDs or hard drive). I have used it to backup and restore my system several times, and it works. But still, it is not as feature rich as ATI. It is not available with other Windows versions though.
     
  11. dbknox

    dbknox Registered Member

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    I don't know if this was said "tongue in cheek or not but I will respond to it with a few reasons that I backup. One reason I back up is that I am on dial-up and it would take me about a week to patch XP. I have had a few instance in the past when I had a very annoying virus/worm that I just couldn't seem to fix, I simply recovered to a date before I contacted the problem. My grandchildren sometimes do a changes that I just don't have the time to fix and I simply restore to an image before they came to visit. I make an image weekly, usually on a Thursday so I don't lose too much on the weekend when my grandchildren ( bless their hearts) come to visit.
    My backup software is Acronis True image 9.0, I have been using it since version 8 ( they are now on version 11) and have never had problems that I couldn't work around. I am usually up and running after about 7 minutes .
    I have a copy of my first installation of XP which I just did last March and I also have a copy of all the patches to April 2007.
    When I was updating from win 98se to Xp i took my merry time getting caught up with the software I wanted and the patches. When I got tired I would simply "recover" back to win98se and I would up and running with taht OS until I wanted to continue with XP/
     
  12. ErikAlbert

    ErikAlbert Registered Member

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    I have an image of an activated clean installed WinXPproSP2. I don't have to install Windows ever again. Restore time = less than 1 minut.
    I have a bunch of these clean images and clean FDISR-archives to get my clean computer back in no time.

    I also have daily images and daily archives, but I consider these as possible infected, because they have been on-line too long.
     
  13. innerpeace

    innerpeace Registered Member

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    Hi John, if you are considering getting a Seagate or Maxtor drive or already have one that is your internal drive, check out this thread for a free offer.
    https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=175492

    If you live in the US, newegg.com has 2 different 250 GB external harddrives for $75. One is a Western Digital and the other a Seagate. I'm in the market for a new drive myself and thought this was a pretty good deal.
     
  14. eniqmah

    eniqmah Registered Member

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    Just install XP, no service packs, don't install any thing else except the programs you need, then deepfreeze that ****.
     
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