Looking for help to back up everything EXCEPT Windows Vista OS

IMHO I still would invest in a Western Digital external Hard Drive and backup Using Acronis Full Image and Restore. I find the other parts of Acronis TI more trouble than they are worth but the Full Image Backup and Restore I have found to be reliable. I think you can buy a W.D. 160G drive for between 50 and $100. They have bigger
drives for just a tad more. It's well worth the expense for your peace of mind. I just had to restore both Puters due to a bad program wiping out essential files and was back up in an hour.

 

It is because I renamed "Documents" to "My Documents" because that was what I was used to looking for Sorry if it caused confusion!

Cindy

 

I already have the WD My Book...just purchased it in the middle of this mess so I don't have a good back up now but once I get everything in order again I was seriously thinking of purchasing the Acronis since it seems to be highly recommended.

Just need to get all settings returned to normal before I backup.

Thanks,
Cindy

 

That's the answer I was hoping for. Now to get it sorted -

First thing is to get Vista using Simple File Sharing, as does XP. In Network and Sharing Center turn off Password Protected Sharing.

Now we need to get the folder permissions sorted. If we take your "My" Documents folder as a template you should be able to repeat the fix for that on any other folders you can't access.

In Windows Explorer right click the folder and click Properties > Sharing tab > Share > Change Sharing Permissions. If it isn't there already type 'Everyone' in the Choose people to share with box and click Add. Against Everyone in the Permissions Level column change the level to Co-Owner.

Now go to the Security tab, click Everyone and look at the Permissions. It should have a tick on Full Control, and if it has you should be go for read/write access. If not we may need to go into Advanced.

Let us know how it goes.

 

Cindy, I implore you not to wait in making a backup or do something to protect your data. Any backup is better than no backup. At least with a disk image backup which includes all your problems, you have something to get you back to that point without a great deal of effort. Once you know the fix to your problems, it would be easy to duplicate the fix should a restore be necessary. I have been using Acronis for years (v8, v9, v10, v11) and it has saved me so many times. Any problems that Acronis has will get improved upon. There is no perfect backup program for everyone. They all have their benefits and limitations. Accidents happen. Get yourself protected as quickly as possible.

 

Amen, GroverH! One of the most commonly heard last phrases just before a PC totally crashes, is,"I'll just try one more thing first."

 

I'm in favour of that approach too, but in the meantime Cindy has only to copy her data files across to her XP system in order to get those backed up. The system backup is much less critical, as it is so easily replaced even if a bit time consuming.

 

Hi Cindy,
I'm glad you purchased the external backup drive.
Before I had Acronis and an external drive I have spent days restoring my system.
If you don't believe me BELIEVE Grover H and backup NOW.

 

was already off

I added 'Everyone' and changed it to Co-Owner

And it did .... BUT

It did not take on all the subfolders. I went through and checked some subfolders and they were not shared. I manually added some of them but shouldn't the subfolders have automatically inherited the shared properties of the My Documents folder?

Sometimes I could find the box that would let me change a setting to actually mark to include the file, and all subfolders but other times I could not. Either way, the subfolders under My Documents did not automatically get shared.

For example, My Pictures, under My Documents was not shared. So I manually added it. But then individual folders under that did not get shared (and there are MANY of them as I save pictues with a system of YYYY-month and have many years and months of pictures...so doing them all individually would take forever.

Making progress!!!
Thank you!
Cindy

 

The WD My Book came with a backup program... Memeo... and it has been making backups of my data.

Thank you for being very concerned about me!
Cindy

 

Memeo on the WD has been backing up my files but Acronis sounds much more highly recommended from what everyone is saying. Memeo came with the WD drive for free but if Acronis is superior and easier to work with it would definitely be worth the extra money. Do you know if I can install my purchase of Acronis on each of my computers or is it one of those programs that only allow you to use it on one computer and you have to buy extra copies to use on the other computer?

Thank you,
Cindy

 

License terms are one copy per computer that it is used on and this includes the case where you are just using the TI rescue CD. In other words, not installing it doesn't mean you can use the TI CD on that machine without a license.

 

How does that work if I am using it on one computer, then it dies and I want to move stuff from the WD to a new computer? Do I need a second license for the new computer?

Thanks,
Cindy

 

I can't explain that, and as we also have the unusual situation of Vista seeing double on the network it does seem that you do have some problems with that system. In view of this I would take the advice of the others and get ATI installed on Vista and Vista backed up as soon as possible. It is one thing doing a Vista reinstall when you have the time to plan and prepare for it - quite another if you are suddenly forced into it through unexpected problems.

 

Hi all,

Vista no longer sees double and I think I have figured out how to share files, folders, and subfolders.

At first I was just opening individual folders under the directory and individually adding "Everyone" to the share properties since setting the drive or main folder did not give me access to the subfolders and documents. While a temporary work around it was time consuming. I knew if I didn't figure this out I would "forget" how to set up this "Everyone" sharing a few months from now when I stumbled across a folder that didn't get "turned on" NOW. So I kept searching.

I found another forum with a Networking thread and tried some of their discussion steps. I can now see and share ALL files and folders in the XP computer and the Vista computer. Vista also doesn't see "double" anymore.

Here are the steps I tried:
Creating and accesing shares (non-admin shares eg C$) on Vista computer is straightforward. Check out
http://forums.microsoft.com/TechNet/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=1291597&SiteID=17

HERE ARE THE STEPS FROM THE ABOVE LINK TO KEEP IT ALL IN ONE PLACE IN CASE SOMEONE IS TRYING TO FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS:

This always works for me for creating and accessing shares on Vista from XP.
On Vista machine: login as part of administrators group.
1. Right click on the network icon on the bottom right part of your screen. And choose "Network and Sharing Center"
2. Make sure file sharing is turned on under Sharing and Discovery.
- Note: Just because you configured it once for wireless may not necessarily mean its been enabled for the wired network or vice-versa.
- Note: If you use non-microsoft firewall that comes with your AV software you need to make sure its configured correctly for filesharing.
3. On the start menu - right click on "Command Prompt" and choose to "Run as Administrator"
4. On the command prompt type
- "MD c:\users\public\documents\MyShare" --- Note: There is a reason I create the directory to be shared in users\public. The ntfs permission are configured for sharing through multiple accounts.
- "Net Share MyShare=c:\users\public\documents\MyShare /Grant:<username on Vista>,Full"
For security concisous people - make sure that the user has a strong password - 7 chars - numbers, letters and symbol.
On XP machine
1. Start a command prompt and type
- "Net Use X: \\<VistaComputerName>\MyShare /u:<username on Vista> <password for the user>"


NOW BACK TO THE STEPS BEFORE SIDE TRACKING TO THE OTHER LINK

To access the root C drive for Read Access - you will need to create new share using the same steps in the posting and connect to it. The share you create is
- "Net Share CRoot=c:\ /Grant:<username on Vista>,Full"
Now if you want to access C$ share for Read/Write for adminstartive purpose - it will require couple of more steps. I am assuming since your are a administrator the high level steps are sufficient. Also - I am assuming that these computers are behind a hardware firewall eg Linksys or Netgear.
1. Turn on the file sharing using the "Network and Sharing Center". I normally turn on all of the items - Network Discovery, File Sharing, Public Folder sharing, Printer Sharing, Password Protected Sharing and Media Sharing. Keeps life simple. MY PERSONAL NOTE: TURNING ON PASSWORD PROTECTED SHARING INTERFERED WITH THE XP HAVING ACCESS TO MSHOME RELIABLY AND THEN EVEN IF I GOT INTO MSHOME I COULD NOT ALWAYS GET INTO THE VISTA COMPUTER…KEPT GETTING ERROR MESSAGES IN REGARDS TO NOT HAVING ACCESS.
2. In Computer Management I set a password for Administrator Account. It should be a very strong password; or a passphrase. Something no one would ever guess eg. "I love M1cr0$0ft". Notice the use of uppercase, lowercase, symbol and numbers in the passphrase. Your passphrase should contain all of these.
3. Run secpol.msc and under Local Policies->Security Options Enable "Accounts: Administrator Account Status".
Now you can connect to the C$ share from your XP machine with username=administrator and its password.
Some caveats from a security point of view - If you too have just woken up about security after 20 years in the computer business and want to compensate it with a little bit of paranoia:
- Do not interactively logon to the Administrator account and do things. UAC is turned off for this account - so you will not get its benefit.
- In Local Policies->Security options set Network Security:Lan Manager Authentication Level = "NTLMv2 response only". Its the default. If someone sniffs your network traffic - he will not be able to break the network password.

MY OWN PERSONAL NOTE:
If you have trouble accessing the drive make sure that you have added “Everyone” as a share name on the drive on the XP machine.


So far I can access ALL files and folders and documents on both machines. If there are any I can't access, I have not run across them yet.

Time for Acronis I believe!

Thank you everyone for your great help and support. I only wished I could have found this forum a month ago and not wasted time on the phone with Microsoft. (and wasted my one and only 90 days support option)

I need to call them back and ask questions on other MS products that have been stumping me as I have not found an answer for them in my searches. Unless you guys can RECOMMEND A GOOD FORMUM FOR HELP WITH OUTLOOK ISSUES... like forcing Outlook to accept a large number of addressees when I am sending out an email to a group I belong to, and also forcing it to send the email even if it has problems with a single address instead of stopping the email altogether, and finding a setting for preventing it from changing some emails to plain text even though they were originally sent as in HTML form.

Thanks again!!
Cindy

 

Here's a few forums you can try for your other issues, see if any of them can help you.

http://www.computerhaven.info/forum/default.aspx

http://aumha.net/index.php

http://www.vistax64.com/

 

It's a bit academic now you've got it sorted, but I'm really puzzled as to why simple file sharing failed to work for you. The steps in #54 are all that is normally required for XP to access Vista's Documents and similar folders, including their subfolders.

For XP to access whole drives, or any system folders there are additional steps involved using the Advanced button, but there is normally no need for or anything to be gained from XP having such access.

 

Thanks Joan...I look forward to checking them out!

Cindy

 

I've noticed in other forums that what works for one person might not always work for someone else with the same problem. I guess system settings are slightly different enough that variations on the "fixes" are sometimes needed.

As far as access to the whole drive...on my DATA drive D this is needed but on the main C drive total control is not needed however, having to set up access for each folder can take a while if there are program and data files there too SO it is just easier to set it once from the root drive IF it gets the folders and subfolders in ONE step.

All I know is that it is a relief to finally have my printer back and my files shared once again.

Thank you again to all, I really appreciated all the input!

Cindy

 

To get back to the original question in order to restore just the program and User folders you need to:

1 Place the Acronis image on partition other than C, or on an external disk.
2. The only program you need to install on your fresh installation of the OS is the Acronis program itself. Then restore what you need.

I have done this after going back to factory condition.

 

I went to search for buying Acronis and found that there were a couple of different versions...True Image 11 and True Image home 2009...couldn't tell what the differences were between them. Any idea on which one is the best?

thanks,
Cindy

 

Hi Cindy,
Since no one has answered your last question let
me give you my opinion.
I have been using Acronis True image for several
years BUT I ONLY use the Full Backup and Full
Restore. I NEVER touch any of the other features.
I only use what I know for certain works for me.
Backups are to important to take any chances with fancy features unless you just have to use a particular one. I am using Acronis TI 11. I will NOT be upgrading to 2009(at12). They have messed around how files are handled and in my
and others opinion made a good thing worse.
I know the full backup and restore works as it
has bailed me out of trouble several times and I
will stick to what WORKS. I make regular backups to my WD external and every month or so backup to DVDs to put a copy in a bank vault.
Hope this helps a little. GOOD Luck

 

I wouldn't say that answers her question either, it just says ATI 11 works for you so you won't be getting v12.

And it's exactly where I'm at too.

 

Thank you Shankle and Earthling for taking the time to reply. It does help knowing that you guys are happy with TI 11 as other posts I have seen says 10 was great but Acronis really missed the mark with 11 and that they wished Acronis would have cleaned up the bugs in 11 before coming out with a new product. I didn't know whether to think the "new" one might have fixed issues with 11 but it sounds like you guys didn't have any issues with 11. I would have thought the web site would have given some type of comparison of the 2 to let people know why the "new" version would be better or to at least tell you what was "fixed" but I couldn't find it.

I've tried looking locally to buy Acronis as I would rather have a hard disk copy of it than a download but most of the chain stores do not carry it. (Staples, Office Max, Best Buy). I have yet to check out Circuit City and Office Depot physically (they do have it online). I didn't realize it would be so hard to find locally.

Thank you!
Cindy

 

Whichever version you plump for Cindy you will have issues - you only have to read the threads here to see that. There are quite a few things I have issues with in v11, but it does (for me anyhow) cover the main bases.

And it seems the competition also has widespread problems. It seems there is no such thing as a backup program that works for everyone in the way that Office does for example.

Acronis' main strength is this forum. As you have experienced for yourself it is an invaluable resource, and you can be sure that whatever problems you may run into you will get the best possible support here.