Windows XP forum: Backup Strategy

Further to that, if you download a copy of Microsoft "One-Care" and install a blueberry you can get rid of the USB cord, never crack the box again and program the thing to do it while you are sleeping.
Microsoft does get it right with this new program. Not for sale yet. Download a Beta but I have used it for about two months, Love it for all that it does, seamlesly and effortlesly.
Let me know how you make out.

I agree that it's a total waste of time to back up the entire operating system. However, I frequently back up my files by sending my files through my small home network to a crappy old 300mhz computer 2 GB OS HDD (XP) with a 240 GB slave hard drive. Yea it's a pig, but once booted sending the files through 100mb ethernet doesn't make a single bit of difference whether a new machine or not. I only start that machine when I do my backups, usually at night while sleeping.

My thoughts are that you are going to a lot of trouble and expenditure when all you need to do is download the "One-Care' program from Microsoft for free and try it. It's simple, effective and - IT WORKS -
Let me know how you make out.
Max

Bob,
I was wondering why you wouldn't consider the USB HD for backup?

Always appreciate your comments... Rick

Rick and Bob,

As I think I originally stated, I too thought the external USB would be the way to go for my backup methodology. I liked the external drive for its portability and so it could be turned off. Being able to turn it off would presumably help to assure a longer life AND would also help to prevent malicious software from getting at my saves.

But in my case, although the external Maxtor worked fine for a few months, I began to get Delayed Write Failed errors. This is totally unsatisfactory, of course. And like another message under this topic said, his internal IDE connection to a hard drive proved more dependable and he apparently no longer trusts external USB drives, I think he said.

Tony

I use Acronis True Image 8 to produce a backup image of the my main system disc on an external hd. The backup image is saved in separate spanned 4g files and these 4g files are further backed up to dvd's kept as the ultimate archival backup of the system. My external drive is kept unconnected to computer (USB) and electrically off, unless I am in the process of backing up photos, mp3 files, or making another system backup image. That protects the contents of the external hd from massive electrical accidents, or viral contamination. But the ultimate archival backup of the system resides in the dvd's kept separately from the computer. True Image can be accessed from Windows, or a boot disc that runs it under Linux, and allows graphical user interface access to all system drives (ntfs, fat) and optical drives, and externally connected usb hd's. With a backup image on an external drive, restoration of the main system hd after a disaster is a 20 min no fuss process of a few button clicks.

P.E. ... To tell the truth, you had me frightened at first. I said to myself, ''This guy has a sense of humor and for all I know, his link will execute a script to wipe me out.''

Far from it, though. Yes, the Tao of Backup makes excellent points, of course. I am PARTICULARLY a fan of the idea that your whole system (not just the data files) should be backed up. Unless you've got just a couple of applications installed, I dread the thought of having to re-install apps just as much as dreading the prospect of losing my data.

Who wants to gather all those installation disks/CDs ... and ponder the same installation choices/options again ... and customize and set countless options after re-installing to make it all work just as it did before???

Nope, not me. Therefore, I backup the whole system.

Thanks for the tip, P.E.

Tony

I'm using Norton Ghost 9.0 to make full system back-ups to an internal hard drive that has only the backup files on it.

The downside to this approach is that the drive is running all the time, of course. I've gotten used to this idea, though. However, I wish there were a way to ''unmount'' or isolate the drive so as to better protect it from malicious software.

I use Win2K at work and under the Properties for drives, directories, and files, there's a Security tab that affords the type of protection/isolation I'm looking for. However, at home I use Windows XP with SP2. To my surprise, there doesn't seem to be similar security features available. Am I correct about that? Have I missed something?

As for an external hard drive, I'm a little "shy" about using them after my bad experiences with a Maxtor drive (as explained in the original post).

Being able to better secure the backup files would greatly help my concerns for their safety.

Tony

Deirdrew,

Yes, rebuilding has its merits. But if:
(a) my system was working fine before the the restore was needed, and
(b) you have a ZILLION things installed, and
(c) you've got better things to do than re-doing everything ...

then rebuilding is the very, VERY last resort. In all my years, I've never had to start from scratch, knock on wood. Although I've had only three PCs at home, I've been responsible 4 or 5 PCs over the years at work, a handful of workstations, and three small servers (500 Gigs in external multi-drive arrays). Rebuilding is not something to look forward to, I hope you can see.

I'm not knocking your idea, but I need my PC, spent a lot of time adjusting this and that, and don't want to do it all over again.

But thank you just the same.

Tony

Hi Toni, not sure if you read my reply to someone else with a back-up concern for the whole system but please download "One-Care" from the Microsoft web site for free and try the program.
It does a full back-up as simply as it is for you to insert a few discs or tell it the address of another drive to send it to.
When you restore through this program you will get a choice of putting it all back where it came from or you can load it into a different folder and restore file by file from there.
I used it with a split screen to screen out the file which may or may not have been a culprit then simply reboot.
I think it is a great improvement over all the other back-up systems and may well be the standard very shortly if not eliminate back-up problems forever.

or do you always project such an annoying, condescending attitude towards others? Perhaps a little consideration would be in order for those of us who don't meet your level of acumen. Thank you in advance... Bob rgpatterson@earthlink.net
condescending (knd-sndng) KEY

ADJECTIVE:

Displaying a patronizingly superior attitude

Old fashioned copy and paste is the most accurate,and trustworthy system I have found. I have used windows xp pro backup feature, and it always loses data. I have also used file and transfer wizard with poor results. But copy and paste is the most accurate & secure. But you must be careful, and slow down. I have found that sectioning the important stuff makes a reinstall a snap. I have a folder on my ''backup'' ''D'' hard drive I then: Copy My documents folder, including pictures, and music, and videos and screensavers, and my program launchers. And paste to new hard drive in folder I named Computer Backup.
Then I copy my outlook express folders, which are .dbx files; to find those you have to ''show hidden folders'' in folder properties, and follow the tree in documents and settings- copy them and paste them to your backup outlook express storage folder you place in the backup drive computer backup folder.....
Do the same with your address book, your calendar files, and anything else you would need if your primary drive fails, or if you have a irreversible windows program error, and have to re-install, or ''recover'' windows. I have my re-installation time down to two hours, and seven to be back to my optimum specs. I regurlary back up the second ''D'' drive, about once a month, and I have a second external backup in case the "D" backup also fails.

I remember once I've seen a Compaq server backing up data into a tape using the backup feature of Windows. I remember i couldn't access the tape from Windows Explorer. This is a good option I think since the drive you do back-up data can not be accessed through Windows Explorer, which makes me think it can not be accessed from suspicios softwares.
Unfortunately I don't know much about tapes, but may be this feature can be applied on other devices like an internal HD.
Any one knows more?

Now my plan of backing up. I do backup important data dayly, these data are important database data which I can not afford to lose. As far backing up the hole system I don't do it on regulary bases. I do it only when knew important apllications are added. I do the back up of the documents with Second Copy, i'm comfortable with it until now, and the for the system back up I use Norton Ghost, although I'm planing to test DriveImage. I do these backups on a network drive.

Toni