Posted by Bill Chambers on January 26, 2007 at 2:05 PM
What back-up program is the best? I'm currently just using the program that came with the computer. I've never had to use it to restore anything thankfully, but am curious if other programs are better/faster/etc.
Thanks in advance for any input.
Posted by Mel Ladewig on January 26, 2007 at 4:58 PM
The two I like best are
Acronis True Image for system backups (I think it is a better product than Norton Ghost for my needs).
SyncBack SE for file backup (copying images from a hard drive to a network or USB drive).
Posted by Bill Chambers on January 26, 2007 at 5:58 PM
Mel - please excuse my ignorance. Why do you need two different back-ups (system & files)? I just hit the button that says "back up everything on my computer". I assume that means system and files. Do I need to be doing this differently?
I'm using an older version of Norton Ghost to make "images" of my hard drive. I suppose dependence on a software package is risky, but it saved me so much time at work that I ghost my hard drives at home just in case. For image files worth keeping, I'm just making multiple copies, usually on CDs because that's what I can do away from the computer. Take it for what it's worth.
Hey Bill, I just do it the "straight way" - as I call it. I have a 500GB SATAII internal drive ($250) and a 500GB external USB drive ($200). When I download new photos from the camera media to the internal drive, I turn around and copy the files to the external drive.
I have about 45GB of data from the past three years. When I get to a certain point, I may start using some type of backup software. The software makes handling large amounts of data easier and you don't have to be sitting at your computer to do it because you can schedule it to run in the middle of the night, while you're under the nice toasty cover. It can also perform different levels of compression, if you are short on space. But for now, I just do a daily copy so that I have full data on the internal and full data on the external. It doesn't take very long. (Tomorrow, I am going to start taking my external drive to the bank and putting it in a safety deposit box so that, in case of some sort of catastrophe at home, I will have a copy in another location. Not having the backup off-site is just as risky as not having one. If something were to happen, I would only lose a week'w worth of data and not all of it. Sorry, it's the computer tech in me.)
I just started using Genie-soft's "Genie Backup Manager Home" edition and I'm very happy so far. I've got a shortcut on my desktop labeled "Photo Backup". All I do is double click the shortcut and the program scans my selected files and writes any new files, or any files that have changed their last modified date, to my preselected HDD. It will also partition the files into DVD or CD sized groups for Backup to "removable media".
They have a demo version you might want to try, just google Genie-soft and backup software.
Cheers,
Alex
Posted by Bill Chambers on January 27, 2007 at 12:32 PM
Thanks everyone for your insights and suggestions. While researching some of the programs mentioned here I found a review on a program called NTI Shadow. It was rated highly by both the critics and consumers so I took a look at it. One of the primary advantages was the user-friendliness of it (which is a big issue for those of us who aren't computer savvy). It also backs up files in real time. Every time I save something it would automatically back it up right then. That really appealed to me because sometimes I get lazy and don't back-up things up as often as I should. Anyway, it was only $23.99 so I downloaded it and tried it. Wiped out and reformated my extrernal HD, and did a total back-up from scratch - took 11 hours but from now on it should back up everything as I go (or at least I hope so!!!)
I still don't understand the difference between file back-ups and system back-ups. If anyone has any insights on that I would appreciate it. Also, if anyone knows anything bad about NTI Shadow please let me know, or if I need to supplement it with someting else.
Typically, file backups are copies of items like images, letters, spreadsheets and other files that are not required for the operation of your computer. System files are those that run your computer (your operating system and settings associated with it), and hardware such as your printer and CD/DVD drive (drivers).
System backup software, such as True Image, backs up these system files so that you can recover from a disaster without having to reinstall your operating system from scratch.
There are other files called 'program files'. These are applications like PhotoShop, Word, your anti-virus program, etc. These should be backed up, as well.
-PB
Posted by Bill Chambers on January 27, 2007 at 4:18 PM
Thanks Preston. Is it possible to back up all of these three (system, files, and programs) all at one time with one program? I've been under the impression that that is what I've been doing, but I may be mistaken. You know what they say about a little knowledge, and I have very little when it comes to computers.
Yes. The backup application supplied with WinXP will do so; so will True Image.
The Backup wizard in WinXP will do one of thre things that you can select: Backup files, Backup system files, or backup everything on your computer. You can get more information by using Windoze 'Help'.
If you choose to use a program like True Image, you'll have to read up on how to do backups from the program's help system.
Discussion
9 repliesThanks in advance for any input.
Acronis True Image for system backups (I think it is a better product than Norton Ghost for my needs).
SyncBack SE for file backup (copying images from a hard drive to a network or USB drive).
Pete D.
I have about 45GB of data from the past three years. When I get to a certain point, I may start using some type of backup software. The software makes handling large amounts of data easier and you don't have to be sitting at your computer to do it because you can schedule it to run in the middle of the night, while you're under the nice toasty cover. It can also perform different levels of compression, if you are short on space. But for now, I just do a daily copy so that I have full data on the internal and full data on the external. It doesn't take very long. (Tomorrow, I am going to start taking my external drive to the bank and putting it in a safety deposit box so that, in case of some sort of catastrophe at home, I will have a copy in another location. Not having the backup off-site is just as risky as not having one. If something were to happen, I would only lose a week'w worth of data and not all of it. Sorry, it's the computer tech in me.)
I just started using Genie-soft's "Genie Backup Manager Home" edition and I'm very happy so far. I've got a shortcut on my desktop labeled "Photo Backup". All I do is double click the shortcut and the program scans my selected files and writes any new files, or any files that have changed their last modified date, to my preselected HDD. It will also partition the files into DVD or CD sized groups for Backup to "removable media".
They have a demo version you might want to try, just google Genie-soft and backup software.
Cheers,
Alex
I still don't understand the difference between file back-ups and system back-ups. If anyone has any insights on that I would appreciate it. Also, if anyone knows anything bad about NTI Shadow please let me know, or if I need to supplement it with someting else.
Thanks again.
Typically, file backups are copies of items like images, letters, spreadsheets and other files that are not required for the operation of your computer. System files are those that run your computer (your operating system and settings associated with it), and hardware such as your printer and CD/DVD drive (drivers).
System backup software, such as True Image, backs up these system files so that you can recover from a disaster without having to reinstall your operating system from scratch.
There are other files called 'program files'. These are applications like PhotoShop, Word, your anti-virus program, etc. These should be backed up, as well.
-PB
The Backup wizard in WinXP will do one of thre things that you can select: Backup files, Backup system files, or backup everything on your computer. You can get more information by using Windoze 'Help'.
If you choose to use a program like True Image, you'll have to read up on how to do backups from the program's help system.
-PB