Best Backup Options

[Robrules18]

I've pretty much resigned myself reinstalling XP. But I really dont want to lose all my files. I also dont want to seperate some of the 700+MB files and burn them all to CDs (Id have like 20 CDs). So I would like to know what is my best option for backing up my files. I'm thinking about buying a new HDD to back it up but I dont want to spend much (but then again I dont want a junker that will lose my files anyway). (but I suppose its money better spent than the 35 bucks it would take to call Microsoft and attempt to have them help me fix windows).

In the intrests of saving space on the boards I would also like to ask how I would go about setting up a back-up drive. Would I need to install windows on it to? Could I just format it and then windows would read it? (use small words, when it comes to hard drives I know next to nothing).

Thank you for any replies.

[imahoosier]

quick answer

e-backups.net.......if you have high speed.....i think for like $10 you can sign up and backup your data (up to 1gb) on their server (encrypted and everything) very quick and easy.....when you've reinstalled your OS, restore your files and then cancel the service.....(they have a trial period, so you can just say you don't like the service) ....beats paying 50 bucks for a new hard drive or 100+ for DVD burner and DVDs....

[Robrules18]

But I have more than a GB to backup. If I was only going to backup a GB I'd just make a gmail account. But right now I'm thinking I'll look for one of those 30 or 40 dollar ones in BB.

[imahoosier]

Ebay.....

[TimoneX]

A backup hard disk can be a handy critter. You'd just plug it in and format it in windows disk manager utility. Another option I use quite often is DVD+RW. For large partitions loaded with constantly changing data I create a backup to hard disk usually with windows backup then chop it into 4.7Gb chunks with winrar(store is fast) and burn it with nero. Every couple weeks or so you can move the files back to HD and just run an incremental backup so it's not all that time consuming. Of course the all around slickest way to bakup a partition or disk is through the use Norton's Ghost or Acronis True Image, but sadly neither works with my current raid setup. For backing up windows system partitions I'm down to using automated system recovery and burning those images to DVD+RW. Well that was long winded, but I hope it helped somewhat.

[Robrules18]

The Norton Ghost image, how does it work? Wouldnt it be the same size as a zip archive. The DVDs would work well, but I dont have a burner and it would cost more for the burner and DVDs than buying a 120+ GB HDD.

[tom10167]

Ghost is a poorly written program, and absolutely fails when you try do anything over a network, but it has its perks, and basic home user is probably one of them.

Long story short?

It creates an image of your hard drive and then you back it up from there, tape, DVD, whatever.

I really, REALLY like the idea of a backup drive, mine sits in a drawer. Get one used if you don't want to spend the cash, at fifty cents a gig, not even(?) they're not exactly "expensive" and you probably wouldn't need all 160 gigs, could you get by on a 120? Sixty dollars is worth it when you have 3,000 songs, consider that's 200 cds. At $10 a pop... do the math.

[TimoneX]

Ghost isn't as bad as all that in my experience, but of course everyone has their own opinions and are welcome to them. A backup HD is a good idea and can be quite effective for backups and/or transporting large amounts of data. The purchase of a DVD recorder primarily for backup purposes shouldn't be overlooked either. While costs are quite similar to what you'd pay for a backup HD, the DVD drive is easier to use and has other potential uses. In order to backup with the HD you have to install it each time, which while it isn't exactly difficult may result in your putting backups off. Additionally it should be mentioned that a backup HD will always have a limited capacity while removable media has no such limits. With a DVD recorder you're just shuffling media around and recording. Newer drives have no trouble doing this in the background while you're using your computer for other tasks. I use both HD backups and DVD backups and like them both, which is best for you you'll have to decide.

[Enigma422]

Do you have your hard drive setup in partitions? If you don't then I would try to do what others have said of getting or borrowing a backup hard drive, but when you reinstall this time partition your hard drives and place your files on a seperate partition. That way when you want to reinstall windows you won't be formatting the drives your files are on.

[shadowdr]

Ghost is the the fastest option for backups.Even before it supported writing to ntfs,I used it to do just that by using a pc dos bootdisk and adding the Ghost.exe to the disk.It is also the reason that I began using more then a single partition for my files.I have lost 0 files due to Ghost.I will give a breif explanation of how I have it set up.

C:/ Windows This drive is about 3 gigs of data
D:/ Programs About 2.5 gigs games and programs
E:/ Downloads Files from internet,progam exe's bios's drivers etc abot 8 gigs data
F:/ Files movie files,music allthough I often erase large files it has about 20 gigs data

Because you only need as much space as the data, I installed the drive and made four more partitions.

L:/ Windows2 5 gigs
M:/ Programs2 5 gigs
N:/ Downloads2 10 gigs
O:/ files2 the remainder of the space.

I only use partition to partition backups because it is so easy to do this way.I have no fear of using beta programs or drivers because if I hose windows only it needs to be re Ghosted.On newer drives it backs up at speeds of a gig a minute or faster allthough some raid arrays can take up to 4 minutes a gig.My whole syatem can be backed up in less then a half hour.Ghost can be had for cheap on last years Norton system works or even earlier versions like 2003.

[dark_15]

Ghost is a poorly written program, and absolutely fails when you try do anything over a network, but it has its perks, and basic home user is probably one of them.

Long story short?

It creates an image of your hard drive and then you back it up from there, tape, DVD, whatever.

I really, REALLY like the idea of a backup drive, mine sits in a drawer. Get one used if you don't want to spend the cash, at fifty cents a gig, not even(?) they're not exactly "expensive" and you probably wouldn't need all 160 gigs, could you get by on a 120? Sixty dollars is worth it when you have 3,000 songs, consider that's 200 cds. At $10 a pop... do the math.

I disagree. We use ghost heavily on our school networks. It is just a matter of getting the right driver and a little of thinking outside the box. Here is how we do it:

Boot off floppy that contains the driver for the NIC that maps a network drive to a share on our ghost server.
Run ghost.exe from the mapped drive.
Copy the image from the network drive to your local hard disk.


It's rather nice now. Plus, it only takes a few minutes to re-image and re-join our school domain.


*Back on Topic*

Here is what I would do in your situation: Buy Ghost and buy an external hard drive. Copy all your stuff you want saved to the external hard drive and disconnect it from the machine. Next, Format the Windows installation and reinstall. From there, install your basic software, drivers, and updates.

Now Run Ghost. Create a backup image of your computer*. Copy your data back to your machine.

*This will be useful for when you need to reinstall windows again. Rather than re-installing and stuff, just ghost your backup image and you will be back online quickly and easily.

I would recommend keeping all your volatile data (MP3's, personal documents, etc.) on the external drive permanently.

[marc1]

In my opinion go to the circuitcity webpage www.circuitcity.com and check their weekly deals on HD I bought 2 WD.
40 gigs for 30 bucks 30 bucks and 120 g for $50 you read right
put 2 drives man dont bother with more sofwares.

[marc1]

I forgot to mention
check this link out
www.uneraser.com
you dont have to lose datas anymore. Its DOS based but pretty friendly user just focus and read well before any move.
You can get all your datas back but its taking us back to the issue of a second drive why?
Because its not advised at all to transfert datas from the drive with your files back to the same drive. I will corrupt the files or the drive.
Someone here mentioned to make a mirror image which is a copy of your entire drive but you must have a sound place to transfert your files ...circle back...

[TollhouseFrank]

hmm.... what ;i do for backup may be overkill... but it makes sure that i get it done.

1. copy everything i want backed up in a .rar across my network to my file server.
2. With my NEW 16x Dual Layer DVD Burner (and old one, that was only 2.4X) I make another copy of everything, in chunks the same size as my discs (4.7GB or 8.4GB)
3. make a copy of the files to one of my extra harddrives in my system.
4. Reformat and though shalt be saved!
5. At least one of my avenues of backup will work.

[dark_15]

hmm.... what ;i do for backup may be overkill... but it makes sure that i get it done.

1. copy everything i want backed up in a .rar across my network to my file server.
2. With my NEW 16x Dual Layer DVD Burner (and old one, that was only 2.4X) I make another copy of everything, in chunks the same size as my discs (4.7GB or 8.4GB)
3. make a copy of the files to one of my extra harddrives in my system.
4. Reformat and though shalt be saved!
5. At least one of my avenues of backup will work.

Good idea... and no... you can never have enough backups ;)

[orionzbelt1]

sign up to 10 gmail accounts lol they hold a gig each

Seriously buy a dvd burner back up at little expense

[Robrules18]

Ill be looking at the ciculars tomorrow. BB or CC usually have a good deal on WD drives.