Vista Licenses Limit OS Transfers, Ban VM Use

TechWeb ^ | October 12, 2006 (1:53 PM EDT) | Gregg Keizer

[Babu]

I generally reformat the hard drives on all 3 machines about once a year.

I'd say get a good image backup product like Acronis, so instead of reformating you recover from backup.

So what is the advantage of buying a program to do that, as opposed to just reformatting? Does that program just do the same thing that the imbedded WinXP accessorie System Restore does?

[Golden Eagle]

It takes a bit level "snapshot" of your hard drive. When you restore, the system will be *exactly* as it was at the moment of the backup.

[Golden Eagle]

Note: this approach means you backup your system immediately after you load the O/S and all your typical apps. You can do backups after that, as something like Acronis will not only do an image backup it will allow individual file restores, but when you restore, you restore back to that original backup, that doesn't include any crud you might have picked up since then. It basically saves you the steps of reformatting, reloading the O/S, and reloading your apps.

[Babu]

Thanks for that info on Acronis. Reformatting IS very time-consuming due to having to reload all my apps, redo all settings, etc. -- I looked it up on their website and it looks to be a $50 item for the download, plus 12.99 + S&H to get it in CD form, a little bit pricey. One impt question comes to mind: Will the product allow one to use one disc to perform the functions on all 3 of my machines, or will it limit me to using it on one machine? Thx again.

[Golden Eagle]

I think you'd need a copy for each system you're backing up. If they're worth backing up, it's probably worth the $5o.

[N3WBI3]

Im not all to familiar with the technology but does that not defeat the purpose of reformatting? He was to relay the data out cleanly on an OS a bit level restore would also reproduce any problems he was having..

[Golden Eagle]

You make your first backup immediately after you've got everything setup to your liking, but haven't started using it yet. You restore back to that point if/when you start having problems as usually related to application or browser clutter. You will have made other backups since the first one that you can go back to and individually restore data files as needed.

[rzeznikj at stout]

Yet another reason NOT to upgrade to Vista.

...as if anyone needs more reasons.

After all, with stuff like this, more people are going to use XP until push really comes to shove (with the possible exceptions of larger, heavy-duty systems such as those found in medium to large corporations and major universities)

[marajade]

New computers are really cheap now and usually come with Windows preinstalled. Just how many different computers would a person really need to install the same licensed copy of software onto anyway.

[rzeznikj at stout]

Interesting...

Though from the article, it sounds like it's simply Apple's own version of NX configured for Mac and iPod

[marajade]

Linux sucks. With all the new devices computers have now days you would be lucky to find all the drivers you need. And why do that when Windows does it for you.

[Golden Eagle]

more people are going to use XP

Good for them, there's obviously nothing wrong with that, it does most everything you can do on the desktop as of today. Endless O/S trials and upgrades are not something most users want.

[marajade]

And just how many times are you going to keep upgrading the hardware on the same computer? At some point its just cheaper to buy a new computer.

[marajade]

You can't be low end user and install Vista.

[CORedneck]

I have used Linux for years and also use Mac OSX. OSX doesn't have anyof the licensing B.S. This use to be only at the corporate level in IT shops such as very long license keys that have to be typed in meticulously but now coming to M$h!t Vista.

[rzeznikj at stout]

I've got to agree-Vector's a good distro.

Heck, once I get a larger hard drive, I'll probably either throw it or Slack 11 on there. 8^)

[rzeznikj at stout]

Sure.

I've run both openSuSE 10.x and now SLED 10.

Between the Yast and the Zen, openSuSE (or, in the case of enterprise systems, Novell) keeps you covered.

Not to mention it's terrifyingly easy to update.

I get about four or five emails a week with recommended updates, once or twice a month with more important updates (last one was to upgrade the precompiled kernel), and security fixes as they arise.

All in all, SuSE is a pretty rock-solid system IMHO.

BTW--if you have any questions with Suse, feel free to freepmail...

[dennisw]

So what is the advantage of buying a program to do that, as opposed to just reformatting? Does that program just do the same thing that the imbedded WinXP accessorie System Restore does?

I've installed Ghost on 3 computers. To restore from a back up takes 5-10 minutes. You can store your backup on your hard drive in partition D or a USB external drive. You restore, reformat C with it

IMHO A good image to have for restoration purposes is XP with all the updates and 6-10 of your most useful programs. Get your XP installation nice and stable and then back it up. Takes perhaps 3-4 gigabytes. Ghost 10 is great for this doesn't work with Win 98. But I think Ghost 9 (Ghost 2003) will backup an XP system and '98. I use Ghost 10.0

Free 15 day trail if download from Norton-Symantec

[Revolting cat!]

[snowsislander]

I've never seen a single copy of Linux in any store, and I shop the best stores.

I don't know if I classify CompUSA as a "best store", but I have seen boxed Linux sold there within the last three weeks, and those same distributions are also offered on their website:

SuSE Linux 10	Linspire Five.0	Xandros Desktop Home Edition