Best way to backup Windows machines?? (need easy restore)

Vanity | 7-20-2009 | Frantzie

[john in springfield]

How do you get your data from Carbonite and OS onto the new drive?

Like Wulff said, you install the OS onto the new drive. And you need updates, antivirus, and whatever software you would normally use.

Then you go to Carbonite's web site, download the software again (I'm sure you'll need to log in with your user name & password), make sure you're logged in to their system, and copy files back.

That's how it should work, anyway. I haven't restored a full computer but like the other guy, I have recovered a file or two. Worked perfectly in a couple of limited cases.

The weakness of such a system is you're relying on someone else. The weakness of some of the others is that if the house burns or the computer's stolen, you're out of luck.

So best combination if you ask me is probably to do a full drive image to another drive, store that someplace safe, update it every year or so and in the in between times use something like carbonite.

[tubebender]

I bought a Fire Wire external HD for back then after a year I noticed it was trying to back up at odd hours and then it died. Had it checked and found the power supply had failed. Bought a new case with PS and all the data was still there except for the month of down time. On line storage may be $5.00 now but what will it be a year or two from now?

[Frantzie]

Thanks. This is helpful. I am usually good at saving things and putting instrcutions and OS ROMs in a filing cabinet. What happens if you lose your copy of Windows and buy a used or refurb machine on eBay.

Is it pretty much if you lose the OS ROM you are screwed or go buy another copy? Thanks.

[Frantzie]

Thanks. This is helpful. I am usually good at saving things and putting instrcutions and OS ROMs in a filing cabinet. What happens if you lose your copy of Windows and buy a used or refurb machine on eBay.

Is it pretty much if you lose the OS ROM you are screwed or go buy another copy? Thanks.

[grey_whiskers]

Thanks, self -bfl for later.

[puppypusher]

Go buy a Western Digital Backup Drive that you can plug into your USB Port.The one I purchased was only about $190.00.

It works well to.Oh I for got to mention its a One Terrabyte Drive as well.

[Frantzie]

Anyone know how to just access the Computer archived posts here? The self help stuff here on FR is probably the best on the net for the avg person. Many thanks to all the people helping.

[grey_whiskers]

If you know the title or a specific phrase, you can put the following into the google search box:

phrase site:freerepublic.com

Cheers!

[Frantzie]

I have done this before but AFAIK I cannot click on C Drive and click COPY then drag to external drive and paste to copy the whole thing over. It never seems to work.

I have a Segate with “BounceBack” software but you have to select the folders and it gets confusing. I have back up of the small server with mirrored drives but it misked my desktop C drive which I also selected.

Someone suggested using XP or Vista back up utils in Windows. I downladed Macrium Reflect that people suggested here and I will try it in the AM. It seems to do images like ACronis and something like VM Ware’s virtualization.

I understand most technology stuff but backups and restores can be baffling and especially if you don’t do it right you are screwed.

Thanks.

[free_life]

XP Pro

I have a removable hard drive cage in one 5 1/2 bay. I pop in a hard drive boot to XP like normal and use Drive Image 7. I do not use DI to make images but to copy the whole master drive to the one I put in the removable HD cage. I have my whole master HD copied onto 2 other HD’s at all times. One is stored elsewhere. If my master drive ever fails, I just pop in one of these other HD’s and boot into XP like nothing ever happened.

Simple, cheap, reliable and you are back as quick as you can put the copied HD in and boot. Hard drives are cheap so why only do images of your HD when you can copy the whole drive? And if you ever want to get at some files on the copied drive just pop it in and copy them back to your master drive.

Problem is you can no longer get DI 7, but Ghost is very similar (they bought DI out) and you use to be able to do drive/partition copies including MBR from one HD to another HD with Ghost. Maybe someone here using Ghost could tell us whether Ghost still does drive/partition copies or if it only does images.

[free_life]

Partition Magic will also work but you have to boot to it’s boot disks to do it, DI will work from within XP.

[rarestia]

One of the options for the ntbackup utility is to backup your system state (registry, etc.).

Along with your files, you should backup your system state. If you ever lose a disk or get a virus, you can reload the OS and restore the system state and disk information back to the last known good configuration.

It’s a bit convoluted, I’ll admit that, and it can cause a headache for someone with little patience, but it’s free.

[killermosquito]

Thanks to your suggestion to try it many months ago, I too am a true believer in Clonzilla. I love the program.