Backing-Up

Why should special back-up software be necessary when backing-up programs
from my pc to a disk or an external harddrive. Is just copying not
sufficient?

Jan wrote:
Why should special back-up software be necessary when backing-up programs
from my pc to a disk or an external harddrive. Is just copying not
sufficient?






If you want to backup your data, then there is no need for special
software...just copy it over.

However if you want to backup your entire Windows installation
then you will need "cloning" software such as Acronis true Image.

Jan wrote:
Why should special back-up software be necessary when backing-up programs
from my pc to a disk or an external harddrive. Is just copying not
sufficient?






If you want to backup your data, then there is no need for special
software...just copy it over.

However if you want to backup your entire Windows installation
then you will need "cloning" software such as Acronis true Image.

You cannot backup programs
You can, as philo states, image your entire system to enable you to
reinstall it (the image)

"Jan" jan@paradise wrote in message
...
Why should special back-up software be necessary when backing-up programs
from my pc to a disk or an external harddrive. Is just copying not
sufficient?

You cannot backup programs
You can, as philo states, image your entire system to enable you to
reinstall it (the image)

"Jan" jan@paradise wrote in message
...
Why should special back-up software be necessary when backing-up programs
from my pc to a disk or an external harddrive. Is just copying not
sufficient?

"Jan" jan@paradise wrote in message
...
Why should special back-up software be necessary when backing-up
programs
from my pc to a disk or an external harddrive. Is just copying not
sufficient?

"DL" wrote in message
...

You cannot backup programs

Not quite: the Windows COPY routine will not copy selected
essential Windows system files. Other copy routines (e.g.
XXCOPY will do so.)

You can, as philo states, image your entire system to enable you to
reinstall it (the image)

Yes, reinstallation by brute force (cloning a whole disk) is one
way to restore or reinstal: but there are several other reasons
to back up either data files or program configurations.

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

"Jan" jan@paradise wrote in message
...
Why should special back-up software be necessary when backing-up
programs
from my pc to a disk or an external harddrive. Is just copying not
sufficient?

"DL" wrote in message
...

You cannot backup programs

Not quite: the Windows COPY routine will not copy selected
essential Windows system files. Other copy routines (e.g.
XXCOPY will do so.)

You can, as philo states, image your entire system to enable you to
reinstall it (the image)

Yes, reinstallation by brute force (cloning a whole disk) is one
way to restore or reinstal: but there are several other reasons
to back up either data files or program configurations.

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

Jan wrote:
Why should special back-up software be necessary when backing-up
programs from my pc to a disk or an external harddrive. Is just
copying not sufficient?

Who told you special programs were *necessary*?

You can backup in any way you wish. Some sort of schedule is best and since
most people will forget a scheduled point or two - automating it in some
manner is also a good idea - but all of that can be done natively.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

Jan wrote:
Why should special back-up software be necessary when backing-up
programs from my pc to a disk or an external harddrive. Is just
copying not sufficient?

Who told you special programs were *necessary*?

You can backup in any way you wish. Some sort of schedule is best and since
most people will forget a scheduled point or two - automating it in some
manner is also a good idea - but all of that can be done natively.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

I dissagree (Programs)
Xcopy is not going to backup a program so it can be reinstalled, nor any
other routine, excepting in the case of simple programs

"Don Phillipson" wrote in message
...
"Jan" jan@paradise wrote in message
...
Why should special back-up software be necessary when backing-up
programs
from my pc to a disk or an external harddrive. Is just copying not
sufficient?

"DL" wrote in message
...

You cannot backup programs

Not quite: the Windows COPY routine will not copy selected
essential Windows system files. Other copy routines (e.g.
XXCOPY will do so.)

You can, as philo states, image your entire system to enable you to
reinstall it (the image)

Yes, reinstallation by brute force (cloning a whole disk) is one
way to restore or reinstal: but there are several other reasons
to back up either data files or program configurations.

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

I dissagree (Programs)
Xcopy is not going to backup a program so it can be reinstalled, nor any
other routine, excepting in the case of simple programs

"Don Phillipson" wrote in message
...
"Jan" jan@paradise wrote in message
...
Why should special back-up software be necessary when backing-up
programs
from my pc to a disk or an external harddrive. Is just copying not
sufficient?

"DL" wrote in message
...

You cannot backup programs

Not quite: the Windows COPY routine will not copy selected
essential Windows system files. Other copy routines (e.g.
XXCOPY will do so.)

You can, as philo states, image your entire system to enable you to
reinstall it (the image)

Yes, reinstallation by brute force (cloning a whole disk) is one
way to restore or reinstal: but there are several other reasons
to back up either data files or program configurations.

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

"Jan" jan@paradise wrote in message
...
Why should special back-up software be necessary when backing-up programs
from my pc to a disk or an external harddrive. Is just copying not
sufficient?

Simple copying won't back up key files that are in use and you can pretty
much forget about backing up most installed programs via copying

Installed programs rely heavily on numerous registry entries, and often
place files within the Windows folder structures. It's very difficult to
tell what's done by what. Just copying the folder structure and copying it
back to a new install will not allow most programs to run. Either you
image the drive, or you reinstall.

You can export the registry and save that, but that won't help with other
files you can't keep track of.

The Windows copy routines have a tendency to just fail and close when they
encounter any difficulties, and you will have no real idea where or why this
happened. You have to start over.

If you don't use something like an imaging program, which *will* back up
everything as it is, in an easily restorable form, your recovery strategy
is based on re-installing the OS and programs, then copying your backed-up
data back in place.

HTH
-pk

"Jan" jan@paradise wrote in message
...
Why should special back-up software be necessary when backing-up programs
from my pc to a disk or an external harddrive. Is just copying not
sufficient?

Simple copying won't back up key files that are in use and you can pretty
much forget about backing up most installed programs via copying

Installed programs rely heavily on numerous registry entries, and often
place files within the Windows folder structures. It's very difficult to
tell what's done by what. Just copying the folder structure and copying it
back to a new install will not allow most programs to run. Either you
image the drive, or you reinstall.

You can export the registry and save that, but that won't help with other
files you can't keep track of.

The Windows copy routines have a tendency to just fail and close when they
encounter any difficulties, and you will have no real idea where or why this
happened. You have to start over.

If you don't use something like an imaging program, which *will* back up
everything as it is, in an easily restorable form, your recovery strategy
is based on re-installing the OS and programs, then copying your backed-up
data back in place.

HTH
-pk

"DL" wrote in message
...

I dissagree (Programs)
Xcopy is not going to backup a program so it can be reinstalled, nor any
other routine, excepting in the case of simple programs

1. Well any COPY routine can copy a SETUP EXE if that is
what you mean: and everyday Windows COPY can copy
successfully most INI and NORMAL.DOT config files (with
preferences for installed programmes.)

2. The comment DL misliked recommended XXCOPY not
Windows XCOPY. Differences are public at www.xxcopy.com

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

"DL" wrote in message
...

I dissagree (Programs)
Xcopy is not going to backup a program so it can be reinstalled, nor any
other routine, excepting in the case of simple programs

1. Well any COPY routine can copy a SETUP EXE if that is
what you mean: and everyday Windows COPY can copy
successfully most INI and NORMAL.DOT config files (with
preferences for installed programmes.)

2. The comment DL misliked recommended XXCOPY not
Windows XCOPY. Differences are public at www.xxcopy.com

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)