backing up two computers

I'm currently backing up my desktop XP SP3 computer to two external hard
drives with Acronis True Image. I'm planning to buy the program for my new
laptop as well (currently XP SP2 but will install SP3 soon). How do others
handle backups from two computers? Do you dedicate separate external drives
to each computer or do backups to the same drives from different computers?
If the latter, do you just store the backups in different folders?

Thanks much!

Jo-Anne

Jo-Anne wrote:
I'm currently backing up my desktop XP SP3 computer to two external hard
drives with Acronis True Image. I'm planning to buy the program for my new
laptop as well (currently XP SP2 but will install SP3 soon). How do others
handle backups from two computers? Do you dedicate separate external drives
to each computer or do backups to the same drives from different computers?
If the latter, do you just store the backups in different folders?

Thanks much!

Jo-Anne



Actually whatever works for you. Not being smart, but whatever you
can understand the best. It does not make a difference. They are
just files.

Acronis allows you to put comments in the file when you are creating
them. And then when you try to pick from a selection of files to
restore, you can see the comment, it aids in picking which you want to
restore.
I personally store them with things like
Laptop_2008_08_11_C_Drive
Desktop_2008_08_10_C+D_Drive
etc

This way they sort alphabetically by Laptop/Desktop then by date. And
they are all in a single folder. But this method works for me. I
understand the logic, but it might not for everyone else.

I alternate external HDD's and use a file name describing the type and date
to keep them seperate. i.e desktop-full-081208...
"Jo-Anne" wrote in message
...
I'm currently backing up my desktop XP SP3 computer to two external hard
drives with Acronis True Image. I'm planning to buy the program for my new
laptop as well (currently XP SP2 but will install SP3 soon). How do others
handle backups from two computers? Do you dedicate separate external
drives to each computer or do backups to the same drives from different
computers? If the latter, do you just store the backups in different
folders?

Thanks much!

Jo-Anne

Thank you, Al! That'll work for me too.

Jo-Anne

"Big_Al" wrote in message
...
Jo-Anne wrote:
I'm currently backing up my desktop XP SP3 computer to two external hard
drives with Acronis True Image. I'm planning to buy the program for my
new laptop as well (currently XP SP2 but will install SP3 soon). How do
others handle backups from two computers? Do you dedicate separate
external drives to each computer or do backups to the same drives from
different computers? If the latter, do you just store the backups in
different folders?

Thanks much!

Jo-Anne

Actually whatever works for you. Not being smart, but whatever you can
understand the best. It does not make a difference. They are just
files.

Acronis allows you to put comments in the file when you are creating them.
And then when you try to pick from a selection of files to restore, you
can see the comment, it aids in picking which you want to restore.
I personally store them with things like
Laptop_2008_08_11_C_Drive
Desktop_2008_08_10_C+D_Drive
etc

This way they sort alphabetically by Laptop/Desktop then by date. And
they are all in a single folder. But this method works for me. I
understand the logic, but it might not for everyone else.

Sounds good to me, Meebers! Thank you!

Jo-Anne

"Meebers" wrote in message
...
I alternate external HDD's and use a file name describing the type and date
to keep them seperate. i.e desktop-full-081208...
"Jo-Anne" wrote in message
...
I'm currently backing up my desktop XP SP3 computer to two external hard
drives with Acronis True Image. I'm planning to buy the program for my
new laptop as well (currently XP SP2 but will install SP3 soon). How do
others handle backups from two computers? Do you dedicate separate
external drives to each computer or do backups to the same drives from
different computers? If the latter, do you just store the backups in
different folders?

Thanks much!

Jo-Anne

I tried some possibilities ( etc.) but with no success.
__________________________________________________ __________________________________
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"Jo-Anne" wrote in message
...
I'm currently backing up my desktop XP SP3 computer to two external hard
drives with Acronis True Image. I'm planning to buy the program for my new
laptop as well (currently XP SP2 but will install SP3 soon). How do others
handle backups from two computers? Do you dedicate separate external
drives to each computer or do backups to the same drives from different
computers? If the latter, do you just store the backups in different
folders?



A backup isn't a backup unless it's backed up.

I backup 4 PCs and I use 4 external USB disc drives for the job. Each pair
of drives holds the backup for two PCs which reside in folders identified
with the PC's description. Every time a backup is made, it is made to the
least recently used hard disc. Thus I can restore the last image if I get a
problem. If there is a problem with the last image then I am able to use
the other drive of the pair and restore an image that is a couple of weeks
or so older (which is better than nothing at all). So far I haven't had to
resort to this as my primary backup has always been readable.

The only reason that I use a pair of drives for only two PCs is that the
size of the drives is inadequate to hold 2 full backups and all the
incrementals for all 4 PCs. What works best for you may be different.

There are two types of computer user: those that have had to restore a
backup, and those that are *going to* have to restore a backup.

"Jo-Anne" wrote in message
...
I'm currently backing up my desktop XP SP3 computer to two external hard
drives with Acronis True Image. I'm planning to buy the program for my new
laptop as well (currently XP SP2 but will install SP3 soon). How do others
handle backups from two computers? Do you dedicate separate external
drives to each computer or do backups to the same drives from different
computers? If the latter, do you just store the backups in different
folders?

Thanks much!

Jo-Anne


Currently, I am only using one PC. However, I sometimes boot off an
insertable hard drive.

For the onboard, I use one external hard drive for image backups.
For the external, I use yet another external hard drive for image backups.
In each case, I keep the original installation as an image at the root of
each external backup hard drive.

Further, I use 5 separate folders for each week of the month on each
external hard drive for backups. As a result, I have a month's worth of
image backups at all times.

Using DriveImage 7 and firewire for backup external hard drives.
--
Dave

Thank you, M.I.5¾! My two external drives are pretty large. I've been
alternating them for my backups from the old computer. I'll do the same with
the new one.

Jo-Anne

"M.I.5¾" wrote in message
...

"Jo-Anne" wrote in message
...
I'm currently backing up my desktop XP SP3 computer to two external hard
drives with Acronis True Image. I'm planning to buy the program for my
new laptop as well (currently XP SP2 but will install SP3 soon). How do
others handle backups from two computers? Do you dedicate separate
external drives to each computer or do backups to the same drives from
different computers? If the latter, do you just store the backups in
different folders?



A backup isn't a backup unless it's backed up.

I backup 4 PCs and I use 4 external USB disc drives for the job. Each
pair of drives holds the backup for two PCs which reside in folders
identified with the PC's description. Every time a backup is made, it is
made to the least recently used hard disc. Thus I can restore the last
image if I get a problem. If there is a problem with the last image then
I am able to use the other drive of the pair and restore an image that is
a couple of weeks or so older (which is better than nothing at all). So
far I haven't had to resort to this as my primary backup has always been
readable.

The only reason that I use a pair of drives for only two PCs is that the
size of the drives is inadequate to hold 2 full backups and all the
incrementals for all 4 PCs. What works best for you may be different.

There are two types of computer user: those that have had to restore a
backup, and those that are *going to* have to restore a backup.

Thank you, Dave! Are all your backups full ones, or do you do incrementals
too?

Jo-Anne

"Lil' Dave" wrote in message
...
"Jo-Anne" wrote in message
...
I'm currently backing up my desktop XP SP3 computer to two external hard
drives with Acronis True Image. I'm planning to buy the program for my
new laptop as well (currently XP SP2 but will install SP3 soon). How do
others handle backups from two computers? Do you dedicate separate
external drives to each computer or do backups to the same drives from
different computers? If the latter, do you just store the backups in
different folders?

Thanks much!

Jo-Anne


Currently, I am only using one PC. However, I sometimes boot off an
insertable hard drive.

For the onboard, I use one external hard drive for image backups.
For the external, I use yet another external hard drive for image backups.
In each case, I keep the original installation as an image at the root of
each external backup hard drive.

Further, I use 5 separate folders for each week of the month on each
external hard drive for backups. As a result, I have a month's worth of
image backups at all times.

Using DriveImage 7 and firewire for backup external hard drives.
--
Dave

All imaging is of the current installation, and totally replaces the
original it overwrites in my case.

--
Dave

"Jo-Anne" wrote in message
...
Thank you, Dave! Are all your backups full ones, or do you do incrementals
too?

Jo-Anne

"Lil' Dave" wrote in message
...
"Jo-Anne" wrote in message
...
I'm currently backing up my desktop XP SP3 computer to two external hard
drives with Acronis True Image. I'm planning to buy the program for my
new laptop as well (currently XP SP2 but will install SP3 soon). How do
others handle backups from two computers? Do you dedicate separate
external drives to each computer or do backups to the same drives from
different computers? If the latter, do you just store the backups in
different folders?

Thanks much!

Jo-Anne


Currently, I am only using one PC. However, I sometimes boot off an
insertable hard drive.

For the onboard, I use one external hard drive for image backups.
For the external, I use yet another external hard drive for image
backups.
In each case, I keep the original installation as an image at the root of
each external backup hard drive.

Further, I use 5 separate folders for each week of the month on each
external hard drive for backups. As a result, I have a month's worth of
image backups at all times.

Using DriveImage 7 and firewire for backup external hard drives.
--
Dave

Thank you again!

Jo-Anne

"Lil' Dave" wrote in message
...
All imaging is of the current installation, and totally replaces the
original it overwrites in my case.

--
Dave

"Jo-Anne" wrote in message
...
Thank you, Dave! Are all your backups full ones, or do you do
incrementals too?

Jo-Anne

"Lil' Dave" wrote in message
...
"Jo-Anne" wrote in message
...
I'm currently backing up my desktop XP SP3 computer to two external
hard drives with Acronis True Image. I'm planning to buy the program
for my new laptop as well (currently XP SP2 but will install SP3 soon).
How do others handle backups from two computers? Do you dedicate
separate external drives to each computer or do backups to the same
drives from different computers? If the latter, do you just store the
backups in different folders?

Thanks much!

Jo-Anne


Currently, I am only using one PC. However, I sometimes boot off an
insertable hard drive.

For the onboard, I use one external hard drive for image backups.
For the external, I use yet another external hard drive for image
backups.
In each case, I keep the original installation as an image at the root
of each external backup hard drive.

Further, I use 5 separate folders for each week of the month on each
external hard drive for backups. As a result, I have a month's worth of
image backups at all times.

Using DriveImage 7 and firewire for backup external hard drives.
--
Dave

Jo-Anne wrote:
Thank you again!

Jo-Anne

"Lil' Dave" wrote in message
...
All imaging is of the current installation, and totally replaces the
original it overwrites in my case.

--
Dave

"Jo-Anne" wrote in message
...
Thank you, Dave! Are all your backups full ones, or do you do
incrementals too?

Jo-Anne

"Lil' Dave" wrote in message
...
"Jo-Anne" wrote in message
...
I'm currently backing up my desktop XP SP3 computer to two external
hard drives with Acronis True Image. I'm planning to buy the program
for my new laptop as well (currently XP SP2 but will install SP3 soon).
How do others handle backups from two computers? Do you dedicate
separate external drives to each computer or do backups to the same
drives from different computers? If the latter, do you just store the
backups in different folders?

Thanks much!

Jo-Anne

Currently, I am only using one PC. However, I sometimes boot off an
insertable hard drive.

For the onboard, I use one external hard drive for image backups.
For the external, I use yet another external hard drive for image
backups.
In each case, I keep the original installation as an image at the root
of each external backup hard drive.

Further, I use 5 separate folders for each week of the month on each
external hard drive for backups. As a result, I have a month's worth of
image backups at all times.

Using DriveImage 7 and firewire for backup external hard drives.
--
Dave






Note Jo-Anne, he is imaging the drive, not doing backups of files and
folders. An image is IMO, a much simpler and thorough way to backup.
If he was doing backups, you could do incrementals too.

Thank you, Al! Actually, images are what I'm doing too--with Acronis True
Image. You can do incrementals with this program. I'm guessing that Dave is
cloning his drive; hence one image per drive (or, I've been told, per
partitition). I like the idea of being able to put multiple images on one
external drive and can only hope that they restore OK in an emergency.

Jo-Anne

"Big_Al" wrote in message
...
Jo-Anne wrote:
Thank you again!

Jo-Anne

"Lil' Dave" wrote in message
...
All imaging is of the current installation, and totally replaces the
original it overwrites in my case.

--
Dave

"Jo-Anne" wrote in message
...
Thank you, Dave! Are all your backups full ones, or do you do
incrementals too?

Jo-Anne

"Lil' Dave" wrote in message
...
"Jo-Anne" wrote in message
...
I'm currently backing up my desktop XP SP3 computer to two external
hard drives with Acronis True Image. I'm planning to buy the program
for my new laptop as well (currently XP SP2 but will install SP3
soon). How do others handle backups from two computers? Do you
dedicate separate external drives to each computer or do backups to
the same drives from different computers? If the latter, do you just
store the backups in different folders?

Thanks much!

Jo-Anne

Currently, I am only using one PC. However, I sometimes boot off an
insertable hard drive.

For the onboard, I use one external hard drive for image backups.
For the external, I use yet another external hard drive for image
backups.
In each case, I keep the original installation as an image at the root
of each external backup hard drive.

Further, I use 5 separate folders for each week of the month on each
external hard drive for backups. As a result, I have a month's worth
of image backups at all times.

Using DriveImage 7 and firewire for backup external hard drives.
--
Dave






Note Jo-Anne, he is imaging the drive, not doing backups of files and
folders. An image is IMO, a much simpler and thorough way to backup. If
he was doing backups, you could do incrementals too.

Jo-Anne wrote:
Thank you, Al! Actually, images are what I'm doing too--with Acronis True
Image. You can do incrementals with this program. I'm guessing that Dave is
cloning his drive; hence one image per drive (or, I've been told, per
partitition). I like the idea of being able to put multiple images on one
external drive and can only hope that they restore OK in an emergency.

Jo-Anne

"Big_Al" wrote in message
...
Jo-Anne wrote:
Thank you again!

Jo-Anne

"Lil' Dave" wrote in message
...
All imaging is of the current installation, and totally replaces the
original it overwrites in my case.

--
Dave

"Jo-Anne" wrote in message
...
Thank you, Dave! Are all your backups full ones, or do you do
incrementals too?

Jo-Anne

"Lil' Dave" wrote in message
...
"Jo-Anne" wrote in message
...
I'm currently backing up my desktop XP SP3 computer to two external
hard drives with Acronis True Image. I'm planning to buy the program
for my new laptop as well (currently XP SP2 but will install SP3
soon). How do others handle backups from two computers? Do you
dedicate separate external drives to each computer or do backups to
the same drives from different computers? If the latter, do you just
store the backups in different folders?

Thanks much!

Jo-Anne

Currently, I am only using one PC. However, I sometimes boot off an
insertable hard drive.

For the onboard, I use one external hard drive for image backups.
For the external, I use yet another external hard drive for image
backups.
In each case, I keep the original installation as an image at the root
of each external backup hard drive.

Further, I use 5 separate folders for each week of the month on each
external hard drive for backups. As a result, I have a month's worth
of image backups at all times.

Using DriveImage 7 and firewire for backup external hard drives.
--
Dave



Note Jo-Anne, he is imaging the drive, not doing backups of files and
folders. An image is IMO, a much simpler and thorough way to backup. If
he was doing backups, you could do incrementals too.




There is a verify function, not sure if it does much, but I've had the
same question. I use ATI to backup my AMD machine before SP3 since
AMD processors had a big SP3 issue. I tested that image to make sure.
I was paranoid, it was my wife's PC. I'd be dead if I messed it up.
:-)