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#1
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backup program
Running WinXP pro –Lenovo laptop: I have seen references in this group to
“Acronis True Image” program – and it looks good BUT it also appears that some versions are preferred for simple backup, by a home user who doesn’t have a lot of stuff to store. Question: In the opinion of those who will be kind enough to respond: Are there other or better backup programs - and is there a preferred version of true image for the basic simple use that I describe ? Many thanks -Jay |
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#2
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backup program
I have been running True Image for years under 98 and XP (up through SP-3).
It is easy to use and has saved me several times. The simplest level is called "True Image Home". Even that probably has more capabilities than you need, but you only need to learn those you actually want to use, which would probably be "create image" and "restore image". Images can be of an entire hard drive, or a single partition, or multiple partitions. If you only have one big C: drive, then partition is almost the same as whole drive. File exclusions are possible, but I would recommend against that, except for files you know are not required (or will be re-created), such a pagefile.sys and hiberfil.sys. The newer versions of True Image can save collections of files (less than a partition), but I would recommend using Windows Explorer for backing up personal files, or maybe XCOPY from a command prompt. The power of a program like True Image is its ability to backup the operating system and program files, while the PC is running that operating system. And, its power is also to know that a restored image contains 100% of what you need to run the PC and programs. Avoid the "snap restore" option, unless you have a single big C: drive. It restores only the partition(s) on the image, and causes the rest to be empty. This would be a bad thing, if your image had only C:\, but the PC had C:\ and D:\. Normal restores are fast enough; you do not need snap restore as a home user. Avoid the "secure zone", which makes an image on the same hard drive. Real security of a backup rests on that backup being somewhere other than on the same hard drive as the original data, preferably on an external hard drive, which is unplugged from both the PC and the wall, except when doing backups or restores. Restoring selected files is also possible, and that is fine for many purposes. But, after a PC crash, virus, etc, it would be better to restore everything, rather than hoping that you restored the right stuff and nothing more/less. As for other programs that are similar, Norton GHOST is the classic, but I rate it inferior to True Image and harder to use. Symantec, it owner, has a much less friendly/useful support organization than does Acronis. For some other ideas, check this link: http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloads3.html Just be careful when examining a backup program to ask whether it can restore without windows being operable. Some can not. Avoid those. "Jay" wrote in message ... Running WinXP pro -Lenovo laptop: I have seen references in this group to "Acronis True Image" program - and it looks good BUT it also appears that some versions are preferred for simple backup, by a home user who doesn't have a lot of stuff to store. Question: In the opinion of those who will be kind enough to respond: Are there other or better backup programs - and is there a preferred version of true image for the basic simple use that I describe ? Many thanks -Jay |
#3
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backup program
Jay wrote:
Running WinXP pro -Lenovo laptop: I have seen references in this group to "Acronis True Image" program - and it looks good BUT it also appears that some versions are preferred for simple backup, by a home user who doesn't have a lot of stuff to store. Question: In the opinion of those who will be kind enough to respond: Are there other or better backup programs - and is there a preferred version of true image for the basic simple use that I describe ? Many thanks -Jay It really isn't a backup program in the sense of duplicating your "stuff". It - and other similar programs - are meant to create an "image' of your *entire* drive or partition so that image can be used to restore the imaged drive/partition should a disaster occur. If all you want to do is duplicate your personal things, it is way overkill. Depending upon how much data you have, simply writing it to a CD/DVD occasionally should suffice; if you have more than that, it could be copied to a second hard drive. -- dadiOH ____________________________ dadiOH's dandies v3.06... ....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that. Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico |
#4
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backup program
Bob Harris wrote:
I have been running True Image for years under 98 and XP (up through SP-3). It is easy to use and has saved me several times. The simplest level is called "True Image Home". Even that probably has more capabilities than you need, but you only need to learn those you actually want to use, which would probably be "create image" and "restore image". Images can be of an entire hard drive, or a single partition, or multiple partitions. If you only have one big C: drive, then partition is almost the same as whole drive. File exclusions are possible, but I would recommend against that, except for files you know are not required (or will be re-created), such a pagefile.sys and hiberfil.sys. The newer versions of True Image can save collections of files (less than a partition), but I would recommend using Windows Explorer for backing up personal files, or maybe XCOPY from a command prompt. The power of a program like True Image is its ability to backup the operating system and program files, while the PC is running that operating system. And, its power is also to know that a restored image contains 100% of what you need to run the PC and programs. Avoid the "snap restore" option, unless you have a single big C: drive. It restores only the partition(s) on the image, and causes the rest to be empty. This would be a bad thing, if your image had only C:\, but the PC had C:\ and D:\. Normal restores are fast enough; you do not need snap restore as a home user. Avoid the "secure zone", which makes an image on the same hard drive. Real security of a backup rests on that backup being somewhere other than on the same hard drive as the original data, preferably on an external hard drive, which is unplugged from both the PC and the wall, except when doing backups or restores. Restoring selected files is also possible, and that is fine for many purposes. But, after a PC crash, virus, etc, it would be better to restore everything, rather than hoping that you restored the right stuff and nothing more/less. As for other programs that are similar, Norton GHOST is the classic, but I rate it inferior to True Image and harder to use. Symantec, it owner, has a much less friendly/useful support organization than does Acronis. For some other ideas, check this link: http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloads3.html Just be careful when examining a backup program to ask whether it can restore without windows being operable. Some can not. Avoid those. "Jay" wrote in message ... Running WinXP pro -Lenovo laptop: I have seen references in this group to "Acronis True Image" program - and it looks good BUT it also appears that some versions are preferred for simple backup, by a home user who doesn't have a lot of stuff to store. Question: In the opinion of those who will be kind enough to respond: Are there other or better backup programs - and is there a preferred version of true image for the basic simple use that I describe ? Many thanks -Jay I'll agree with Acronis True Image Home. I have Version 9 and its been a workhorse for me replacing drives in my laptop. Also great when I did SP3 on all my PC's. I wouldn't have loaded SP3 if I did not have a way to restore had it gone wrong. ATI will do a pick list of files and make a backup but I've never done it. Like others say, why, when you can so easily do the whole drive. I've used CDBurnerXP and it works as a decent file backup. I've found that Robocopy will do a great job of file backup on a batch file command line basis. If you are into that kinda tinkering. |
#5
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backup program
The one thing I would caution you on, is be VERY certain you are choosing the
correct source and destination drives. "Jay" wrote: Running WinXP pro –Lenovo laptop: I have seen references in this group to “Acronis True Image” program – and it looks good BUT it also appears that some versions are preferred for simple backup, by a home user who doesn’t have a lot of stuff to store. Question: In the opinion of those who will be kind enough to respond: Are there other or better backup programs - and is there a preferred version of true image for the basic simple use that I describe ? Many thanks -Jay |
#6
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backup program
Jay wrote:
Running WinXP pro –Lenovo laptop: I have seen references in this group to “Acronis True Image” program – and it looks good BUT it also appears that some versions are preferred for simple backup, by a home user who doesn’t have a lot of stuff to store. Question: In the opinion of those who will be kind enough to respond: Are there other or better backup programs - and is there a preferred version of true image for the basic simple use that I describe ? Many thanks -Jay You could also take a look at www.terabyteunlimited.com, they have a selection of products. IFW (image for windows) might be one of interest. This will back up your system partition while you are running windows. Provision is made for restore in the event of a disaster. If you have separate data partition, I would use a file backup program for that. Dave Cohen |
#7
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backup program
Define "not a lot of stuff to store" this should be associated with a size
of some sort. -- Randem Systems Your Installation Specialist The Top Inno Setup Script Generator http://www.randem.com/innoscript.html http://www.rndem.com/installerproblems.html http://www.randem.com/vistainstalls.html http://www.financialtrainingservices.org "Jay" wrote in message ... Running WinXP pro -Lenovo laptop: I have seen references in this group to "Acronis True Image" program - and it looks good BUT it also appears that some versions are preferred for simple backup, by a home user who doesn't have a lot of stuff to store. Question: In the opinion of those who will be kind enough to respond: Are there other or better backup programs - and is there a preferred version of true image for the basic simple use that I describe ? Many thanks -Jay |
#8
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backup program
Thanks to all who replied - and especially to Bob H. - appreciate the time
and help. Jay "Randem" wrote: Define "not a lot of stuff to store" this should be associated with a size of some sort. -- Randem Systems Your Installation Specialist The Top Inno Setup Script Generator http://www.randem.com/innoscript.html http://www.rndem.com/installerproblems.html http://www.randem.com/vistainstalls.html http://www.financialtrainingservices.org "Jay" wrote in message ... Running WinXP pro -Lenovo laptop: I have seen references in this group to "Acronis True Image" program - and it looks good BUT it also appears that some versions are preferred for simple backup, by a home user who doesn't have a lot of stuff to store. Question: In the opinion of those who will be kind enough to respond: Are there other or better backup programs - and is there a preferred version of true image for the basic simple use that I describe ? Many thanks -Jay |
#9
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backup program
"Randem" wrote in message ... Define "not a lot of stuff to store" this should be associated with a size of some sort. ... It depends on policy, doesn't it? I keep all kinds of stuff in My Documents, including every program source file I download, all my mail, etc. 8 and a half GBy as we speak. Basically, everything's there that I'd need to replace a destroyed or stolen machine with a new one without rebuilding Windows, Program Files, the registry, etc. in their present forms. I'd need some program CDs too, of course. Maybe Jay lives in a whole different world in this regard. |
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