Backup Recommendation

Tews · 02 Sep 2010

This is what I use...

jimbo45 · 03 Sep 2010

harpua said:

I use Acronis TIH 2010 for the main system backup and also making clones. It has all the requested features and more and with the new optional "plus pack" (which adds some additional features) can even restore a system backup made on one machine to an entirely different computer. I would think this latter feature (assuming it actually works well) could be very useful for migrating to another machine, but I haven't tested it yet.

I also like the free and recently updated Microsoft SycToy 2.1 (which is a bit like second copy, but even better, imo) for backing up specific folders and keeping them synched. SyncToy doesn't have it's own built in scheduler but contains instructions on how to use the Windows Scheduler to automate it. It really is an outstanding utility, imo.

Hi there

For restoring / copying to different hardware I think it's the Acronis Universal restore is what you are talking about and it also gives you the option to load drivers if you want during the restore.

I've used this feature many times when making Virtual Machine images from a real running system (P2V - Physical to Virtual conversion) and the reverse (V2P - Virtual to Real conversion).

You will get some minor hiccups from time to time and probably will have to install a driver or two after initial boot.

On the rare cases where you get a BSOD on boot using a Windows install disk with the repair system on boot usually fixes the problem.

Cheers
jimbo

Maxxwire · 06 Sep 2010

james m said:

Can someone recommend a good external(standalone) hard drive to use for Windows 7 backup? I want to be in a situation that I can connect this drive and download everthing from my last backup and be back in operation from a hard drive crash for example.

I use a LaCie Hard Disk MAX 2TB Quadra eSATA/FireWire800/FireWire400/USB 2.0 RAID Hard Drive which is configutable in either Raid 0 with 2 TB of space for speed or Raid 1 at 1TB with the 2 1 TB drives mirrored for added data protection in that if one drive fails it can be restored from the other.

I reaize that this is a much larger external drive than you may be looking for, but after having 4 smaller drives die on me in less than a year I went with this one because it is fan cooled and many owners report no problems with their LaCie drives even after 4 years of use.

The LaCie is also fairly quick doing a 22.6 GB System Backup in just 3:35 minutes over eSATA wire and it can restore the complete 7.9 GB Reflect System Image Backup in only 4:40 minutes which takes at least 3X as long over USB.

~Maxx~
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lordvader · 07 Sep 2010

I need a good backup External Hard drive with USB 3.0 (dont have Usb 3.0in my Laptop)
so will need a adapter i guess with it
& would like a Portable highspeed of 640gb or 1T is better

But more Important part is I have say, 1000 songs on 20 different folder
& i download couple more
I have work files I save in different folders
Softwares I save in different folders

Then after a month I need to backup & dont remember which folder i had put the Files in

So is there a External Hard drive, which when connected
will automatically backup files, ONLY the ones that are not backed up
cos its a pain to backup everything again & again

takes a lot of time

cos I dont carry around external hard drive
Please Suggest need help

ignatzatsonic · 09 Sep 2010

lordvader said:

So is there a External Hard drive, which when connected
will automatically backup files, ONLY the ones that are not backed up
cos its a pain to backup everything again & again

Any halfway sophisticated backup program will back up ONLY the files that have not been previously backed up and would include any newly created files.

External hard drives don't backup files. Programs do.

Pick an application from the many mentioned in this thread. Pick a hard drive. Then back up.

lordvader · 10 Sep 2010

ignatzatsonic said:

lordvader said:

So is there a External Hard drive, which when connected
will automatically backup files, ONLY the ones that are not backed up
cos its a pain to backup everything again & again

Any halfway sophisticated backup program will back up ONLY the files that have not been previously backed up and would include any newly created files.

External hard drives don't backup files. Programs do.

Pick an application from the many mentioned in this thread. Pick a hard drive. Then back up.

I thought the new drives had a built in backup software
But thanks anyway

care to recommend one or the Best there is :)

Maxxwire · 10 Sep 2010

I've been trying out Karen's Replicator v3.6.8 to copy files from the daily use drive to the 1TB and 2 TB inert backup drives and to the computer if the file is hosted there also. Its a thing of beauty to watch this program do in seconds what would take minutes or even hours to do manually.

~Maxx~
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