Backup Software choice?

glennc · 11 Jul 2010

Howdy,
I am just gettiing in the habit of doing 2nd hard drive backups. I've been told that Macrium Reflect was an excellent program and freeware. It has levels of compression and keeps track of the type of specific backup by name, so it can be reproduced exactly with the same parameters.
I also been told that the safest and only way to do it was with Windows 7 Ultimate 64-Bit Backup and/or Create a System Image. As I don't really understand the difference I have done both. Or should I say all three.
I would like learned experienced advice on the safest and easiest one to choose. What I want is to be able to restore from any of them and have all my stuff and the installed programs still running with all the updates. This I believe is wishful thinking so I am asking for advise and possibly a clear description of the differences.
Thanks in advance.
glennc

richc46 · 11 Jul 2010

Just got this myself, better than any other free image. Get it now, then we talk. Make a system restore point first in case you want to return it
FREE from Paragon Until July 12 - Vista Forums

glennc · 11 Jul 2010

Great got it. Thanks dude, Sir, Buddy, Gentleman!!!:)
glennc

theog · 11 Jul 2010

you may like to have look at those tutorials:
System Image Recovery
Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup
Restore Backup User and System Files

glennc · 11 Jul 2010

theog you good. Bookmarked them for study. Thanks again.
glennc

richc46 · 11 Jul 2010

Glad that you got it

glennc · 11 Jul 2010

richc46,
When I multi-task I get sometimes confused and look but don't see. So may I thank you for the link. With your recommendation and such a good price, I will surely try it out. Thank you.
glennc

richc46 · 11 Jul 2010

Look it over any questions, just ask.

richc46 · 11 Jul 2010

OK Glennc, how about some inside information.

With that new backup software that you have, make a back up now; put is someplace where you will not be bothered by it. You can even put it on a thumb drive, you dont have to spend a small fortune on an external hard drive that breaks down when you need it.

Every month using the System Image that is part of the OS, make a copy of your drive. Back up every month.

As time goes on and you need to use the image, you have one that is less than a month old, and easy to use it is right on your hard drive. If you encounter a major problem; your hard drive goes, bad virus attack, etc. Go to the closet and use that copy that you forgot about.

Take care and enjoy.

ignatzatsonic · 11 Jul 2010

My advice is that it can be useful to have an image of the operating system, but I would not rely on an image as my ONLY backup for my personal data. Imaging generally works, but is not completely reliable and you need to back up your personal data in some other way. That other way might be a simple copy procedure with your mouse to a separate drive--or you could use a program to back up your data in an automated fashion.