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Thread ID: 25043	2002-09-24 14:39:00	New to backing up and Nero.	Danger (287)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
82760	2002-09-25 11:21:00	Very interesting Graham, quite different to my method but I don't keep my whole system backed up like you do. It would be a nuisance for it to go down but not devastating - at the moment, anyway. Danger: It's not important whether you keep your Address book and Favorites on another disk from your Documents, what is important is that you have a filing and backup system that works for you and you use it. I actually removed my InCD from my Startup folder as well as I like to have as little in the start-up process as possible (got an old slow machine :-)). That's why I manually run InCD when I need it - the shortcut icon is on my Start menu. The reason I eventually backup my downloads to a CD-R is to keep the CD-RW disks free for document files. I like to fill the CD-R disks in one hit if possible and since I want to permanently keep all/most of my downloaded programs they may as well be on a CD-R disk as they are cheap enough. You don't have to do that though, using CD-RW disks will be fine, especially if you are likely to delete the files after a time. It's best to have a couple of copies though, just in case. Can't advise you on Nero Express as my version didn't have that. I've downloaded it but haven't got around to using it yet.	Susan B (19)
82761	2002-09-26 11:09:00	Hi Susan B... Good article, as I am copying your process for backing up -Thanks (and for your last response about session backups). Everyone seems to have their own largely manuual backup process, but what about the standard backup process in Windows Accesories? (For me WinSE). I don't see anyone making reference to that process?...is it not suitable? Cheers...	Kahawai_Chaser (166)
82762	2002-09-26 11:35:00	Dohh!! Just went to back up my HD following Nero's instructions but it says I need 32 CDR!!! Must be a better way?	Danger (287)
82763	2002-09-26 11:57:00	> ... what about the standard backup process in Windows Accesories? (For me WinSE). I don't see anyone making reference to that process?...is it not suitable? I don't trust it. I've read enough stories about people not being able to restore their files when they get a new hard drive or try and open their files on another machine that I want nothing to do with it. There are backup programs available that do the job for you similar to the Windows backup and they would probably be a safer bet than the Windows job. I don't actually know of any myself but a search on Google will turn up plenty. Danger: Is Nero trying to backup your complete hard drive? You don't need to backup all your program files. If you do have a lot of files remember that you can use WinZip or similar to compress them before moving to your CDs. That should squeeze a few more onto each disk.	Susan B (19)
82764	2002-09-26 12:14:00	Ummm...well again I don't really know what I'm doing. I was just following the instructions on Nero. It says that its method of HD disk backups works by storing HD disk sectors instead of files. I just stopped when I got to the part that said I needed 32 disks! This seems like too much work, as I presume I have to format my disks first with IN CD as well. So I presume its backing up the whole HD. From what I have read it seems like you can't restore just part of your HD, so you would need to back up your whole HD or when the time comes to restore the backup you would be missing some files. Would there be an easier way by buying another HD and backing up to that some how? I wanted to try some Bios tweeks I saw from here I think a week ago, but they warn you to back up your system first, thats what I am trying to do.	Danger (287)
82765	2002-09-26 21:37:00	Ahh . . . yes, Nero is trying to backup the whole hard drive, sort of like Ghost . Someone else here (Peter H?) uses Nero for that and finds it good but I can't remember what he backs it up to . It won't be CDs I'm sure!! If you are going to fiddle around with that method then yes, you would probably be better off with another hard drive to backup to . Lots of people have a second hard drive just for their backups . Do remember though, that using that method means that each time you want to back up a week's files, say, you have to backup the whole lot again, not just the files that have changed during that week . You could partition the second hard drive and put the "image" (whole hard drive backup) on one partition and backup just your files to another partition . Have another look at Graham Petrie's method above because his method would suit you if that's what you want to do . If you are wanting to tweak the BIOS, remember that doing the wrong thing in there can make your whole computer go "Poof!" . You might need to extract the hard drive and put it in another machine for your stuff to be accessible . But that's the worst case scenario . If you're not sure about the BIOS tweaks start another thread for advice . There are plenty of people here who can help .	Susan B (19)
82766	2002-09-26 21:44:00	There is - I partitioned my drive - using PM - so C is 2.4gb. This fits on 4 CD's & takes only 10 mins or so to write. I tend to back-up most data to the D partition, and take a HD backup of the C before making any big changes, and if OK after. I understand that Ghost & drive image do much the same as Nero. Even though I have Drive Image I have never used it, as Nero works fine for me, and is very easy to use. Bye	Peter H (220)
82767	2002-09-26 21:54:00	So you've only got one hard drive then Peter? Isn't it a bit dodgy backing up your data to the D drive only? What if the whole hard drive went "Poof!"?	Susan B (19)
82768	2002-09-26 22:30:00	I agree that backing up to a different partition on the same drive is dangerous in case the drive itself dies . Peter - Nero does the same as Ghost or DI, but does not use compression, and you cannot extract indivdual files . Both Ghost and DI compress the image, and contain "Image Explorers" which allow you to view the contents of the image and extract individual files . Ahead is planning on putting this in a future version of Nero, but it is not there yet . Compressed, I can fit my 5GB HD image onto just over 2 CDs . (The HD has 3,5GB of data on it, and this is compressed by half) If I didn't compress it ie using Nero, It would also write the empty portion of the drive to CD . 5GB = 9 CDs, so I am not surprised that Danger needs 32 CDs as his HD is probably alot bigger than my Windows partition . Regarding automation: My process is largely automated . I have an icon on my quicklaunch bar that launches Drive Image and then all I do is click OK and it reboots and images my HD from DOS automatically . Once finished, it reboots again . I then click another icon and winRAR launches my backup archive . I then click one more button and it "updates" my backup (very quick as it is not creating a new archive) . I then copy this new archive to another location for storage (This way, when I next do an update, I still have a copy of the old backup in cae something goes missing, but I don't notice for a while) . I am then done . Oh, before all that I run the "Save my settings wizard" from office XP to backup all my office and email settings to my data partition, this takes a matter of seconds, and saves me having to manually find all of the settings files and back them up . I can even set things up to work without confirmation if I want . I can then add the three tasks to my scheduler (Save settings wizard, drive image, winRAR) and get it to run automatically when I am not home . I could if I wanted set up a batch file to run afterwards (also scheduled) to copy the RAR archive and rename it with the current date) I don't because I find it just as easy to do it manually . ] So, if you are at work allday, you can simply boot your PC in the morning of any day uyou want to backup . Set scheduler going (add a shutdown PC task at the very end) and come home for lunch to find all your backups done and your PC shutdown . Now that's automated! G P	Graham Petrie (449)
82769	2002-09-26 22:45:00	Yes Susan - 1 HD - a whopping Fuji - all 4.3gb's, Well, it was BIG when I bought it in 1998. If it fails, I can still use the Nero B/U to install on a new one, and then use PM to arrange the partitions again - hopefully - as yet haven't needed to. As none of the operating system is on D, all this is also copied onto CD's. This is purely a home system with no business files etc. on it. E-mail & favourites are backed up seperatley with EBackup from InAchis.com. Have thought of using Drive Image, but it would only save 1 cd and not too woried about extracting single files. Bye	Peter H (220)
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