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| Thread ID: 71475 | 2006-08-07 00:41:00 | Backup restore | Greg (193) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 476659 | 2006-08-07 00:41:00 | I've never had to restore anything from a backup before, so I'd appreciate knowing... My Primary Master disk is divided into 4 partitions - Operating System, Applications (programmes), Games and Data. I regularly backup my Data partition, as that's got stuff that I'd hate to lose. But, if I backup my Operating System and Applications partitions, will I be able to simply restore my system from the backup to exactly how it was if the drive dies? I've got tons of applications and it'd be day's of work to reinstall them. :dogeye: I want to backup to my second hard drive on Primary Slave. (My data stuff gets backed up to DVD as well as the second drive). I use Windows built-in backup utility, running XP Pro SP1. Thanks for any help. |
Greg (193) | ||
| 476660 | 2006-08-07 01:05:00 | Understand that there are different ideas and practices "out there" but here is my take . For operating system partition backups I use a bit-image, as opposed to file-by-file backup . There's nothing like knowing that you have everything and that it will "hang together" on restore! I happen to use BootIt NG but there are several very good programs available . Acronis True Image has been written up well . But, because you have split the OS from Programs, you will have to take the images of both partitions at exactly the same time, and preferably at the DOS level (BootIt is a DOS level prog) . I used to have mine split like yours till I realised the trap I had laid for myself! But now I have all programs installed to the C: drive so I only need one partition backup . Hope this is some help . |
linw (53) | ||
| 476661 | 2006-08-07 01:22:00 | Hi Greg, unless you use shadow copy, you will never be able to get a successful O/S backup to restore, this covers open files, service & registry state with NT Backup. Least thats my experience. The problem with NT backup of course, is that you need a working o/s to run the backup, therefore it is sometimes prefereable to use an image based backup solution for the o/s like Acronis True image. |
SolMiester (139) | ||
| 476662 | 2006-08-08 01:53:00 | Hi Greg I procrastinated for up to a year before getting Acronis True Image. My big worry was that as someone with intermediate knowledge (not advanced like some on the forum), it might be difficult for me to learn and understand. However now that I have had the program for 4/5 weeks it is easy to follow with a good manual. I cannot give any thoughts on how it goes when doing a restore, but from my reading seems relatively straightforward. I bought it for $99 from Dick Smiths. cheers Misty :2cents: |
Misty (368) | ||
| 476663 | 2006-08-08 02:24:00 | ... For operating system partition backups I use a bit-image, as opposed to file-by-file backup. ...The "bit by bit" technique is possible with IDE drives where mapping out of bad sectors is done "transparently" in the disk controller, not in the OS. With MFM drives, the problem was that bit by bit images required a replacement drive which had either no bad spots at all (usually very expensive) or no bad spots in places where there weren't on the original. :( You still see this problem when making boot floppies. The image write will write data to bad spots which have been marked as unusable by an OS's formatting programme. You must use perfect floppies. | Graham L (2) | ||
| 476664 | 2006-08-08 09:08:00 | I've never had to restore anything from a backup before, so I'd appreciate knowing... My Primary Master disk is divided into 4 partitions - Operating System, Applications (programmes), Games and Data. But, if I backup my Operating System and Applications partitions, will I be able to simply restore my system from the backup to exactly how it was if the drive dies? I also meant to say that I have a partition on my hard drive (O/S & programs etc in one partition and data in the other) and no problem in imaging all of this in one hit. You can then backup on a regular schedule of your choice, using incremental or differential options (I choose differential). Misty :thumbs: |
Misty (368) | ||
| 476665 | 2006-08-10 01:06:00 | Thanks very much for your input folks. | Greg (193) | ||
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