Backup regime

[Captain K]

I have always been content to operate a backup regime whereby I drop only my user-specific data and files (documents, photos, movies, music etc) onto a DVD-RW at regular intervals, on the basis that the OS and any installed apps can be reinstalled from their original source, or re-downloaded.  Until now, this has served me fine, but on the two occasions my old XP machine went belly-up, whilst it was reassuring that all my personal data was safe, reinstalling the OS (and updating it all over again), plus reinstalling all the apps was a genuine pain in the bum.

Since getting this machine, complete with Vista, I've still followed the old backup data only to DVD regime, but there's now so much data it takes up a number of DVD's and the process is time-consuming.  In addition to this, the thought of reinstalling Vista and other apps from scratch fills me with dread, so its time to bring my backup regime kicking and screaming into the present.

Can anyone recommend a system/method that is going to be relatively easy, both in terms of doing it, and also what needs to be done in the event of a catastrophe?  I'm thinking of investing in an external 500Gb hard drive, together with appropriate software to create an image of the PC's HDD, which can be easily copied to the PC's HDD (or new HDD in the event the old one packs up).

As you may gather, disc mechanics is not an area of expertise!  Any hardware and software recommendations gratefully received.

[Rik]

I'm a backup paranoid, Bruce, so you'll probably want to water down my routine a lot.

I have three 'active' drives on the machine, C for system only, D for apps and E for data. I back up D & E to an internal HD daily. I also back them up to two external USB HDs at the same time. Two days a week, I make backups to two other external HDs which are stored off site. Also daily, I make a subset backup to DVD of the most important data. I would never rely on DVD-RW as my only backup.

I use a mixture of backup software for the different jobs, MS Synctoy, Syncback (free version) and Karen's Replicator. http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptreplicator.asp

In addition to that, I back up the system drive with Acronis True Image when major changes occur, and I make copies of the documents and settings folder daily.

[Noreen]

I make an Acronis TI v10 full drive backup every month to an external drive, you'll see another thread here that relates how that has recently saved me. I also periodically backup important (to me) files separately to that external drive, to DVDs and a 8GB flash drive which I carry on my keyring.

[Captain K]

Thanks Rik.  Have you ever had to restore a drive from a backup image?  I'm all for making life easy for myself, and it strikes me that creating a image on a regular basis could be straightforward, provided its also pretty straightforward to get that image back where it should be in the event it all goes wrong.  I'm not averse to also backing the data seperately in the event less drastic data loss is experienced.

[Inactive]

I use an external Hard Drive with Acronis TrueImage, I only back up about once a week, then only incremental ones.

[Captain K]

I think you just answered my question Noreen.   Weekly seems a reasonable interval to me.

[Rik]

Thanks Rik.  Have you ever had to restore a drive from a backup image?

Yes, I've restored from Acronis, Bruce. It's always worked fine, but I confess to sweaty palms during the process and a sigh of relief when the machine reboots OK.

[Inactive]

A well priced external 500GB HD can be found here;

http://www.idnetters.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=9519.0

[Captain K]

Thats exactly what got me thinking about it, In.

[Inactive]

 

We are on the same wave length..

[Noreen]

I think you just answered my question Noreen.   Weekly seems a reasonable interval to me.

As Rik said it was rather stressful waiting for the restore especially as I had never done it before but I'd found some simple instructions online and just followed them. Such a relief!

[Sebby]

Can anyone recommend a system/method that is going to be relatively easy, both in terms of doing it, and also what needs to be done in the event of a catastrophe?  I'm thinking of investing in an external 500Gb hard drive, together with appropriate software to create an image of the PC's HDD, which can be easily copied to the PC's HDD (or new HDD in the event the old one packs up).

I bought a Western Digital MyBook Home external drive, which came with Memeo AutoBackup. Basically, you tell it which areas of your computer to "monitor" (e.g. My Documents) and it will keep the backup updated in realtime. So, if you save a file in My Documents, it gets backed up immediately. If you delete one, it gets removed (although you can change this so that it keeps deleted files in the backup).

Effectively, it's a solution that you can just forget about, and always be sure you've got a current backup.

[Inactive]

I believe the one at post number 7 has similar Seb.

[Sebby]

I believe the one at post number 7 has similar Seb.

Possibly, though I don't know which software it uses.

[Captain K]

I bought a Western Digital MyBook Home external drive, which came with Memeo AutoBackup. Basically, you tell it which areas of your computer to "monitor" (e.g. My Documents) and it will keep the backup updated in realtime. So, if you save a file in My Documents, it gets backed up immediately. If you delete one, it gets removed (although you can change this so that it keeps deleted files in the backup).

Effectively, it's a solution that you can just forget about, and always be sure you've got a current backup.

That's exactly the sort of system I'm looking for Sebby, thanks.  I'm looking carefull at the device In found.

[net91]

The way I backup my data is very similar to Sebby.

I use the back up software that comes with Vista to backup to an external HDD. You can set what sort of files you want to backup, e.g. documents, music or system and application files. You can set it to run on a schedule or run it manually.

[Sebby]

The difference between Vista's utility and Memeo is that Memeo works in real time, so it backs up as you create a file/as a file changes, rather than having to be set to run at a certain time.