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General discussion

What is a Good and Easy to Use Backup Program

Dec 22, 2004 8:22PM PST

I want to Backup my Computer. I want to back it up using CD Discs. My Question is what is a Good and Easy to use backup program.

Thanks for Any Help

Discussion is locked

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Look here maybe?
Dec 22, 2004 10:15PM PST

Your system or CD supplied s/w bundle didn't come with any backup pgm? If you did, use it to get a feel for whats in store. I use HP's Veritas provided s/w and it did come with the drive. Two fo the most common products are there are going to be Nero and Roxio, do you have either one?

Here's a shareware backup pgm:
http://www.dh.dk/zipbackup/

Feliz Navidad Happy -----Willy

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What is a Good and Easy to Use Backup Program
Dec 23, 2004 7:29PM PST

Thank You Willy for answering my question or problem.
I have another question for you.
Because I am a Newbie and I trying to understand how to do what I want to do.
In answer to your reply, I do have Roxio Easy CD program. I use it to copy Photo files and other files that I want to keep.
I did not think that backing up my computer would be to copy the "C drive". and If I do that How would I use those disc to restore my computer if I had a computer crash?
Willy, am I understanding correctly or am I making a big problem out of nothing.
Thank You again for your help

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Image or partial back-up
Dec 23, 2004 8:21PM PST

Any back-up pgm. is going to ask waht you want to back-up. Point to the whole drive or important data. Some smaller pgms may look for registry recovery, etc. to help after a major restore to return old setting, etc.. A good example is to back-up only the folderes/files you create excluding any OS ones. That way when you reload the OS, you restore or return those folders/files. You may need to reload a pgm. but the data gets returned from the previous last usage. Doing this reduces the actual back-up of CDs and keeps a handle on things. To further help, if you have a partition or separate drives, keeping the OS and data separate as well, helps in restoring on respective partitions, its just easier overall.

But, if you want to make a complete back-up of the whole drive, then make an image(ISO). You can use Ghost pgm. for that which is the best, IMHO. Here is a link expaining about it:
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/ghost.nsf/docid/1998123107455525?Open&src=&docid=2002030414141625&nsf=ghost.nsf&view=docid&dtype=&prod=&ver=&osv=&osv_lvl=

Here's another help link as well:
http://members.home.nl/lsnoek/iso.htm

Ghost's link is pretty long, cut it if you don't get taken there, check Nprton's support for Ghost.

Feliz Navidad Happy -----Willy

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What is a Good and Easy to Use Backup Program
Dec 23, 2004 8:40PM PST

Willy, Thank You Again.
You have answered my question and I understand completely now. Thank You So Very Much.
I do have Norton's SystemWorks Professional Edition but I never looked at all the features that are in that program. I just used the Anti-Virus program.
I am so glad that I asked the question on this forum.
I don't have to purchase anything, I already have the program and didn't know it until now.
Thanks so Much

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What is a Good and Easy to Use Backup Program
Dec 22, 2004 11:24PM PST

Keep in mind that cd disc are about 700MB each.

So how much data are you talking about?

If your trying to backup the entire system to cd you could be there for a while.

Most folks get tired of that and then there are no more backups being done.

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What is a Good and Easy to Use Backup Program
Dec 23, 2004 7:03PM PST

Yes, I was thinking about backing up my whole computer system. My computer is about no, it is 4 years old this christmas and I have not ever backed it up. I have cleared out stuff and saved some data files that I wanted to keep as time has gone by and I have upgrade memeory and different things. I have a P3 system with 512mb memory, using Windows XP.
I just think that I should back this baby up now.

If I am understanding your reply I should get a stack of CD Disc to completely backup this computer?
I can do that, My problem is I don't know what backup problem to use to do this.
Thanks for Your Reply.

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backup
Dec 23, 2004 7:24PM PST

You need to save or backup data your created, downloaded or otherwise don't have a hard copy. To do this, you can use the CD burning software installed on your computer.

If you do need to format and reinstall the operating system, you will also need to reinstall all of your programs. Make sure you have the installing CDs for them as well.

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What is a Good and Easy to Use Backup Program
Dec 23, 2004 9:51PM PST

What fits for me is just to create an image.

This gets everything.

When (not if) my hd dies I just replace the unit and spin back my image.

Willy mentioned norton ghost.

I use a product call drive image.

There is a problem with creating an image to cd.

A cd holds 700MB, if your hd has 20-40-60GB of data then you will need a bunch of cd's and a lot of patience.

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Question: What's a good backup program?
Dec 25, 2004 2:10AM PST

Answer: One you'll use!

That said, since you wish to backup the entire C: drive to CD, WindowsXP's built in backup tool isn't going to help you.

As for Norton Ghost: You want the new version (Version 9). It costs $70. Some other easy to use options are:

Back Up My PC ($69 download, $79 boxed)

ZIP Backup ($40 download)

I feel secure in recommending these three because I've used them and know that they're easy to use and effective. Of course, a Google search will turn up other options.

Past performance is not a predictor of future results, your mileage may vary, etc...