Re: Recommendations on a GOOD backup package ??

Your welcome.

--
Kerry
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

FrankChin wrote:
Anna:

Thanks for the extremely detailed reponse. Also thanks to Kerry for
his helpftul comments as well, and I agree with you both. I'm
somewhat paronoid about backups because:

- I had disks crashed on me where I worked but fortunately they often
have backups, but sometimes, we had problems using the backups
- I was dumb enough not to do disk backups on my home PC before the
last PC crashed. You think I should know better.
- I was in IT, and the manager who hired me was fired because the
server of a subsidiary crashed and the backup tapes had no data on it.

I'm archiving your post for future reference. Mindful of Kerry's
advice on a complete re-install, I actually implemented yet another
parallel strategy for "disaster recovery" since I now have various
PC's in the house "networked". Prior to this, work processing,
spreadsheets, Quicken, Quickbboks was only done on one PC, games,
photographs was archived and edited on another. Both PC's currently
have Norton Ghost running and each has its own USB backup storage.

What I started to do was install the same software on both machines,
i.e. MS Office, Quickbooks, to the mutilmedia PC and Adobe photshop
etc to the accounting PC., so in the case of a "crash", only the data
files would need to be moved, till a replacement machine is obtained.
Games were moved over to the crashed PC that had a new drive
installed. And it would be ideal if the software is "identical on
all". The problems I see with this is:

- I may be in violation of some licensing agreements in the case of MS
Office, installing it on more than one machine, though I haven't
problems yet installing the duplicate. Would WGA squeal on me??

- Quickbooks I got no problem, because I bought two licenses to
network, but if I install more copies, like on a laptop, but only 2
can be used simultaneously. If the PC crashed, all I do is copy the
data file to the new PC, and point to it.

-Norton internet security I had a problem when registering a third PC
as they remind you that only one PC allowed per package. Technically,
I was in viloation when I installed a copy on the 2nd PC, the laptop.
But because I'm an AOL subscriber, I can install the AOL free
firewall, spyware, virus package, and I will consdier DROPPING
Nortons' when the vrus protection subsription comes due so software
on all machines are identical, and I better yet, I get it for free.

-Key Websites are bookmarked on both PC's as well, but currently not
identical.

I heard of software that "syncs" two PC's, but so far I haven't
checked into using that idea as part of the wider "disaster recovery"
plan.

Mindful of Hurricane Katrina, I plan to maintain "on line" backup as
well.

Thanks again.




"Anna" wrote:



"FrankChin" <FrankChin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:AFC015EB-F604-41C1-B247-2D49E74ABDE3@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Any one with recommendations on a GOOD backup package.

I was thinking of upgrading to Norton 10 from Norton 9.0. But
because of
annoying problems with 9.0, I just want to try out another
RELIABLE and proven software package.

I particular I want to be able to restore ONE file, ONE folder,
or any combination of them up to and including cloning an entire
drive. This is
an
important feature for me.

I read up on Acronis True Image. Any comments on this package and
others??
Can you comment on why you prefer one to the others??

To be brief, the PC started from hibernation this morning and
V2iConsole.exe
gobbled up all the resources. Later on, when I wanted to go on the
internet,
PQV2iSVC.exe and GhostTray was busy hogging 100% of the CPU.

To be fair to Norton, this doesn't happen every day, but maybe
once a month.
Thanks.


"Anna" wrote:>
Frank:
In addition to the suggestions you've already received...

Why not consider the Ghost 2003 program that was packaged with your
Symantec
Norton Ghost 9 program? (I'm assuming you purchased the retail
boxed version
of that program which included the Ghost 2003 version).

Although you didn't say, I'm assuming that you're cloning, or
planning to clone, the contents of your day-to-day working HD to
another HD, either internal or external. For that purpose the
Ghost 2003 program works just fine with basic disk-to-disk cloning
in an XP environment. And it would meet
your other requirement in that individual files/folders would be
accessible
from the cloned (destination) HD.

The Ghost 2003 program is simple to use & straightforward in
design. If this
is of interest to you, so indicate and I'll provide more details
re using that program.
Anna


"FrankChin" <FrankChin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:A51C283D-9911-4DC4-94D8-4FF101ECDB55@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Thanks Anna and the others for all for the great suggestions.

I bought the Norton 9.0 at Staples, just looked at the box, and it
says the
"2003" version is included.

Norton Ghost 9.0 has all the features I needed except I have to
check the PC
each morning after the PC wakes up to see if scheduled tasks are
running or
ran successfully. Unfortunately, its this habit of Norton to have
"errant processes" running in the bloated software that causes
other tasks "to not start". In each case, a reboot solved the
problem. It's just that I'm s little tired of it, and would like to
be able to have the system on automatice pilot if I'm gone for a
few days.

Good software shouldn't do that.

I seem to experience less problems on another machine that has
"hyperthreading", so I'm not sure if there's some hardware issues
involved as
well. But in this newgroup, it seems that I hear constant
complaints often about Nortons

As to my requirements:

- I plan to upgrade this machine, which acts as the server on the
home network, to another one by year end, so I would like to be
able to clone the
drive, and re-create on the new PC, if that's the way I choose to
go. - Plan to have the new PC installed differently than the
current one with Windows installed on the C Drive", and the data
on the another, in which case I might have to do a complete
re-install, and cloning may not be that essential. Then I might be
looking at migrations software. Any suggestions??
- BUT, PCs seem to break at the most incovenient time, and I want
to be able
to walk back from the store with a new one in the morning, and start
working
by the afternoon.
-I also "xcopy" stuff in "My documents" as well as do "online
backup" for everything under "documents and settings".

Ask me how I got this paranoid??

If Norton 2003 runs OK and reliably, I might go "Back to the
Future", and run it, that is, if I could ger Ghost 9.0 uninstalled
with no problems. I just thinking that there might be some other
issues lurking out there, and better with the "Devil we know".

I don't know if I can run Norton 2003 PARALLEL to Ghost 9.0,
probably not. At least, with another software, I could probably run
it even if I don't successfuly unistall Nortons.

I also have a Norton's Password Manager that I can't seem to get
rid of I read about how HARD it is to uninstall Norton software.

Just thinking out loud. Do I want to check my automatic jobs every
day, and
boot the PC every so often, or just go off Norton's 9.0??

So, are you:

- Happy with Norton's 2003??
- I can quickly clone a new drive if I have to??
- Run it under a scheduler??


Frank:
First, as to your question re data migration programs. My experience
with them has been quite lackluster to say the least and I no longer
use them. By & large I found them awkward to use and sorely lacking
in broad capability. I haven't used them in quite some time so it's
possible the newer versions provide better capability. Perhaps some
user can recommend one or more.

I hardly use xcopy (or its derivatives) any more, but if it meets
your purposes...

I've no experience with the Norton Password Manager you're having a
problem with.

I've not been thrilled with either Symantec's Norton Ghost 9 or their
current 10 version. In comparison with Ghost 2003. I've found both
programs awkward to use and unnecessarily complex for my purposes.
So let me now make it clear as to my fundamental objective in using
a disk imaging program such as the Norton Ghost program...

My exclusive interest is to establish a near-failsafe backup system
and to do so effectively in a reasonably direct, reasonably simple,
and reasonably quick way. I use this type of program for basic
disk-to-disk cloning. I'm not interested in incremental or
"differential" or scheduled backups nor am I interested in creating
"disk images" on removable media such as CD/DVD. My basic objective
is to clone the contents of my day-to-day working HD to another HD
so that the "destination" drive will be (for all practical purposes)
an exact duplicate of the "source" drive and can be used for
restoration purposes should the need arise.

So if your objectives are the same as mine, read on...

Before I provide you (and others who may be interested) with the
detailed instructions involved, let me make the following points.
1. This is *not* complicated business. Using the Ghost 2003 program
in an XP environment in the manner in which I will set forth is a
relatively simple & straightforward process.
2. It (nearly) goes without saying, that in order for the cloning
process to be successful, both the source disk (the drive you're
cloning from) and the destination disk (the drive you're cloning to)
must be non-defective and properly connected/configured in your
system.
3. The OS that you're cloning must be free from system files
corruption. If you clone garbage, garbage is what you'll get.
4. In using the Ghost 2003 program, our preference is to work with
the Ghost 2003 bootable floppy disk (or on occasion the Ghost 2003
bootable CD). We find that media simpler to use in comparison with
the Windows GUI and we enjoy the portability aspects of using that
media. But there's no reason why you can't work within the Windows
GUI should you prefer to do so.

And that's it. The precise steps to directly clone the contents from
one HD to another HD using the Ghost 2003 program are simple &
effective.

Here are step-by-step instructions for creating a Ghost 2003
bootable floppy disk and then using that floppy disk to clone the
contents of your working HD to another internal or external HD...

(You needn't be unduly concerned with using this DOS-based media
with the Ghost 2003 program. There are no complicated or exotic DOS
commands that you need to invoke. As a matter of fact, there are
*no* DOS or DOS-like commands to enter. The entire process is
simple, straightforward, and quite effective)

It is *vital* that you work with the latest version of the Ghost 2003
program. That's the Ghost 2003.793 build. Should you have an earlier
version, you can use Symantec's LiveUpdate feature available in the
Ghost program to download & automatically install that latest update.

So, here are step-by-step instructions for using the Ghost 2003
program (using a Ghost 2003 bootable floppy disk or bootable CD) to
directly clone the contents of one HD to another HD...

Creating the bootable Ghost floppy disk:
1. Install the Ghost 2003 program on your computer. As indicated
above, make sure you're using the latest "build" - Ghost 2003.793.
If not, use Ghost's LiveUpdate feature to automatically download the
latest version. It's important that you be using this latest "build".
2. Insert a blank floppy disk (it need not be formatted) and access
your Ghost program.
3. Click on Ghost Utilities.
4. Click on Norton Ghost Boot Wizard.
5. Select Standard Ghost Boot Disk. A dialog box will appear.
a. Select the USB 2.0 Support option (assuming you have that
capability).
b. Select the Assign DOS drive letters option and click Next.
6. Select the Use PC-DOS option.
7. Complete the process following the screen prompts.
8. Remove floppy and label accordingly.

That's it. Now you have a Ghost bootable floppy disk which you can
use to undertake your cloning operations now and in the future. Now
when you want to clone the contents of one HD to another HD you
simply insert the Ghost bootable floppy disk in your floppy drive
and boot up with both drives connected.

After creating the Ghost bootable floppy disk, you can create a Ghost
bootable CD from it using the Roxio or Nero CD burning programs, or
most other CD burning programs that allow you to create a bootable
CD. Unfortunately I know of no way to *directly* create this
bootable CD from the Ghost program (as you can do, for example, with
the Acronis True Image program).

Before undertaking the cloning operation ensure that the only storage
devices connected are the two HDs that will be involved in the
cloning process. Disconnect any flash drives, ZIP drives, etc.

Here's how to perform the cloning operation...
1. With both drives connected, boot up with the Ghost bootable
floppy (or Ghost bootable CD). You'll get an initial screen that
displays "License agreement warning". Right-arrow (or tab) over to
the "Continue without marking drives" button and press Enter.
2. The "About Norton Ghost" screen appears. Click OK.
3. Right-arrow twice over to the "To Disk" button and press Enter.
4. The next screen will list both your drives - the Drive 1 (source
disk) and Drive 2 (destination disk). MAKE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN Drive
1 IS INDEED YOUR SOURCE DISK, I.E., THE DISK YOU'RE CLONING *FROM*!
Drive 1 will be highlighted. Press Enter.
5. The next screen will have Drive 2 (destination disk) highlighted.
AGAIN, ENSURE THAT Drive 2 IS YOUR DESTINATION DISK, I.E., THE DISK
YOU'RE CLONING *TO*! Press Enter.
6. The next screen is the "Destination Drive Details" window, and
reflects your ultimate destination disk, i.e., your current Drive 2.
Press your Tab key to highlight the OK button and press Enter.
7. The "Proceed with disk clone?" dialog box will open. Left-arrow
over to the Yes button and press Enter.
8. The cloning process will begin. The data transfer speed will vary
depending upon the speed of your processor and the HDs involved. On
a medium to high-powered system you should get transfer speeds
ranging from 800 MB/min to 1.5 GB/min should you be cloning internal
drives. It will be considerably slower if you're cloning to a USB
external HD.
9. After you get the "Clone Completed Successfully" message,
left-arrow over to the Continue button and press Enter.
10. Down-arrow to Quit and press Enter.
11. Click Yes at the "Are you sure you want to quit?" message.
12. Remove the Ghost floppy and shut down the computer.
13. Disconnect your source disk and boot up with the cloned drive.
In most cases (but not always), a Windows "Found New Hardware"
message will appear in the Desktop's Notification Area followed by a
"System Settings Change" message window informing you that new
hardware has been found and asks "Do you want to restart your
computer now?" Click Yes for the reboot.
14. BTW, the reboot of the newly-cloned drive usually takes a longer
time than usual, so one must be patient. On rare occasions the
system will fail to reboot - the system will hang before reaching
the Windows XP Welcome screen. It's a rare occurrence, but you may
experience it from time-to-time. If that does occur, simply use the
Ctrl-Alt-Delete keys to reboot.

Assuming you've cloned the contents of your working drive to your
second internal drive, that second drive will be bootable (after
disconnecting your primary one, of course) as indicated above. You
also have the option of cloning your working drive to a USB external
hard drive. In that case the USBEHD is *not* bootable (at least we
haven't been able to boot the XP OS from a USBEHD), but you could
clone the contents back to your internal drive for restoration
purposes should the need arise.

Just one other point I wish to emphasize with respect to the cloning
operation involving internal drives. Immediately following the
cloning operation and the shutdown of your machine, disconnect your
source drive and boot ONLY to the newly-cloned drive (as indicated
in step 13. above). DO NOT BOOT IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE CLONING
OPERATION WITH BOTH DRIVES CONNECTED. Doing so is likely to cause
future boot problems with the cloned drive. Obviously there is no
problem in this area should a USBEHD be involved in the cloning
process since that device is not bootable in an XP environment.

I trust the above will be of use to you and others who might be
thinking about using the Ghost 2003 program for a routine backup
system.
Anna


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