Re: Which storage media appropriate for small PC backups ?
- From: Ted Zieglar <teddy.z@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 05 Oct 2006 16:05:29 -0400
JS also has a good approach. I didn't want to overwhelm the OP with details, but here goes...
The advantage of storing an image on a second internal hard disk is, in a word, speed. It's faster to image to (and restore from) an internal hard disk than an external hard disk.
So one possible backup regimen is to image daily to an internal hard disk and weekly to an external hard disk.
Imaging to a DVD -- what I used to do -- has the advantage that you don't have to spend the money on an external drive. You do, of course have to buy DVDs, and over time you may find you're spending as much or more on media as you would had you sprung for an external drive.
Once your backup gets too big to fit on a single DVD you've got to span, so you have to wait around to insert subsequent DVDs not once but twice, since you want to verify the backup after its done. Way to kill an hour or two, which is not going to motivate you to backup daily, which you should.
And if one of the blank disks doesn't burn correctly you've got to start all over again. As sophisticated as burning software is, burning direct to DVD is not a sure thing. A more reliable method is to store disk images on your hard disk and then burn the images to DVDs...but that takes even longer.
Ghost is also a fine imaging program, but many (including me) don't care for "Norton" products, for reasons that have nothing to do with this thread.
---
Ted Zieglar
"Backup is a computer user's best friend."
JS wrote:
My vote is for Ted's suggestion, it a sound and valid approach..
I personally do things a little differently using Symantec's Ghost to create image backups to a second internal drive. Periodically I burn a copy of the image backup that was created on the second drive to a DVD as a just in case all else fails.
JS
"ian" <ian(removethis)@z9y8.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message news:694807F3-BB9D-42B2-AAC4-E573CCC81416@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx5 October 2006
Hi there,
I am running windows XP home edition on a Dell dimension 4500 desktop PC
with 40 GB memory, (of which only 27% or 10 GB is used and 73% is free).It
might be relevant to know that Dell preinstalls the windows XP software,
(rather than provide each customer with the full installation software), and
we are just given a "recovery disk". I gather this has its limitations. Also
several other familiar programs are pre-installed.
I would like to create an image of my entire hard disk drive, including the
operating system, applications, user settings, and all data, so that I may
use that image to restore my PC to its current working state without
reinstallation in the event of some unfortunate "crash".
I have just purchased the Acronis true image 9.0 software but I could really
do with some advice about what storage hardware is most usually is used in
conjunction with it. I have to admit to being very ignorant about devices
like IDE, SCSI, FireWire or network storage devices and in particular I
should like some advice about whether using 15 CD-R discs, (as storage for my
10 GB used), will result in a straightforward restoration following any
unfortunate "crash".
If there are disadvantages, what is the most economical alternative
(external ?) device that will allow me to get my computer running and back to
its current state; and is one device quicker than another ?
Sorry to be so ignorant about this subject. I imagine that there may be
others who would like to read whatever comments/opinions you care to offer.
Most grateful for your guidance, many thanks, Ian
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