Full system back up Thread poster: Channa Montijn
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Channa Montijn 
Netherlands
Local time: 14:27
Member (2003)
English to Dutch
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Dear all
I back up my work and other important files on a regular basis (I learned my lesson by now , however I really want to back up my complete hard drive (one partition only: C).
When I try using the back up wizard of Windows XP I am asked to back up on diskettes... this is not an option I think (would take an enormous amount of disks). I read about a flash memory key (1GB)... is that an option and can it be ... See more Dear all
I back up my work and other important files on a regular basis (I learned my lesson by now, however I really want to back up my complete hard drive (one partition only: C).
When I try using the back up wizard of Windows XP I am asked to back up on diskettes... this is not an option I think (would take an enormous amount of disks). I read about a flash memory key (1GB)... is that an option and can it be used easily (without days of transferring files that is).
I look forward to your replies and suggestions.
[Edited at 2006-02-28 16:11] ▲ Collapse
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Ines Burrell
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:27
Member (2004)
English to Latvian
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| External hard disk | Feb 28, 2006 |
If you really want to back up your entire hard drive and not just the documents your best bet would be an external hard drive. Flash memory keys will not have enough memory. External hard drives are not too expensive and it is a valuable investment.
Cheers,
Ines
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Channa Montijn
Netherlands
Local time: 14:27
Member (2003)
English to Dutch
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | I just noticed that too | Feb 28, 2006 |
When checking my hard drive: I've used 15 Gb already (oh dear me)...
Can you recommend which external hard drives to use and if they are 'user friendly'?
Thanks in advance!
[Edited at 2006-02-28 16:37]
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awilliams
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:27
Italian to English
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| full system backup | Feb 28, 2006 |
Mine's 160GB and cost me around EUR 80.00 from Amazon. A bargain.
[Edited at 2006-02-28 16:39]
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| why external | Feb 28, 2006 |
why would you need an external drive rather than the second internal hard disk? Unless you want to take it with you so that it cannot be stolen from the room where your desktop stands or prevent it from burning in case of fire.
You can either back up your partition to another partition on the same disc or to a separate hard disc. First of all move contents of your documents and settings folder to a partition differen... See more why would you need an external drive rather than the second internal hard disk? Unless you want to take it with you so that it cannot be stolen from the room where your desktop stands or prevent it from burning in case of fire.
You can either back up your partition to another partition on the same disc or to a separate hard disc. First of all move contents of your documents and settings folder to a partition different than the system partition, especially My Documents. In case of system crash you will not have to worry about your data.
Than you have a choice to back up only your data or the whole system/partition using programmes such as Norton Ghost or Paragon Drive Backup. I back up my documents every day with a programme Syncback (freeware) and some time ago I backed up the system partition (with a relatively fresh system) so that I can return to it when the system crashes unreversibly. I would not do frequent backups of the system partition. Once in a while it is worth some effort to have a copy of a well-functioning system, but that is all.
Piotr ▲ Collapse
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Luca Tutino
Italy
Member (2002)
English to Italian
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| advantage of external | Mar 1, 2006 |
Piotr Sawiec wrote:
why would you need an external drive rather than the second internal hard disk?
Internal might be somewhat faster - not a big issue for daily backups. The advantage of external is that if suddenly your PC goes dead, you should still be able to finish that urgent and large project that you must deliver tomorrow, just by plugging it in the usb port of a friend's pc.
I feel effortlessly safe with my 160GB USB HD + Acronis backup software.
[Edited at 2006-03-01 19:48]
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| A good friend needed :-) | Mar 1, 2006 |
Luca Tutino wrote:
The advantage of external is that if suddenly your PC goes dead, you should still be able to finish that urgent and large project that you must deliver tomorrow, just by plugging it in the usb port of a friend's pc.
You are right, this way you are safe. Provided that you use this HD as your main one, to which you save all documents that you work on. But external drives can fail too, so in my opinion you should have two discs. You can also synchronise them in a real time, and this way you will have this option to go to your friend and finish the document. And what do they say if you have to work overnight?
Piotr
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