Backup

[Badger]

Dumb backup question alert!

I've bought a external HDD with Nero BackitUp 2. If I select everything on the C:\ drive does that give me a complete backup including the registry etc? I.e. would I be able to restore the backup onto a new hard disk if this one fails, giving me a clone of my operating system and applications?

Edit: The HDD is formatted to FAT32, would it be beneficial to re-format this to NTFS before backing up anything to it first?

Thanks

[Platypus]

I don't know that software, but a backup taken while windows in running won't be a true "clone" because Windows locks certain files so they cannot be copied (such as PageFile.sys).

I use Acronis TruImage which does clone the C: drive - it runs outside of Windows (you ask it to backup, it reboots the PC and clones the disk before windows reboots, thereby giving a true clone).

The question you have to ask yourself is how would you restore the clone? In my case I have 2 identical drives C: and D: and clone from C: to D: so if C: breaks then I just swap the disks over and I'm back up and running in minutes.

Before this I used Veritas, and when I did need to do a complete restore, I had to re-install Windows on a new disk and re-install the Veritas software so that I could then restore.

Perhaps the Nero software offers a "bare metal restore" feature in which case you will (probably) be ok.

I'd suggest reading the documentation thoroughly to ensure it will meet your needs if the worst happens and the C: drive fails.

HTH

[VectraMan]

There's a thing called ShadowProtect I was evaluating and will buy when I get round to it that manages to do a full image of your hard disk without shutting down the system. And they say it'll do a full bare metal restore from a CD boot, including read the backup data from a NAS, but unfortunately you don't get to try that with the eval version.

It has a couple of other very nice features too: you can mount your backups as a hard disk, and also convert backup files into a VMWare VM. Which means you could boot up a VM containing your PC as it was 3 months ago to see what you'd screwed up. I wish I'd thought of developing something like that.

I was impressed anyway.

Whatever you do make sure you test it out. I've been using some Memeo software that came with my NAS, and did a test restore and found a load of files were corrupt for no reason.

[NickFitz]

I've usually used Norton Ghost in the past - it creates a true image of the drive, as opposed to merely backing up files, and a drive image is what you need to be able to get a bootable disk from the backup.

However it's been quite a while since I've used a Windows machine much at home, so the advice of others above and below this post may be of greater value.

Still, I've never regretted the money spent on Ghost.

BTW, Nero BackItUp currently seems to be on version 4 - this doesn't mean that there's anything wrong with version 2, but it might be worth checking if you're entitled to a free upgrade to a more recent version. Be warned, however, that their web site has some really irritating Flash garbage at the top of the page: http://www.nero.com/eng/index.html

[Platypus]

I've usually used Norton Ghost in the past - it creates a true image of the drive, as opposed to merely backing up files, and a drive image is what you need to be able to get a bootable disk from the backup.

I gave up on Ghost and switched to Acronis. It's a shame but the Ghost software (last version I saw) running under Windows was awful and broken.

BTW, Nero BackItUp currently seems to be on version 4 - this doesn't mean that there's anything wrong with version 2, but it might be worth checking if you're entitled to a free upgrade to a more recent version.

I'm assuming the v2 (old version) software was free with the drive, so do check about an upgrade but my guess is you'll have to pay.

[HeliCraig]

I gave up on Ghost and switched to Acronis. It's a shame but the Ghost software (last version I saw) running under Windows was awful and broken.

I too used to use Ghost extensively; but like most Norton products it has slowly turned into nothing more than bloatware.

Haven't use Acronis, but PC Pro rave about it. As I have call to use such a thing later this week I shall be "acquiring" a copy of Acronis to evaluate.

[Badger]

Thanks for the responses, I'll check out the upgrade path and also look at Acronis.

Cheers

[Durbs]

+1 for Acronis, its a great product.

[Ardesco]

Partimage is fairly good and totally free:

http://www.partimage.org/Main_Page

[TykeMerc]

I too used to use Ghost extensively; but like most Norton products it has slowly turned into nothing more than bloatware.

Haven't use Acronis, but PC Pro rave about it. As I have call to use such a thing later this week I shall be "acquiring" a copy of Acronis to evaluate.

It's tragic that Ghost has died, it was a great tool. Mind you Norton tools used to be the undoubted best before he sold his software and now Nortons name is mud with most IT people