How Do You BackUp your System?

fla · 2007-07-25, 09:56 PM

My GBPVR's disk crashed with a terrible knocking sound. Even SpinRite thought it was dead but somehow it came back to life with the free SeaTools. Bought an external disk and made a complete image backup with the free MaxBlast which is a subset of the commercial Acronis True Image. I recommend MaxBlast as an image backup tool for anyone who has a Seagate or old Maxtor drive. When it crashes again, I'll be ready.

SuMo · 2007-07-26, 08:24 PM

Acronis here too.

Daily backups of all mail folders, weekly backup of system drive and MP3 folders, occasional backup of kids movies.
And a cold spare with complete system.

McBainUK · 2007-07-26, 08:49 PM

I've recently acquired an external 160gb HDD (the same size as my main PC's disk). The PC's disk is split into 2 partitons : C (for progs) and D (for data).

I'm trying to think of a good, quick & easy way to back my stuff up. I can copy the data files across but would like a program to then backup only changed files after the initial large copy. Is there such a program (ideally free/cheap)?

Another option would be to regularly image the 2 partitons. Again any suggestions for software to do this?

psycik · 2007-07-26, 08:57 PM

McBainUK Wrote:I've recently acquired an external 160gb HDD (the same size as my main PC's disk). The PC's disk is split into 2 partitons : C (for progs) and D (for data).

I'm trying to think of a good, quick & easy way to back my stuff up. I can copy the data files across but would like a program to then backup only changed files after the initial large copy. Is there such a program (ideally free/cheap)?

Another option would be to regularly image the 2 partitons. Again any suggestions for software to do this?

Acronis Trueimage - version 10.

Full backups, incremental backups and Differential backups. Will manage the backup files can be told 1 full backup every 10 cycles. And works too.

I images my main gbpvr machine, rebuilt it as xp, decided I didn't like the xp, and dropped the MCE image back on the system with no problems.

3 months later thought I'd give that xp image a go again (of course I had backed it up) droppped that on and carried on.

No rebuilds, great!! and i suppose a good recovery test!!

McBainUK · 2007-07-26, 09:02 PM

Sounds like it's just what I need. 2 questions: How big are the images and how long does it take to do a backup?

psycik · 2007-07-26, 09:45 PM

How big is your hard drive? My main system partition is only using about 6 gb.

So the full backup is 1.8 gb And the daily incremental is around 200 mb.

The full would take 15 to 20 minutes,m the incremental I don't know, must be really short.

One one of my other systems, the full is 6 gb and that takes about an hour.

All depends if you're writing to local, network, or dvd directly (in think this one can now) If not it certainly knows how to split the images at 4.7 gb.

If you're using it for you non gbpvr machine (if you have one), I always found splitting my system partition (windows, acronis, nero, office etc) from apps (all my other crap) and Documents and settings.

This means you can have a running system back and going without having affected you documents and settings. Some apps may not work, but your primary ones will.

McBainUK · 2007-07-26, 10:43 PM

I've got a 160GB hard drive with about 3/4 used. This is split between data and apps so if I can just backup the data partition I would be happy. I've just downloaded the trial version of True Image 10, will see if it works for me.

Thanks for the replies Smile

pens18aj · 2007-07-27, 10:58 AM

thought about trying this product. Has anyone tired it?

For $49.95 per year, Carbonite will automatically back up everything on your PC over the Internet. There is nothing to learn, no hardware to buy, and no limit on backup storage. Sign up today and try Carbonite for FREE!
http://www.carbonite.com

dfdario · 2007-07-27, 11:19 AM

I use Acronis too.
I made a full backup of a working XP system with upgrades and basic settings, then I make a full backup at every installation of GBPVR. Once a backup becomes old I delete it to gain disk space.
In the same way I save all useful programs GBPVR related such as skins, plugins (all saved on the same directory of the GBPVR release) and applications as Comskip, Muxers, etc.

fla · 2007-07-27, 12:12 PM

For seagate or maxtor disk owners MaxBlast is a great free version of Acronis. For me, the missing features from the free version are not required.

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