Backup Storage Question

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Gordon Biggar

In the correspondence from a couple of days ago, backing up files to an
external hard drive was discussed. I have a used a Maxtor (since acquired,
I believe) drive for some time. Recently, I used its backup software
(instead of Backup Now software by NewTech Infosystems, which I have been
using), as an experiment. The positive is that the files backed up can
easily be extracted with the help of Windows Explorer (without having to use
someone's particular software); the negative is that it will not back up the
WINNT folder, even when selected.

Are the hard drive manufacturers afraid of being accused of piracy, or is
(was) this unique to Maxtor?

I have learned from experimentation that the BackupNow software will
overwrite newer files on a hard drive, even when one has selected the option
to restore only those backed up files with a newer time stamp. I have
brought this to the company's attention, but they tell me that other
customers have not complained about this. In other words, "Go away."

Whose backup software have regulars on this forum found to be reliable?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts expressed.

Gordon Biggar
Houston, Texas
 
Gordon Biggar said:
In the correspondence from a couple of days ago, backing up files to an
external hard drive was discussed. I have a used a Maxtor (since
acquired,
I believe) drive for some time. Recently, I used its backup software
(instead of Backup Now software by NewTech Infosystems, which I have been
using), as an experiment. The positive is that the files backed up can
easily be extracted with the help of Windows Explorer (without having to
use
someone's particular software); the negative is that it will not back up
the
WINNT folder, even when selected.

Are the hard drive manufacturers afraid of being accused of piracy, or is
(was) this unique to Maxtor?

I have learned from experimentation that the BackupNow software will
overwrite newer files on a hard drive, even when one has selected the
option
to restore only those backed up files with a newer time stamp. I have
brought this to the company's attention, but they tell me that other
customers have not complained about this. In other words, "Go away."

Whose backup software have regulars on this forum found to be reliable?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts expressed.

Gordon Biggar
Houston, Texas
Click to expand...

There are many programs that will back up the lot, including the WinNT
folder. Have a look at the Acronis set of backup tools.

My personal preference is based on a different approach. My machines all
have a split disk: Drive C: is used for Windows and for the various
applications, drive D: is reserved for my data. I create an image of drive
C: once every few months and I would use it in case Windows suffered some
irrepairable damage. The data on drive D I back up weekly with a tailor-made
batch file. This lets me restore any file individually and it the
restoration process automatically warns me before overwriting a file.
 
There are many programs that will back up the lot, including the WinNT
folder. Have a look at the Acronis set of backup tools.

My personal preference is based on a different approach. My machines
all have a split disk: Drive C: is used for Windows and for the
various applications, drive D: is reserved for my data. I create an
image of drive C: once every few months and I would use it in case
Windows suffered some irrepairable damage. The data on drive D I back
up weekly with a tailor-made batch file. This lets me restore any file
individually and it the restoration process automatically warns me
before overwriting a file.
Click to expand...
I have the same partition arrangement you have. Except all my
applications are non-MS and with few exceptions my applications are also
on the D partition.

Could you publish your batch file parameters?

ms
 
ms said:
I have the same partition arrangement you have. Except all my
applications are non-MS and with few exceptions my applications are also
on the D partition.

Could you publish your batch file parameters?

ms
Click to expand...

I use robocopy.exe
(http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...69-57FF-4AE7-96EE-B18C4790CFFD&displaylang=en)
with a few switches to enforce this behaviour:
- Copy only new or changed files
- Copy full directory trees
- Exclude certain folders (e.g. System Volume Information)
- Exclude certain files (e.g. .tmp and .dmp files)
- Copy hidden files
- Continue when errors occur
- Send me a report of the log summary
 
Gordon said:
Whose backup software have regulars on this forum found to be reliable?
Click to expand...

For full partition backup, I use Symantec Ghost (8.3) and since I
distrust any software that purports to backup Windows from within
Windows (nor do I have any need to) I do it from a Ghost startup boot
disc. This can be floppy based but I found it more convenient to put it
on a bootable mini-cd along with several other utilities such as
Partition Magic, HD test utilities etc. There's plenty of room for a
whole host of programs and it's smaller than a floppy.

Using Ghost from within Windows, individual files from any backup can be
accessed/extracted.

A number of people here have had success using Acronis. I personally had
problems with that software. However, at the time, I was using it to
back up across the network and I think it was that part of it that was
the source of my problem. Locally it's probably fine

I backup data to an alternative partition or machine on a daily basis
automatically using SyncBack
 
I use robocopy.exe
(http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=9D467A69-57FF
-4AE7-96EE-B18C4790CFFD&displaylang=en) with a few switches to enforce
this behaviour: - Copy only new or changed files
- Copy full directory trees
- Exclude certain folders (e.g. System Volume Information)
- Exclude certain files (e.g. .tmp and .dmp files)
- Copy hidden files
- Continue when errors occur
- Send me a report of the log summary
Click to expand...
Thanks, I have robocopy so will try it out.

ms
 
This forum continues to impress me with the depth of knowledge expounded.
Thanks very much for the inputs!

Gordon Biggar
 
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