HD backup

[redvette]

Hi all you smart people.

Just bought a 250GB WD external HD, brand new never been used/connected. Still in the cellophane. Question is, I have two HD's on my system, 2 120Gb Wd HD's. One that is my main has my XP on it plus all the other important things. It is at 88% free. and the other HD does not have an operating system on it just some files and folders I have that are important but wanted to keep them away from my main system.

I have the XP backup enabled too. So any suggestions as to what would be the best way to back up both HD's.? One system my main is a NTFS, and the other one is FAT32. Is there going to be any problem with saving all the info from both drives. I plan on setting it up so at least once a month or so it will do a backup, do you think this is often enough.

This is on a computer that does the normal as far as research, browsing, e-mailing, etc. I just don'r want to be caught with my pants down, and I get the blasted screen of death.

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

[Panama Red]

Use the WD software to clone the drive with the operating system to the new drive first. You can download the software for free from WD. Then install the new drive as the boot drive and install the documents drive as a slave. Copy the docs to the new drive. You may even want to partition the new one to allow you to keep the docs separate from the XP partition.

[Kareeser]

If you're planning on backing up with 120 GB Hard drives to the 250 GB Hard drive, then it may be possible (and more organized) to partition the new hard drive into two partitions 120 GB each, each with their own file system, NTFS and FAT32.

I believe you can use a program such as Acronis True Image for incremental backups.

Edit: Darn darn darn, beaten by a pro.

[Panama Red]

Darn darn darn, beaten by a pro.

Naw, just semi-pro.;) I have a real job too.:D

[redvette]

6093

Here is what I get when I right click on the External drive to view what I have on it, how do you open some thing like this.?? Or do you have to assume that it copied everything you wanted to save. Is this so you cannot open it unless you need to actually do a save.


Thanks Gunny

[glc]

That's a file created by the builtin Microsoft Backup. It can only be opened by Backup. I do not recommend you do it this way. The WD external drive should have come with backup software - probably Dantz Retrospect. Install it in Windows and use that.

No need to have separate partitions, clones, NTFS/FAT32 splits. Just format the whole external drive NTFS and let the Dantz software do its thing.

[redvette]

Hi GLC

No can do, no software for this Mod.

Thanks...............Gunny

[glc]

Okay - then without buying anything, just use windows backup. Be mindful what you name the files so you know what they are. The external MUST be NTFS if the backup file exceeds 4 gigs in size.

If you want to buy something good, get Acronis True Image.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16832200204

[redvette]

Hi GLC

Ok say I buy the Acronis, what do I do with what is saved on the external now, erase it, or what.? Reformate it, what.?

Thanks............Gunny

[glc]

Whatever you want to do with it. It doesn't matter.