Need freeware backup software reccomendations

[David M]

I am looking for some freeware backup software. Any recommendations?

I looked at Microsoft Vistas built in backup software and it does not backup the OS, system files and most importantly, programs.. (what else is left to backup?) Is Microsoft kidding? I need to backup everything on my hard drive. Whats most important are my games, pictures and my music.

Would it make more sense to get software that makes an exact image of my hard drive and uses that as my backup?

[Rick Hall]

Windows Vista will backup your entire computer, OS and everything else.

[pam123]

Synctoy is what I use to backup my Media drive ( For 'C' it's still Apricorn imaging. ) and I have blessed it daily since I learned of it from Alaron it : http://blogs.msdn.com/sync/archive/2...onization.aspx

Note that it's incremental, something I can't praise too highly, and it's also free.

[David M]

Originally Posted by Rick Hall Windows Vista will backup your entire computer, OS and everything else.

From what I read it says it will not back up the OS and software. I'm not clear on the difference between what you are saying and what I am reading. Go to Start/All Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Backup Status and Configuration. Then click on "What file types are not included in the backup?"

This is what it says it will not back up...

The Back Up Files wizard backs up the most common file types. The following files are not included:

System files (the files that Windows needs to run)

Program files.

Files stored on hard disks that are formatted using the FAT file system

Web-based e-mail that is not stored on your hard disk

Files that are in the Recycle Bin

Temporary files

User profile settings

Originally Posted by pam123 Synctoy is what I use to backup my Media drive ( For 'C' it's still Apricorn imaging. ) and I have blessed it daily since I learned of it from Alaron it : http://blogs.msdn.com/sync/archive/2...onization.aspx Note that it's incremental, something I can't praise too highly, and it's also free.

Pam,
Will this software make an exact duplicate of what is on my hard drive now? My thoughts are to buy a 750Gig drive (My C: drive currently holds 533 Gigs of data) and make an exact copy of what is on my C drive now and then to back it up once every week or two. This way if I get a virus that does severe damage or if the HD crashes, then all I would have to do is pop in the backup drive as my new C: drive and start the computer right up. I'm thinking that normally my backup C: drive would not even be connected to the SATA port except for when I am copying my present C drive.

Is this idea possible and practical?

I read what SyncToy does and unfortunately my technical knowledge is so limited that I did not understand much of what it was describing. I seriously doubt I would be able to use it if my C drive crashed or was severely corrupted.

I think I just need something which makes an exact duplicate of my HD so I can pop my duplicate HD into SATA 1 port, boot it up and have my computer back to how it was. My backup drive might be a week or two old but that's better than losing everything. Or backing it up with something that would not know how to use in order to restore what was lost or corrupted. I do appreciate the suggestion though.

What does incremental mean pertaining to a backup software?

[kilgoretrout]

Here's another free imaging application, Macrium Reflect:

http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.asp

Incremental backups means that after doing a full system backup of all files on your system, the next time you run your backup software, only those files that have changed since your last backup are backed up. It saves time and disk space but usually makes restoration from your backups more complicated.

[glc]

Cough up the 40 bucks and get Acronis True Image.

[Rick Hall]

You need Vista Ultimate or Business to be able to do a complete system backup (including the OS)

[pam123]

Get Acronis and clone your 'C' drive, that is duplicate the whole thing, on a regular schedule
That way you'll always have a replacement copy on hand.

[XenaWP]

If your drive is a Seagate, Seagate's Disc Wizard is a modified version of Acronis. I use it weekly to make an image of my HDD.

[David M]

Thanks very much everyone! I like both the Seagate Disk Wizard (my C: drive is a Seagate) and the Acronis recommendations. That's what I was looking for, just to be able to pop a backup drive in and have everything back to normal in five minutes. Just a simple matter of a drive swap.

[David M]

Followup...

I received my new backup hard drive and Acronis backup software from Amazon. I cloned the new hard drive from my C: drive. I tested it by disconnecting my C: drive and plugging in my cloned drive. My computer booted up perfect with the cloned drive.

I then disconnected my cloned drives power and SATA connector knowing its tucked away safe inside my computers drive bay waiting for that rainy day. I plan on cloning it again perhaps once a month. With almost 600 gigs of data to back up, the cloning process took about 3 hours.

Thanks everyone, especially GLC who told me to shovel out the dough and buy Acronis.

Its worth the $150 for the HD and software to know all my data is pretty safe now....and all I have to do is plug in the cloned drive and my computer is back to normal in a couple minutes. This is very cool!!