System backup

[redvette]

Hi Gang

I use to have a option under system tools called Windows back up. It is no longer there. Is there a way to get it back there.? I am wanting to back up my system. I have Acronis but don't care for it so thought I would try the Windows back up.

Thanks and take care.......Gunny

[TwoRails]

I have Acronis installed (and also don't like it) so I checked: my Windows Backup is still there, suggesting that Acronis doesn't disable it. A simple fix might be to go to Add / Remove programs and see if it's still there. If so, it might have a 'fix' option. If not, just reinstall it.

[glc]

Acronis is a lot better than Windows backup. If you really want Windows Backup:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302894

[Petef56]

Originally Posted by glc Acronis is a lot better than Windows backup.

I agree that Acronis is better but I'm also wondering what people don't like about Acronis.
One thing about Acronis is that at first glance it's not clear how to use it. So maybe if
we can find out what people don't like about Acronis, we can offer some instruction
on how to use it more effectively.

I'll begin by saying, you can schedule Acronis to backup your entre system automatically.
If you ever need to restore the complete system you boot to an Acronis boot disk and
restore from there. If you ever need to retore a particular file, you run Acronis from
Windows and do what's called "mount" the backup image, which enables you to
view and selectively restore individual files.

If Windows Backup is better than Acronis in any way, I'm open to hearing about
that too.

---pete---

[TwoRails]

Originally Posted by Petef56 I agree that Acronis is better but I'm also wondering what people don't like about Acronis. One thing about Acronis is that at first glance it's not clear how to use it. So maybe if we can find out what people don't like about Acronis, we can offer some instruction on how to use it more effectively. ...

Thanks for the offer of assistance, Petef56, but "using it" is not the problem for some, as it is very easy to use. Getting it to work without problem was the issue for me, along with getting it to restore any data. I worked with their tech support over a long time to no avail, but I do give them high credit for their willingness to assist and their efforts.

[redvette]

Hi

The only one I have seen that I like is retrospect. It lets you see each and every thing you have on your HD, and what you have on your backup. Acronis is like you have to look into a crystal ball to see and try and figure out what you have. I like things spelled out in plain English, not what some guy sitting behind a desk that knows it inside and out, thinks it should be.

To each his own in the likes and dislikes. That is what makes the world go around and so many different Co's rich. ha ha ha ha

Sorry GLC I have to disagree with you for the first time. I possibly will dislike Windows backup too, so I will see. I don't think there are very many back up systems programs out there, seems they are mostly aimed at large Co's. Nothing too much for the plain old e-mailer, home computer user.

Thanks and take care.........Gunny

[redvette]

Hi Pete

I am not saying windows back up is any better then Acronis, by no means. And if you go by the paying version is better then any freebie I will buy that too.

But like you said in your post, there are tricks you need to learn to use Acronis, I don't like tricks when I pay for a version. If it is free then you get what you pay for and cannot bitch if you need some tricks to make it work right or how you want it to. Maybe I am wrong in thinking this way. But I have seen the Retrospect system and it has Acronis beat in most of the dummy use of it, you don't have to be a computer expert to use it. True it is more expensive then Acronis, so I guess you get what you pay for here.

This is just my opinion, I know every one has one.

Thanks and take care........Gunny

[TwoRails]

Have you looked at Syncback, redvette?

http://www.2brightsparks.com/syncback/syncback-hub.html

They have a free version to try:

http://www.2brightsparks.com/downloads.html

(you have to scroll down, it's easy to miss)

[glc]

I've used "traditional" backup programs for years (example - Backup Exec) - and to ME, the Acronis imaging system is a LOT easier. Trying to do a bare metal restore with Backup Exec or any other file-based backup system is very difficult, if even possible. Mounting an image with Acronis for a selective restore is a piece of cake - no more difficult than setting up a file-based program for a selective restore.

Windows Backup is based on Backup Exec, by the way. I've tried to work with the light version of Retrospect that ships with Maxtor external hard drives and it's no better than Backup Exec in my experience.

[Petef56]

Originally Posted by TwoRails Thanks for the offer of assistance, Petef56, but "using it" is not the problem for some, as it is very easy to use. Getting it to work without problem was the issue for me, along with getting it to restore any data. I worked with their tech support over a long time to no avail, but I do give them high credit for their willingness to assist and their efforts.

ok, I hear what you are saying and I guess that leaves you
with no choice but to abandon Acronis.

Just FYI: I've used Acronis on many PCs sucessfully but the main way I use it is to
boot from the Acronis CD, create a secure zone on the same HD, and backup to the
secure zone. To restore, I boot to the same Acronis CD and restore. I've been
successful on many different PCs but his method is not for routine scheduled backups.

---pete---

[TwoRails]

Lots of folks here love Acronis, which is why I gave it a try. I've even recommended it myself, but personally I'll stick with Ghost. Acronis, for me, only cloned without problems 1/2 of the times I tried and I was never able to do a restore of any kind: I would always get error messages like not an Acronis file or Corrupt file even though I just made the backup minutes prior.