Backing up with XP

[Moth]

Hi guys. I've been trying to backup my computer using Backup in WinXP. I'm able to create a backup of the System State, but I always get errors when I try to back up the C drive (even immeadiately after a fresh install of windows, with nothing else on the drive).

I'm wondering, if I simply made a copy of C drive, and kept it safe (along with my System State backup) on another drive, would I be covered? That is, in the event of a serious snafu, could I simply replace C with the copy, use Backup to replace the System State, and have everything back the way it was?

[Omletteboy]

Best bet is to use Norton Ghost and get an image of your C: Use high compression and burn it to a CD.

There is also the system restore in XP which can rollback your last change if something goes wacky.

[Moth]

Thanks Omletteboy. Yeah, I do use System Restore, but I don't trust it all that much (sometimes hasn't worked in the past). I'm really looking for a way to backup ...well...everything, as I've put a lot of hours into installing programs, tweaking and customizing my system, looks, settings, etc.

Yes, I do have Norton Ghost - will that accomplish it all? - system state, registry, etc.? I also have Roxio Goback.

[DuNgA]

I'm using Roxio Goback as my backup tool. No problems so far and i'm happy with it. Its compresses data much more than Ghost do. I guess it goes down to personal preference.

Which reminds me. How do you actually see the image file for Goback. Maybe i should post my question in the gerneral software forum.

[morriswindgate]

Go back eats resources, Ghost is archaic in it's design, and Drive Image is now owned by Symantec so it will go down the hill.
The best, IMHO, Imaging/Backup program out there is Acronis True Image. Not only does it work within Windows, it has features like crazy that comes in handy and the learning curve is short and easy.

Automated backup and restore with easy to use wizard-driven interface
Transparently create the live system disk image for complete backup
Create and restore disk images in Windows — no need to reboot to DOS, even when backing up the system partition
Restore the entire original disk drive's contents
Mount the disk image as a virtual disk drive and restore individual files and folders
NEW! Schedule automated backups
NEW! Create incremental disk images
NEW! Built-in disk image verification tool
NEW! Clone and upgrade disk drives
NEW! View backup logs

http://www.acronis.com/products/trueimage/

User Manual

http://www.acronis.com/pdf/trueimage7.0_ug.en.pdf

I once used Ghost,but then I needed an easy program to put on computers I sold. So I then went to Drive Image, which I have used for about three years. Unfortunately, the people who are buying my computers are getting dumber, so some of them cannot even understand the terms Image, Restore, Source, or Target. So I went looking for a new and easier program to sell with the computers. I found True Image ($39.99) and put it on my own machine. It works great and has what Ghost, Drive Image or Go Back lack and none of the drawbacks.

[AzCoastie]

I use a simple program called No Hands Backup. It'll make an exact copy of what ever drive, folder, or file you tell it to. Also, it doesn't compress these files into one file like NTBackup does, it simply makes a copy and puts it where you tell it to. Best of all, it's free to try for 30 days and only $17US to buy.

I use it to backup "My Documents". Not worried about the rest of the system because I have all my other software on the Original CDs and I can easily reinstall the programs if my HDD goes bad.