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    Backup Software

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by ccbr01, Aug 16, 2005.

  1. ccbr01

    ccbr01 Matlab powerhouse! NBR Reviewer

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    Hey y'all, I wanted to know what kind of backup software you use. I use Norton Ghost on my desktop, I don't know what to use for my notebook.

    Thanks,
    ccbr01
     
    ccbr01, Aug 16, 2005
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  2. Anubis

    Anubis Notebook Consultant

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    Have you looked into Acronis True Image? It costs about the same as Ghost but it's quite a bit faster and doesn't eat up as much system resources. It also supports the same variety of media as well as some additional tools that Ghost doesn't include. You could always just use CDs or DVDs if you just want to backup personal files but thats about all that would be good for, small backups.
     
    Anubis, Aug 16, 2005
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  3. mtrivs

    mtrivs Notebook Evangelist

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    I have used a wide array of backup programs, and i have to say the nero backitup app that comes with nero reloaded is pretty good.
     
    mtrivs, Aug 16, 2005
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  4. Anubis

    Anubis Notebook Consultant

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    I haven't used Nero's but I really like some of their other software.
     
    Anubis, Aug 16, 2005
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  5. Amber

    Amber Notebook Prophet NBR Reviewer

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    I haven't tried Ghost or Acronis so I can't tell you about either of those, but I can say that Nero is pretty good. I used it the other day, and was able to restore protective MP3's without any problem. I think it works better if you have a dvd burner...
     
    Amber, Aug 16, 2005
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  6. Venombite

    Venombite Notebook Virtuoso

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    Ive never used Nero's backup program, but I have used both Acronis and Ghost.

    Ghost
    - can create images of HDD and store/restore from CD/DVD
    - fast and reliable
    - very easy to use
    - backing up from within Windows is a bit iffy (when I tried)

    Acronis True Image
    - works just as well as Ghost
    - Can't be transfered to CD/DVD to be restored, must be done from a local HDD (at least the version I tested, v7 or v8, can't remember)
    - Incapable of enlarging an image to fit the entire HDD (if image is only 6GB, but is restored onto a 20GB HDD, you'd expect the image to expand its partition to encompass the entore 20GB, but it doesn't. It'll restore the 6GB partition and leave the rest unpartitioned)

    For the last 2 point of Acronis, I'd stick with Ghost. It can be transfered/spanned onto CD/DVD and used to restore like your own bootable restore cd/dvd (must make it bootable). Plus, it will auto expand to utilize all the space on your HDD if you choose, therefore you can have 1 large partition or multiple partitions (depends on what options you choose when restoring). Also, it's faster than Acronis.

    -Vb-
     
    Venombite, Aug 17, 2005
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  7. ZaZ

    ZaZ Super Model Super Moderator

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    I have version eight of TrueImage. I can be restored off of a disc or external. One issue with discs is that if the file is over 2GB you have to burn the disc in UDF format which True Image cannot read.
     
    ZaZ, Aug 17, 2005
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  8. talkin73

    talkin73 Notebook Guru

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    Thought I'd light up this thread again because I'm interested as well. I've looked at this:

    http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=31711

    But, I'm also considering software that will do the following:

    1. backup daily or weekly from my internal HD to an external HD
    2. create bootable backups so that if my internal HD fails, I can simply boot from the external drive
    3. allow me to restore from the external drive to the internal drive afte repairing/replacing/whatever; or allow me to boot from a system CD and then connect to the external HD and restore from that
    4. not interested in compressed backups, just a stable/bootable backup
    5. won't slow down my day to day system use or boot ups

    Anything fit the bill?
     
    talkin73, Nov 21, 2005
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