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Backup Solution for Windows XP Pro
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| Bob Hunter 2006-01-06, 5:49 pm |
| Hello,
I am at pains with the problem. It has been years now. The 2006 announces
a plethora of new products, I read the reviews by magazines and they all
give thumbs up, I then read the reviews by those who actually use the
products, and it is a far cry. It is my definite opinion that
magazines, whether
online or onpaper, should be independent, i.e., the review should not be
a paid advertisement hiding behind a the fake mask of "review". I can't
take it anymore. Nero Backitup 2, Norton Ghost 10, and others, all alike.
Could you please recommend me a software that runs on XP-Pro, with
reasonable demands on hardware resources (cpu, ram, DVD, disk, etc),
for incremental or differential backup, that runs every day, that can
tolerate a schedule miss (if the machine is off that day, or at the time
of the scheduled backup, it still works as soon as the machine is up again),
and last, but not least, that when I restore a file, I do find the file.
I know, the last requirement is a bit too much to ask from a windows backup,
but here we are, in Gates's paradise...
Please, I am on my knees.
Bob
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| (PeteCresswell) 2006-01-06, 8:46 pm |
| Per Bob Hunter:
>Could you please recommend me a software that runs on XP-Pro, with
>reasonable demands on hardware resources (cpu, ram, DVD, disk, etc),
>for incremental or differential backup, that runs every day, that can
>tolerate a schedule miss (if the machine is off that day, or at the time
>of the scheduled backup, it still works as soon as the machine is up again),
>and last, but not least, that when I restore a file, I do find the file.
>
>I know, the last requirement is a bit too much to ask from a windows backup,
>but here we are, in Gates's paradise...
I use Retrospect 6.0 for that purpose on my data drive. As stated in another
post, I'm not in love with it - but it's done the job for a few years now and I
trust it. My main gripe is that Dantz is one of the few software publishers
I've patronized that do not issue bug fix releases along the way. Instead, you
live with the glitches until you're ready to pony up for an upgrade to the next
version (and it's inevitable bugs...).
If you expect to be backing up your system, I can't offer up Retrospect for that
because I use TeraByte's "Image" for my system backups.
--
PeteCresswell
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| Spacen Jasset 2006-01-07, 5:48 pm |
| Bob Hunter wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I am at pains with the problem. It has been years now. The 2006 announces
> a plethora of new products, I read the reviews by magazines and they all
> give thumbs up, I then read the reviews by those who actually use the
> products, and it is a far cry. It is my definite opinion that magazines,
> whether
> online or onpaper, should be independent, i.e., the review should not be
> a paid advertisement hiding behind a the fake mask of "review". I can't
> take it anymore. Nero Backitup 2, Norton Ghost 10, and others, all alike.
>
> Could you please recommend me a software that runs on XP-Pro, with
> reasonable demands on hardware resources (cpu, ram, DVD, disk, etc),
> for incremental or differential backup, that runs every day, that can
> tolerate a schedule miss (if the machine is off that day, or at the time
> of the scheduled backup, it still works as soon as the machine is up
> again),
> and last, but not least, that when I restore a file, I do find the file.
>
> I know, the last requirement is a bit too much to ask from a windows
> backup,
> but here we are, in Gates's paradise...
>
> Please, I am on my knees.
>
> Bob
>
I recomend winbackup (uniblue), or nti backup. Both of which are easy to
use and you don't have to click a load of buttons to get the backups to
start like you do with some programs. NTI also do a drive image package,
but I never bother with that sort of thing.
I've heard good things about acronis true image.
Failing all that you can use the built in MS backup software that comes
with Windows XP pro, in combination with deepburner to put the files on
cd (if it will all fit )
| |
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| I use Cobian Backup. It's great, and free.
-Pete
`...............................
The Top 50% pay 96.54% of All Income Taxes
The Top 1% Pay More Than a Third
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| Bob Hunter 2006-01-08, 5:47 pm |
| Thank you for trying. Let me explain a bit further. I do not like tapes,
because they are difficult to store, and get jammed. I have three
disks: one for the programs, one for the data, and the third to
backup the data disk. I need a backup software that I can set
once, and trust is to work whenever the machine is up, and
regardless of who is using it at all (the machine is used by
different people, each one with own account). The backup
should run daily, be incremental or differential, and store the
data in the third disk, which can be used only by me. The
backup itself should consist of a chain of files, and an index.
Each file should be small enough to fit on a dvd, and thus
allow me to burn it by hand. The restore should allow me to
resurrect either the whole data disk, a folder, or a single file
on a location that I can decide on the fly. This must be reliable,
because the particular data are protected by law, a law that
compels me to enforce reliable safeguard. Again the tape
approach is not viable, both because of its overall costs, and
because the magnetic tape is not a sound media in the specific
working environment (high humidity, uneven temperature,
and magnetic fields).
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| Bob Hunter 2006-01-08, 5:47 pm |
| .... last but not least, the backup files need to have a format that
is not proprietary, or, if it is, it must be widely known. Experience
tells that old backups are lost, because either the tape is jammed
or the original software no longer runs. The format, zip or otherwise,
must sustain up to 4.5 GB of data, and include error correction codes.
If I could, I would put either a linux or mac system running BRU, just
for the backup, but this option is presently impossible. It must all
run on the same XP Pro system.
Bob
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| (PeteCresswell) 2006-01-08, 5:47 pm |
| Per Bob Hunter:
>... last but not least, the backup files need to have a format that
>is not proprietary, or, if it is, it must be widely known.
I'd say that's the show-stopper form most backup utilities.
--
PeteCresswell
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| DevDude 2006-01-13, 9:27 pm |
| Bob,
Backup Exec for Windows is a reliable backup product that uses a widly known
and accepted tape format. Its been used for years for both our Windows
integrated backup (NTBackup) that is included with many of the MS Windows
releases including XPPro.
Backup Exec will install on XP Pro and backup your data based on any
schedule that you specify. If the machine is turned off during a scheduled
run, the next time you start the system, it will run as soon as services
come online and reschedule for the next occurrence.
In addition, Backup Exec versions 9 and above support backing up to a disk
or tape.
You can download a free evaluation of the product from
http://www.backupexec.com and try it free for 60 days. If you like it just
purchase a serial number and it will activate it without reinstalling.
Thanks
Nick
"Bob Hunter" <catdogsbeloved@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:dpmgj5$1gp$1@domitilla.aioe.org...
> Hello,
>
> I am at pains with the problem. It has been years now. The 2006 announces
> a plethora of new products, I read the reviews by magazines and they all
> give thumbs up, I then read the reviews by those who actually use the
> products, and it is a far cry. It is my definite opinion that magazines,
> whether
> online or onpaper, should be independent, i.e., the review should not be
> a paid advertisement hiding behind a the fake mask of "review". I can't
> take it anymore. Nero Backitup 2, Norton Ghost 10, and others, all alike.
>
> Could you please recommend me a software that runs on XP-Pro, with
> reasonable demands on hardware resources (cpu, ram, DVD, disk, etc),
> for incremental or differential backup, that runs every day, that can
> tolerate a schedule miss (if the machine is off that day, or at the time
> of the scheduled backup, it still works as soon as the machine is up
> again),
> and last, but not least, that when I restore a file, I do find the file.
>
> I know, the last requirement is a bit too much to ask from a windows
> backup,
> but here we are, in Gates's paradise...
>
> Please, I am on my knees.
>
> Bob
>
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| (PeteCresswell) 2006-01-13, 9:27 pm |
| Per DevDude:
> Backup Exec versions 9 and above
Can you search the backup set and have it return a list of all versions of a
given file - and then pick/choose which version to restore?
--
PeteCresswell
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| Toshi1873 2006-01-13, 9:27 pm |
| How much data are you generating daily?
The simplest method for backups is Second Copy 2000. At the most basic
level, it's merely a mirroring tool which allows you to schedule copies
from your data disk to your backup disk. The files on the destination
drive are stored as individual files in a directory structure that
mirrors the source structure. In addition, you can tell it to keep
older revisions in a 2nd location (and you can specify how many
revisions you want to keep). For example:
D:\Data -> E:\Active\Data with older revisions in E:\Older\Data
The downsides: The PC has to be turned on and logged in in order for SC
to run (this does not run as a service). It also won't handle open
files and it doesn't do disk imaging (for snapshots of the operating
system disk).
But for workstation backup of things like a My Documents folder it works
extremely well and doesn't use any proprietary formats. Combine that
with multiple removable hard drives (or USB/firewire external drives)
that you swap out on a weekly basis to offsite storage.
For imaging the hard drive's operating system, I prefer either Acronis
or Ghost or Knoppix+NTFSClone. I generally snapshot my OS disk on a
monthly or quarterly basis. The idea being that if the OS drive goes, I
install a new one, restore the image, then restore data from my backup
drive.
| |
| DevDude 2006-01-13, 9:27 pm |
| Backup Exec does provide the ability to search the catalogs and see a list
of files that match a given search criteria. From that list you can select
the files you want restored.
Nick
"(PeteCresswell)" <x@y.Invalid> wrote in message
news:k7d7s19b5df276lk1mk82b1i9s0hfi87k4@
4ax.com...
> Per DevDude:
>
> Can you search the backup set and have it return a list of all versions of
> a
> given file - and then pick/choose which version to restore?
> --
> PeteCresswell
| |
| petesouthwest@hotmail.com 2006-01-14, 5:47 pm |
| Hi
I'm in the process of choosing between Dantz retrospect 7 and VCom's
Autosave.
I'm not sure they offer everything you want, but they do run with low
system overheads and offer a continuous backup of new and changed
files.
IMHO both appear to have slightly confusing manuals and interfaces. I
feel backing up and restoring a file should be a fairly simple task for
a user but both confuse me a little in their operation. Tested
autosave, and could restore any version of a file i wanted, without
reading the manual. VCom's tech services have been very helpfull and
replied within 24Hr. But from my understanding it doesnt appear to
backup program file directories, or any windows directories. Retrospect
7 says it does backup everything, but the manual seems long winded. Did
try and restore a file today, but didnt seem to work as i expected and
i ran out of time. Need to read the manual again....
Just some thoughts from someone going through a similair process to
yourself!
Pete
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| Bob Hunter 2006-01-15, 5:47 pm |
| Hello,
I tried the utility at http://www.genie-soft.com/. They say the new version 7
has been thoroughly tested, and will be available soon. I tried version 6,
and the resulting backup is plain first class. It is true that I spent a lot of
time in the process, but the result it exactly what I wanted. I suggested
improvements, and they replied in 24h with positive feedback. I am
extremely well impressed by this company. I shall use version 6 for the
time being.
Bob
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| Bob Hunter 2006-01-16, 7:46 am |
| .... the multi-volume DVD incremental backup of Genie Backup has
password protection,
encryption, and the restore software is burned in the DVD together with
the index. This
means that it is a stand alone backup that runs on any machine. If the
original machine
broke down, the stand alone backup is ready to run on a different
machine, with no need
to have specialised backup hardware or software. It also uses zip,
which means that -any-
machine can read the files, i.e., you can still restore on mac, sun,
etc, with no need to run
the restore program. Further, unlike magnetic tapes, DVDs do not
require expensive
hardware, and the media is safe from magnetic fields too. This is
really a next-generation
backup that frees from the expensive strings of other solutions.
Bob
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