Backing Up My Computer

A short link for this page is: http://simplycomputers.davidron.com/BackingUpMyComputer

Backing up is the most effective way to ensure that you can recover your data in case of a failure. There are two main ways to backup your data: Cloning and Copying. A drive image takes an exact snapshot of your system, bit for bit, and saves it to a file. A copy takes a copy of each file and saves that copy elsewhere.

Drive Cloning

Drive cloning is the best way to take an exact snapshot of your entire system. Every piece of a partition is duplicated bit-for-bit. This is often called "ghosting" or "imaging" a drive. A good description of cloning can be found here.

Drive Cloning Software

• Norton Ghost - For XP and Vista. A 15 day trial is available, retail $70.
• Acronis Trueimage - For 2000 Pro SP 4, XP SP 2, XP Pro x64, and Vista. Limited function trial version, retail $50
• Acronis/MaxBlast 5 - FREE - Named Maxblast5 but it is an OEM version of Acronis True Image 10. Clone a hard drive, Create an image backup of an entire disk or its partitions, and Explore and/or Mount saved images. For use with Seagate or Maxtor hard drives, no serial number needed.
• Acronis/Seagate Disk Wizard - FREE - Lets you create image backups of all the data on your computer, entire disks, or individual partitions. Available options are: Clone a hard drive, Create an image backup of an entire disk or its partitions, and Explore and/or Mount saved images. Windows 2000 Pro SP 4, XP SP 2, XP Pro x64, Vista.
• DriveImage XML - FREE- An easy to use and reliable program for imaging and backing up partitions and logical drives. Images are stored in XML files, allowing you to process them with 3rd party tools. Backup logical drives and partitions to image files. Browse these images, view and extract files. Restore these images to the same or a different drive. Copy directly from drive to drive. Schedule automatic backups with your Task Scheduler.
• EASEUS Todo Backup - FREE - Backup/imaging software providing system backup & restore, hard disk or partition backup & restore, disk clone to protect your system and disk.
• Macrium Reflect - FREE disk imaging software for XP and Vista, with a Bart PE plugin and Linux based recovery options. This free version makes full partition backups, not incrementals. Image to Network, USB, Fire Wire drives and DVD. Built in scheduler. 32 bit and 64 bit versions. Only 6.5MB in size. Built in CD/DVD packet writing engine. Supports packet writing to DVD DL media with Windows Vista. The developer claims it is "The fastest disk imaging software".
• Paragon Drive Backup 9.0 Express - FREE - Complete Backup - Create an exact copy of your PC including the operating system, applications, user settings and all data.
• Knoppix - This is completely free and a bit more difficult than the paid programs. There are several ways to go about imaging a drive using knoppix.
  • Some command line methods are listed here.
  • Partimage - included in Knoppix. You run knoppix on two computers on a network where one is a server (the one to be backed up to), and the other is the client (the one to back up).
• Using DD to clone a HD - "... requires no expensive proprietary software, and provides a fun excuse to learn interesting stuff." Full article can be found here: http://www.mckeay.net/?s=Using+DD+to+clone+a+HD&submit=Go
• XXCLONE - XXCLONE makes a self-bootable clone of Windows system disks. Supports all 32-bit Windows (95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP). Can restore the self-bootability in many cases. Supports common internal disk drives (IDE, SATA, SCSI). Supports external USB/FIREWIRE drives. XXCLONE Freeware Package is for personal use only.

Copying Data

This is often known as a normal backup. Several programs allow you to copy and backup data. Some methods compress all of the data on a hard drive into a single smaller file. Other programs retain the structure of the data on the backup disk. Many techs believe that leaving the files uncompressed is better because single files can be located and easily restored.

Methods To Backup Data

• Microsoft Backup - Relatively easy to use, and comes with Windows at no additional cost.
• Back4Win - Free
• Back It Up! - Free
• Cobian Backup - Free
• Comodo Backup - Free - XP, Vista, Win7. File and folder duplication to local/network drives and FTP servers; backup synchronization; e-mail reporting; extensive history logs; advanced rule-based filtering; encryption and password protection, flexible scheduling of backups; space-saving archiving capabilities and more.
• Karen's Replicator - Free - Automatically backup files, directories, even entire drives!
• backup_to_email - Free - backup your files to your email account, such as Gmail, which holds oodles of bytes!