Full Backup

[J.T]

I have a 500gb External Hard Drive that only has Music loaded ATM but I think I should start making a full backup of (C), My PC has two 500gb Hard Drives and (C) on Drive 0 is 100gb anyway should I use Windows backup or a downloaded program ?, appreciate any advice - Thanks

 

[catilley1092]

Macrium Reflect is an excellent program, easy to use, and much faster than the Windows backup is.

It can be found at:

http://www.macrium.com/ReflectFree.asp

BTW, welcome to the forum, J.T!

Cat

 

[clifford_cooley]

I'm not that big on Windows Backup. I prefer to use a third party full backup solution.

Check out our Free Software Database. There is a few applications listed for Backup and Recovery.

 

[J.T]

Thank you Cat and Clifford I will look at each

 

[J.T]

My Hard Drives are Samsung so looks like I will have to use Macrium Reflect.

 

[catilley1092]

I still use Macrium some, it is an excellent program to be free of charge. My main backup program is Acronis True Image Home 2010, but I only have one license, and I use that on my desktop.

For my notebook though, I backup with Macrium regularly. I've had to recover with it, and did so with no problem. Don't forget to burn the rescue CD, you may need it one day. But I hope that you never need it.

Cat

 

[J.T]

Thanks for the advice Cat I will burn a rescue CD

 

[Fire cat]

One more vote for Macrium. I use (not so often actually) it, and it does a really great job. The only thing which annoys me about it is that in Windows Backup, you can explore the backup, and recover just the piece you need.

Though, Macrium is way better because it doesn't ZIP every folder one at a time. Windows does. It basicly makes a single file.

I also agree with the rescue DVD. I didn't make one, and nearly paid for my mistake. I have one now Another thing to do is to make a restore point once ina while. You'll be able to restore your system to an earlier time if anything goes bad. Though, Windows makes them automaticly.

 

[J.T]

I do make a Restore Point before I try any new Software, and I will burn a rescue CD

 

[J.T]

OK got my backup working so how often do I backup each week, month ? and do I delete the old backup ?

 

[clifford_cooley]

How often you create a backup would depend on how often you as a user think a backup in necessary.

The biggest question would be, how often do you make big changes or possibly jeopardize the security of the system?

 

[J.T]

I dont often make any changes but I do go to a few sites, Music ones most

 

[Fire cat]

Well, then very often backups aren't needed. I would only really advise big backups with Macrium in cases where you really risk to lose all your data.

If you download music and stuff, a backup once every week or two should be good.

 

[J.T]

OK thanks Fire cat

 

[clifford_cooley]

I dont often make any changes but I do go to a few sites, Music ones most

You could probably get by with making a backup once a month.

I don't know how you feel about the Restore points but they have saved me a few times.

 

[Fire cat]

All of this really depends on:

- How often you have new data
- If your computer is in any particular risk
- The value of your data
- etc...

I make a backup every two weeks.

 

[J.T]

I do make restores (when I think of it) Clifford
So backup every 2 or 3 weeks will be OK and the old backups guys ?

 

[Fire cat]

I do make restores (when I think of it) Clifford
So backup every 2 or 3 weeks will be OK and the old backups guys ?

Old backups should be deleted after a while, as really old ones are often needed, and they will eat up your HD. Not too sure if it does it automaticly though...

 

[J.T]

OK I will look at that Fire cat

 

[Fire cat]

Meh... I still think Clifford or someone else should confirm this. They probably have way more experience than me with backups.