[PCWorld]

Post your comments for How Do I Backup? here

[pelleger]

What about the backup options INCLUDED with windows, or any other system for that matter.

[LincolnSpector]

pelleger, on 05 March 2012 - 07:49 PM, said:

What about the backup options INCLUDED with windows, or any other system for that matter.

Good question. I probably should have included this paragraph somewhere in the article:

Windows 7 is the first version of Windows with a backup program worth using. I discussed it in detail in Windows 7'sBuilt-in Backup.

Lincoln

[squidlr]

All these fancy programs/software to selectively back up files usually lead to complications and mistakes in the back up process.

Just copy the contents of one drive to an external USB drive, easiest way to do it.

[sysdev4518]

Lincoln is right. I do it a little differently. I use Carbonite to take a continuous backup (you set it up and forget about it) and once a week I take a full image backup to a USB connected hard drive (make sure it is big enough) using Acronis. This has saved me several times through machine failures/replacements. In fact, as I write this, I am in the process of restoring files from my Carbonite backup to an empty drive so that I can select the files I want to recover after completely rebuilding my system. My Carbonite backup is over 50 Gb, so restoring it over a 20+ Mbs internet connection takes about 24 hours, but I won't have lost anything.

[MrDeaderick]

I'm still running XP and I use Microsoft's Synctoy. If a file becomes corrupt for some reason it's a lot easier to copy a file than use software to restore it from a backup

[IhorP]

What about also doing a regular disk image backup (say once a month) along with incremental backups? If you have a bad disaster, restoring the image to a new drive will save you time: you won't have to re-install, re-register, restore settings, etc. all your software.

[LincolnSpector]

IhorP, on 09 March 2012 - 07:58 AM, said:

What about also doing a regular disk image backup (say once a month) along with incremental backups? If you have a bad disaster, restoring the image to a new drive will save you time: you won't have to re-install, re-register, restore settings, etc. all your software.

For brevity's sake I decided to concentrate here on data backup, which is the most important form of backup and doesn't require an image. Images are the only reliable way I've found to do system backups (backing up Windows and your installed programs), and I've discussed them elsewhere.

Lincoln

[TheBigOldDog5ydw]

The best solution hands down in my book is windows home server.WHS will automatically backup all the PCs on your network every night. No muss, no fuss, you can restore Nothing from a single file to your entire system simply going back months.. It uses a brilliant method that keeps one copy of duplicate data so it uses space very efficient. Today you can pickup a WHS for under $ 500 or buy the software alone for $50 on sale and use an old machine you have to do the job HP used to make a killer inexpensive WHS but true to form, he's they quit that business too

[PhilipVenard]

I tried to download and install Cobian Backup software as recommended y PC World, but have beeen stopped cold in the installation process by the request for my "user name (DOMAIN\User Name) and password." I know my computer name or user name but I do not have a domain or a password. I never set up a password to start my personal PC. Therefore the Cobian Backup software will not work! This sucks! What am I missing? Sincerely, Philip

[LincolnSpector]

PhilipVenard, on 16 March 2012 - 10:05 PM, said:

I tried to download and install Cobian Backup software as recommended y PC World, but have beeen stopped cold in the installation process by the request for my "user name (DOMAIN\User Name) and password." I know my computer name or user name but I do not have a domain or a password. I never set up a password to start my personal PC. Therefore the Cobian Backup software will not work! This sucks! What am I missing? Sincerely, Philip

See StrangeCobian Backup Installation Option.


Lincoln

[AllenSemerdjian]

Since your machine is asking for a domain, then your machine is attached to an enterprise network or server.
Your account is probably a local user which would have limited capabilities with the machine OS including installation of software.
This is done by your administrators by design. If you need an installation, give them the reason why and they should either provide you access to install the product or install it for you, if they are really savvy they could push the installation of the software to your machine.

LincolnSpector, on 18 March 2012 - 09:57 AM, said:

PhilipVenard, on 16 March 2012 - 10:05 PM, said:

I tried to download and install Cobian Backup software as recommended y PC World, but have beeen stopped cold in the installation process by the request for my "user name (DOMAIN\User Name) and password." I know my computer name or user name but I do not have a domain or a password. I never set up a password to start my personal PC. Therefore the Cobian Backup software will not work! This sucks! What am I missing? Sincerely, Philip

See StrangeCobian Backup Installation Option.


Lincoln

[russlakeside]

What is the poss that you have a copy of XP Pro Lics from a registered business????? If so, you need to get legal and I'd say probably soon now that so many millions have seen this post..

AllenSemerdjian, on 23 March 2012 - 11:36 AM, said:

Since your machine is asking for a domain, then your machine is attached to an enterprise network or server.
Your account is probably a local user which would have limited capabilities with the machine OS including installation of software.
This is done by your administrators by design. If you need an installation, give them the reason why and they should either provide you access to install the product or install it for you, if they are really savvy they could push the installation of the software to your machine.

LincolnSpector, on 18 March 2012 - 09:57 AM, said:

PhilipVenard, on 16 March 2012 - 10:05 PM, said:

I tried to download and install Cobian Backup software as recommended y PC World, but have beeen stopped cold in the installation process by the request for my "user name (DOMAIN\User Name) and password." I know my computer name or user name but I do not have a domain or a password. I never set up a password to start my personal PC. Therefore the Cobian Backup software will not work! This sucks! What am I missing? Sincerely, Philip

See StrangeCobian Backup Installation Option.


Lincoln

[russlakeside]

PCWorld, on 05 March 2012 - 07:11 AM, said:

Post your comments for How Do I Backup? here

One thing is for sure is that by not disconnecting your external hard drive, you risk the poss of format failure if you lose electrical power. Same as disconnecting your thumb drive without first stopping the connection. You can get away with it once or twice,,, but when you're not around and the power is on and off again your computer might just keep rebooting rather than just staying off. I just lost all the NTFS formatting and the drive registered that the format was "RAW". So no data was retrieved.. Reformatttttt time.....