Backup Software

[gravitas]

any suggestions for GOOD backup/restore software.......I've been using the retrospect express piece of garbage and IMO it sucks stinky ass

 

[vancouverman]

Veritas Backup Exec was always a good bet.
Unfortunately Symantec bought them. I just hope, it will not follow the path of WinFax.
Get it before they mess it up.

http://www.backupexec.com/

 

[Ilovethemall]

yup

Vanman speaks the truth.

 

[gravitas]

Veritas Backup Exec was always a good bet

thanks...but this appears to be server backup software......I just want to backup my PC

it will not follow the path of WinFax

Does anyone even use pc or dedicated fax machines anymore? I ordered new business cards the other day and for the life of me I couldn't remember my fax number.

Vanman speaks the truth.

Of course he does

 

[cancowboy2001]

Not a reccommendation but ...

Here's a review site: http://data-backup-software-review.toptenreviews.com/
It has a nice spreadsheet comparing features of their top ten choices.

 

[vancouverman]

thanks...but this appears to be server backup software......I just want to backup my PC

They had a "workstation" version as well, or.... did they cut this one already

Does anyone even use pc or dedicated fax machines anymore?

yes, still quite popular. I know a couple of places with a dedicated fax-server.
But then .... I also know a couple of places that run Win 3.11 and Word Perfect for DOS

Of course he does

Sometimes

 

[pooner144]

Backup what?

I never quite understood the concept of backup software for a home computer. Sure it's a good thing to back up data. If you have a second physical drive or burning CD/DVD. Just copy it over once in a while. If you want, you can even write a simply batch file that'll do it for ya.

Personally, I have two physical drives, one for windows and one for data, email and any other info I want to keep is on that drive. So If windows craps out, or I want to re-format. no prob, just do it.

If I want to back up my data drive, not a bad thing, but where to? Takes too many DVD's.

Besides, backup software means that you also have to use the same software to restore it. I guess the main advantange is that it compresses your data.

I'd appreciate any other thoughts on this, as I sincerely wouldn't mind backin up my stuff.... especially over 30GB of MP3's.

 

[LutherBlissett]

Being a computer simpleton/savant (only get good at that I have to use) I went to Rock Computers on Kingsway (oddly enough, right near a massage parlour I walked out of about eight months ago when I got disgusted by the place). I asked the guy there to sell me a device that would automatically back-up everything on my laptop. I now have a thing the size of a skinny Smarties package that plugs in by USB. It will back up some ridiculous amount of stuff (everything on my hard drive, all docs, huge PowerPoint shows I have invested a lot of time on, all pictures, videos, etc.). I'm not sure of the brand, it says just CTC on the outside and I immediately throw away all manuals and wrapping of anything I'll never understand anyway.

The nice thing was, they set it up for me so that every day at 6:00 as I'm having a glass of wine and watching the news, it automatically does it in about ten minutes.

Also, I can take it on business trips with me. No more burning CD's. Cost: $140 including set-up.

 

[threepeat]

Have you tried the backup utility that comes built-in with Windows XP? (Right-click the drive you want to backup, then select "Properties," then "Tools," then "Backup Now...") It may have all you need, and you can save your $$$ for pooning

 

[Sonny]

Personally, I have two physical drives, one for windows and one for data, email and any other info I want to keep is on that drive. So If windows craps out, or I want to re-format. no prob, just do it. If I want to back up my data drive, not a bad thing, but where to? Takes too many DVD's.

I use an external 200GB hard drive with USB connect for data backup media - dirt cheap and easy. The drive is formatted NTFS using XP so it's all one logical drive as well.

 

[Arrrg]

I use Acronis True Image 9.

It's really fanastic. I feel Norton Ghost is just as good however, Acronis I feel has a better interface so I chose that. (and also Norton is kinda getting worse and worse in their products).

I do full back ups of my laptop. So when I need to, I can restore the image to a a new drive and keep on going if my drive dies.

If I deleted files I need, I can always 'plug' my image in and browse it like another drive to find the file I had lost.

I even have full image files for: Fresh rebuild factory condition, Fresh rebuild with essential software and patches. If anytime I think it's time for a reformat, I just pick one of these images to start from.

I back up my laptop onto an external 2.5" drive and I also copy these images onto my desktop just in case. I don't back up my desktop though, it's more for media and fun whereas my laptop is work.

Well worth the money! IMO

 

[gravitas]

I never quite understood the concept of backup software for a home computer.

The software is actually for my notebook from work. Our rat bastard IT department will only provide backup services while you're on the network and do jack shit for telecommuters (frosts my furry ass since we're allegedly a technology company).

Personally, I have two physical drives, one for windows and one for data, email and any other info I want to keep is on that drive. So If windows craps out, or I want to re-format. no prob, just do it.

Thats sort of what I've done with my main desktop/file/print/video* server at home. Works pretty damn good and feel happy with myself in how I've got things set up. Between the two UPS's, WAP's, external NDAS drive and eight web/network cameras its kind of cool.

*thanks to vanman with his software suggestions....CamUniversal works great!

I never quite understood the concept of backup software for a home computer........I'd appreciate any other thoughts on this, as I sincerely wouldn't mind backin up my stuff

LOL....thats sort of funny, you did a 180 in three paragraphs

No more burning CD's. Cost: $140 including set-up.

Sounds trick!

Have you tried the backup utility that comes built-in with Windows XP?

No.....because those same rat bastard IT weasels removed anything that would resemble a useful tool or resources with the XP load. Pricks don't even include solitaire. Funny enough if you get VP sign off they give you admin rights so you can install and tweak to your hearts content

I use Acronis True Image 9.

Looks interesting....thanks

 

[vancouverman]

*thanks to vanman with his software suggestions....CamUniversal works great!

invoice is in the mail

.because those same rat bastard IT weasels removed anything that would resemble a useful tool or resources with the XP load.

in the case of XP backup .... you would use it once, and abandon the idea of backup FOREVER .... this is how useful this tool is.
Remember your own motto .... "as good as much you paid for it"

Pricks don't even include solitaire.

band of fuckers

 

[PoorGuy]

I just hope, it will not follow the path of WinFax.
Get it before they mess it up.

?? What happened to WinFax? I'm still using WinFax 3.11 from the late 90's. I think it was part of the Symantec family back then. What happened to it now?

 

[CEG]

http://www.simplyoffsite.com/

Very reputable, cost effective and easy to use!

 

[hitrack]

backup exec!!! I haven't seen them since my old tape backup days

I've had good luck with Norton Ghost. Just wnet out and bought another 200gig drive and ghosted my C drive. Then if it fukks up I can just swap. Format the original C and re-ghost. I've had to do this a couple times from cheap shit software I've tinkerd with that have totally botched my system.

Stick the 200 gig with a fresh ghosted copy of your drive on a shelf and it ready to lock an load at a moments notice.

 

[gravitas]

Norton Ghost is the cats ass (thanks to those who recommended it.....don't know what the fuck is wrong with the rest of you ). Fast and easy to use

 

[sdw]

looks good. someone also mentioned acronis.

i use currently use two backup methods:

- the xp backup which goes from my c drive to a second drive on the computer. this is a daily backup of my most important pst, doc and other personal files (no not perb files).

- once per month complete backup of all data to an external hd which i take offsite.


btw, does anyone have an easy way of downloading hotmail emails to word? i don't trust microsoft to leave all my emails intact.

as well, i used to use telus which offered a pretty good offsite backup system for $10 per month. but they kept charging me $15/mth. it was annoying and then when i cancelled the subscription they kept billing me even though i phoned them each month to complain. it was like outright corporate robbery.

I forward anything that I want to keep from my Hotmail to the email that I have through my ISP. That way, nobody has my ISP email (I change ISPs every so often), I don't have to worry about files getting to my computer unless I open them in Hotmail and I have nothing sitting in my Hotmail mailboxes after I have checked my mail. This makes it easy to wade through the spam as there is only one day's worth in my Hotmail inbox.