about backing up your registry

[Toothpick]

Hey All
I read here about a program called "Drive-Image" by 'PowerQuest', well here is my question. I have a CD-burner in my computer which came with NERO, so what would be the benefit by using "Drive-Image" instead of just making a CD copy of my registry ?

Thanks, I have not tried any if these programs yet to back up my Windows registry but if its actually better to get "Drive-Image" instead of using my burner then I will not hesitate in doing so. But the program is expensive and I am saving up for an expensive Joystick (for my combat sim addiction)

Thanks

 

[m1ke101]

i'm guessing you posted in the wrong forum.

 

[MillerTyme]

to answer your question anyway, backing up your registry is just one part of backing up your HDD, you cannot restore ur HDD from ur registry, there are no files stored in your registry, just settings. Drive image backs up your complete HDD so you can basically bring it anywhere and restore it to the exact state it was, registry, files, settings, everything.

 

[TheCoop]

you can also use a program called Norton Ghost that does virtually the same thing as Drive Image

 

[c627627]

Just before they lock this thread, in my opinion, Powerquest Drive Image 2002 (prettier interface) or Norton Ghost are the single most important pieces of software. They use a start up floppy to backup your entire hard drive to multiple CDRs. This is particularily useful if you partition your hard drive (Powerquest Partition Magic is excellent for this) first, then install your operating system onto C drive and then all large Apps on other drives. You than backup the C drive which contains Windows (+maybe a few other small programs).

Every few months, after Windows breaks down or starts giving you errors, you replace your C drive with backed up version of it, and things are just as they used to be when you backed them up first. I also keep a txt file where I write changes and tweaks I made to the original installation, that way, when I reinstall from backup, I make those changes, than save on CDR's again and so on every few months.

Originally, it took me days to reinstall Windows and get things back the way I like them. It now takes minutes with the the help of Drive Image 2002 or Norton Ghost. Now just make sure you change location of Favorites, Desktop and Start Menu, (CUT and PASTE from C:\Windows will do) since they require more frequent backup, so if you have them on another drive, restoring C drive would not replace them.

But to answer your question, every setting in every application is just the way you first set it. (Every menu size, every font size, every icon.) Registry backup is no substitute for orginized quick C Drive backup/restore.

I defragment my drives and use ScanDisk but nothing makes my PC go faster then when I restore from a backup made just after I first setup things the way I prefer.

 

[Jolt2]

Save some money and buy Symantec Systemworks 2002 Professional, which has Norton Ghost 2002. Price for the Systemworks 2002 Pro (OEM) is $7.99 + shipping. Make sure you order the Pro version as the regular Systemworks does not contain Ghost.


www.eastoutlet.com

It is a must have for this price. You can't go wrong.

 

[Robdalton]

I've never used Ghost but I use Drive Image on a regular basis and it is EASY. Works flawlessly on multiple partitions. After you've created your 2 floppies and recovery CD(s), you simply put them in, boot your PC, and follow the instructions. Usually takes me about 5 minutes to completely replace my OS with the fresh uncluttered one that I had when I first installed it.