Data Backup Strategies/Suggestions?

[dalfollo]

Looking to get some feedback on how folks manage their data back up needs...with a could questions along the way.

I have too much data to write to DVDs, rather I have made sure that I have ghost images of each drive available on another drive; so if I have a drive failure, I should be able to restore the original data on a new drive.

Is it correct that Windows XP has some semblance of a backup program? Maybe to just copy selected files from one location to another according to a set schedule? I believe that XP Home does not have this...am I correct? Do any of you use a freeware/purchased program to accomplish this?

Very interested in understanding any techniques/suggestions you use...

here is one to get you started....I am surprised how many people do not know that MS Outlook has a backup utility that you can download free that can schedule a backup of your .pst file to whereever you want upon shut down or from the file menu...

Another one...on my system, like to keep the OS and PRograms on one drive and data on other drives...my logic is that if I lose the OS/Progs drive I can either restore from a ghost image, or just reinstall from scratch the OS and Programs...if the data drive fails I have a ghost image on the OS/Progs drive, and likley elsewhere....the most important files would be written to DVD if possible

Thanks for any suggestions or links to other info...

 

[Arcanedeath]

I used 2 things to do backups I have a DVD image of my OS partishion and I just use ghost to clone my whole HDD once a week to another drive in a removable frame

 

[theMan]

i use acronis true image 9 to make a full image of my hard drive onto an external. i do it every couple weeks.

 

[dainthomas]

External HD + Windows File/Settings backup

 

[WackyDan]

I have multiple machines... so if one goes down, I'm still able to get online etc....Hence the logic of what I write below.

I went out and bought a Linksys USB storage server and dropped two 250gig drives on it. (I have it set to mirror one usb drive to the other -built in function)

I went out and brushed up on how to write batch scripts... and wrote a custom script for each machine I wanted backed up to the linksys storage server.... NOTE>.. THis only copies files and folders that are part of the script, but they are written to capture desktop files, and my documents, as well internet favorites and email, and even app config files where they might be important. I can kick off these scripts manually, or on startup, or on a schedule.

On one machine I do have a ghost image of the core OS, updates at the time. So I could get it back up real quick and do some updates. I intend to reload this one machine soon.....and have decided to just create a new ghost that's the core operating system, with current updates, and any of my settings specific to XP and it's included apps..... I've decided that would be better than uninstalling all my applications to install new ones for those that require it......

Anyway... that's the way I do it.... Data has it's place... and the OS is treated differently.

On my laptop I run rescue and recovery which is Lenovo's image based backup... and there I capture everything on-going as getting my laptop back up and running is more important than anything else.