How does "backing up" data work?

[AirForceElite]

I don't understand how the "1 button push data backup" works.

On many external hard drivers i see that option.
what does it do? just copies your C drive (or whatever you have specified)?

Cause last time i tried to back up my data (programs) it didnt work.

i am not talking about music/videos/pictures cause i can back them up without any problems.

What i am talking about is programs.
if i copy my Program Files folder to lets say...a portable hard drive, and then reformat my computer, i wouldn't be able to use all those previously installed programs that i have copied over. I need to reinstall them all over again.
like photoshop, msn, aim, firewalls, antivirus, games and others.

so how exactly does it work?

 

[pcgeek11]

See this article: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/26/techn...131057197cf6b&ei=5007&partner=USERLAND

It will give you some insight.

pcgeek11

 

[RebateMonger]

You need to read the manual available for your drive/software to be sure what the one-touch backup can do.

The only types of backups that will give you your programs back are those that include the System State (includes the Registry), or that totally clone the hard drive. The free Windows NTBackup program (pre-installed in XP Pro, but can also be used in XP Home) works reliably for backing up and restoring a full working system.

 

[AirForceElite]

thanks for links and replies guys.

RebateMonger,
1) you said that the only way to actually be able to use ALL the programs i had before reformat is to CLONE the hard drive. Is it possible to do without buying these external 1-button-backup HD's? Say i have a spare 40gig hard drive lying around that i want to clone my exisiting hard drive to...what would i need to to?

And
2) Assume that I have a virus or some kind of bug in my OS. But before I reformat I want to back up (or clone as you say it) my hard drive so I can be back on track almost instantly reformatting. So if there is a virus on my hard drive, and i clone my HD, and reformat and then copy over the cloned HD..will the virus/bug be back with it?

If it will, then I would rather just reformat and do clean re-install of each program (photoshop, msn, AV, firewall, games etc..)

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: AirForceElite
thanks for links and replies guys.

RebateMonger,
1) you said that the only way to actually be able to use ALL the programs i had before reformat is to CLONE the hard drive. Is it possible to do without buying these external 1-button-backup HD's?

Of course. There's nothing magical about those drives.

Say i have a spare 40gig hard drive lying around that i want to clone my exisiting hard drive to...what would i need to to?

Either use NTBackup, or get a third-party imaging program like Norton Ghost or Acronis TrueImage. Then you use the program to make an image file that contains a (usually compressed) verison of your hard drive. You can then restore to that image later and revert your entire system to the state it was in when the image was made.

And
2) Assume that I have a virus or some kind of bug in my OS. But before I reformat I want to back up (or clone as you say it) my hard drive so I can be back on track almost instantly reformatting. So if there is a virus on my hard drive, and i clone my HD, and reformat and then copy over the cloned HD..will the virus/bug be back with it?

Yes. Restoring from an image puts you back to exactly the state your installation was in when the image was made. An image made after your data is trashed won't help you.

If it will, then I would rather just reformat and do clean re-install of each program (photoshop, msn, AV, firewall, games etc..)

Yes. If you need data files from that image, you can pull them out (at least with Ghost/TrueImage) and scan them with an AV program to make sure they're clean (most viruses infect executable files.)

Or, if you have a snapshot from before the damage was done, you could restore to the earlier snapshot, and then you just need to reinstall/recover anything changed since then.

 

[AirForceElite]

What about computer preferences/settings?
For example, my screen resolution, my Control Panel settings (keyboard,mice, monitor, screensaver etc..) are they restored also?

and last thing, how about game patches and drivers and ServicePack2, and microsoft patches/updates....are they restored?

 

[SuperNaruto]

They consider data as your personal documents

Data such as your files, documents, mp3, pictures, emails, etc..

They dont consider program as "data".. you'll need cloning if you want to keep a backup of such things as your program files, settings, patches..

 

[pcgeek11]

Originally posted by: AirForceElite
What about computer preferences/settings?
For example, my screen resolution, my Control Panel settings (keyboard,mice, monitor, screensaver etc..) are they restored also?

and last thing, how about game patches and drivers and ServicePack2, and microsoft patches/updates....are they restored?

If you image the drive today and restore it say 6 months from now with that image the computer will be back exactly as it was when the image was made, Exactly.

pcgeek11

 

[Ruptga]

How do I use this NTBackup, I mean where is it in the start menu. I did a search and got something in the i386 folder, but it errored when I tried to run it.

 

[amheck]

Isn't it just the Backup icon in the System Tools folder?

 

[dderolph]

NTBackup appears to be the backup utility found in Windows XP; to open it: Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and select Backup. Or, it can be used from a command prompt, as explained at this Microsoft page on NTBackup

I believe some posts in this thread were misleading. They give the impression that NTBackup can be used to create an entire drive image that could be used the same of Norton Ghost or Acronis TrueImage to fully restore a system from a mirror image of the drive. I think that's not the case; NTBackup is a tool to back up files and has many options, especially when used via command prompt or from a batch file using the ntbackup command followed by various parameters, but it is not a full drive imaging tool or, in other words, an alternative to Norton Ghost or Acronis TrueImage to fully restore a system from a mirro image of the drive.

 

[drum]

-start - run
-type CMD
-at the prompt type ntbackup
-dialog opens and you set parameters of the backup

this will create a .BKF file that you can have ntbackup place where ever you want. (external or addition internal HDD)

 

[dave518]

Does anyone know a good 'one touch" drive?