Windows XP Automated Backups

[seismik]

I've got XP Pro, with two harddrives both 120GB. The second drive is purely for backup... I'd like to schedule a back up of my first drive to the second drive daily. Is there an easy way to do this with XP? Or do I need 3rd party software? If so, what is recommended?

seis

 

[NathanBWF]

Well you could always use the built in Windows backup which will do the job. That's what I run everynight. Also, if you are feeling frisky you could look into setting up a RAID where your second hard drive mirrors the first one. But again, your quickest and cheapest way would just be to use the Windows backup...

 

[seismik]

Using the built-in Windows backup -- does it just always overwrite the older backup with the newer one? Or is there flexibility to store a few? I'll have to start reading up on that... I didn't even realize it was there.

 

[TiziteLayinLow]

i use a scheduled event to a batch file.. it copies to another machine on my network.. heres my batch file..

xcopy "C:\Documents and Settings\Matt Enderle\My Documents\ncstate" Z:\www\sites\tizite.com\ncstate /D /E /V /I /H /R /Y

z: being my mapped network drive..

 

[redbeard1]

Second Copy

 

[tart666]

Originally posted by: seismik
Using the built-in Windows backup -- does it just always overwrite the older backup with the newer one? Or is there flexibility to store a few? I'll have to start reading up on that... I didn't even realize it was there.

it can do all common backup types: incremental, differential, daily, etc. Just save your job and then schedule it to run periodically

 

[Smilin]

I use a three part backup myself with NTBackup.

First, I run an ASR. If the system ever truly dies this will get you running again quickly (it combines setup and restore in one step).

Second, I run a scheduled system state backup
Third, I run a scheduled full backup of everything else.

Step 1 is a one shot thing. Steps 2 & 3 I schedule and forget.

On a single system with a backup device attached (drive, tape) you will have a hard time finding a reason to pay for any improved system. NTBackup is perfect for this stuff. Really checkout ASR. If you are using XP or 2003 without it you are really missing a big feature.