Automatic Complete PC back up?

H

hatehereyes

Member
Power User
now i know there is an automatic way of backing up files and folders using windows vista but i was wondering if there was a way of automatically backing up my complete system.

now i've tried using Acronis True Image for this but i'm afraid that i won't be able to restore if my boot drive gets corrupt or i don't have an OS to installed Acronis to and load the back up image.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Pentium 4 3.0ghz/ Dual Xeon 2.8ghz 8 cores
    Motherboard
    Intel D915GUX
    Memory
    4gb DDR2 533MHz Memory/4gb DDR2 FB-DIMM
    Graphics card(s)
    ATI Radeon x600 Series/ATI Radeon x2600xt
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual 19" Gateway FPD1965
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    2tb WD Velociraptor 300GB WD 40gb Mac Pro - 500gb, 2x 320gb, 150gb
Why would you put your backup on your Boot drive, thats what you want to recover.

Put it on another HDD, or an external drive.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    INTEL QUAD 6600
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte EP35-DS4
    Memory
    4 gb
    Graphics card(s)
    GeForce 8800gt
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" ACER
    Screen Resolution
    1440 X 900
    Hard Drives
    500 GB 320GB
    PSU
    700WATT
    Cooling
    ARCTIC
    Internet Speed
    Av.MTH, Download 8.27, Upoad 0.91
i'm not backing up to my boot drive..

i have a seperate partition on another drive just for back ups but i was wondering if there was a way to automatically do a complete PC back up onto the back up drive
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Pentium 4 3.0ghz/ Dual Xeon 2.8ghz 8 cores
    Motherboard
    Intel D915GUX
    Memory
    4gb DDR2 533MHz Memory/4gb DDR2 FB-DIMM
    Graphics card(s)
    ATI Radeon x600 Series/ATI Radeon x2600xt
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual 19" Gateway FPD1965
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    2tb WD Velociraptor 300GB WD 40gb Mac Pro - 500gb, 2x 320gb, 150gb
hatehereyes said:
now i know there is an automatic way of backing up files and folders using windows vista but i was wondering if there was a way of automatically backing up my complete system.

now i've tried using Acronis True Image for this but i'm afraid that i won't be able to restore if my boot drive gets corrupt or i don't have an OS to installed Acronis to and load the back up image.
Click to expand...

Acronis will work fine. Build a rescue media disk(CD). If anything happens, boot to the Acronis rescue CD, browse to your backup and restore your image. I have used this method to replace my boot drive and to recover from a jacked up software install (I figured it might happen so I imaged right before the install). Works perfectly with Vista 64.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Q9450 SLAWR
    Motherboard
    XFX 780i
    Memory
    8GB OCZ SLI 5-4-4-12@800
    Graphics card(s)
    XFX 8800 GTX 768MB (2)
    Sound Card
    Auzen X-Fi Prelude / Logitech Z-5500 Digital 5.1
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung Syncmaster 214T
    Screen Resolution
    1600 x 1200
    Hard Drives
    300GB VelociRaptor / 750GB / 500GB / 750GB
    PSU
    Antec 1000W TPQ
    Case
    Antec 900
    Cooling
    4 x 120mm, 1 x 200mm
    Mouse
    Logitech G7, Razer Lachesis
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Entertainment Desktop 8000
    Internet Speed
    3Mb
Yes, Acronis TrueImage is designed just for this and it has saved my bacon many times.

To another drive, I do a full backup of my RAID 1 C drive (the only drive that is important) every 7 days and a differential backup every night. I had to make a BART PE disc with my system's hardware-based RAID drivers though. This backup strategy, along with the RAID 1 setup, is almost perfect. I am pretty well protected for drive failure and severe data or system corruption.

Plus, if I am going to do something particularly risky to my system, I can take out one of the RAID 1 drives and experiment on the other. If things don't work out, I can boot off the drive I took out and rebuild the array.

S-
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Intel E6600 @ 3.0 GHz
    Motherboard
    EVGA nForce 680i SLI (NF68-A1)
    Memory
    4GB - CORSAIR XMS2 PC2 6400
    Graphics card(s)
    EVGA GeForce 8800 GTS (640MB)
    Hard Drives
    2 - Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (320GB) 1 - Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (500GB)
HexManiac said:
hatehereyes said:
now i know there is an automatic way of backing up files and folders using windows vista but i was wondering if there was a way of automatically backing up my complete system.

now i've tried using Acronis True Image for this but i'm afraid that i won't be able to restore if my boot drive gets corrupt or i don't have an OS to installed Acronis to and load the back up image.
Click to expand...

Acronis will work fine. Build a rescue media disk(CD). If anything happens, boot to the Acronis rescue CD, browse to your backup and restore your image. I have used this method to replace my boot drive and to recover from a jacked up software install (I figured it might happen so I imaged right before the install). Works perfectly with Vista 64.
Click to expand...

sidewinder said:
Yes, Acronis TrueImage is designed just for this and it has saved my bacon many times.

To another drive, I do a full backup of my RAID 1 C drive (the only drive that is important) every 7 days and a differential backup every night. I had to make a BART PE disc with my system's hardware-based RAID drivers though. This backup strategy, along with the RAID 1 setup, is almost perfect. I am pretty well protected for drive failure and severe data or system corruption.

Plus, if I am going to do something particularly risky to my system, I can take out one of the RAID 1 drives and experiment on the other. If things don't work out, I can boot off the drive I took out and rebuild the array.

S-
Click to expand...


Thank you.
both of you answered my question about acronis.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Pentium 4 3.0ghz/ Dual Xeon 2.8ghz 8 cores
    Motherboard
    Intel D915GUX
    Memory
    4gb DDR2 533MHz Memory/4gb DDR2 FB-DIMM
    Graphics card(s)
    ATI Radeon x600 Series/ATI Radeon x2600xt
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual 19" Gateway FPD1965
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    2tb WD Velociraptor 300GB WD 40gb Mac Pro - 500gb, 2x 320gb, 150gb
hatehereyes said:
HexManiac said:
hatehereyes said:
now i know there is an automatic way of backing up files and folders using windows vista but i was wondering if there was a way of automatically backing up my complete system.

now i've tried using Acronis True Image for this but i'm afraid that i won't be able to restore if my boot drive gets corrupt or i don't have an OS to installed Acronis to and load the back up image.
Click to expand...

Acronis will work fine. Build a rescue media disk(CD). If anything happens, boot to the Acronis rescue CD, browse to your backup and restore your image. I have used this method to replace my boot drive and to recover from a jacked up software install (I figured it might happen so I imaged right before the install). Works perfectly with Vista 64.
Click to expand...

sidewinder said:
Yes, Acronis TrueImage is designed just for this and it has saved my bacon many times.

To another drive, I do a full backup of my RAID 1 C drive (the only drive that is important) every 7 days and a differential backup every night. I had to make a BART PE disc with my system's hardware-based RAID drivers though. This backup strategy, along with the RAID 1 setup, is almost perfect. I am pretty well protected for drive failure and severe data or system corruption.

Plus, if I am going to do something particularly risky to my system, I can take out one of the RAID 1 drives and experiment on the other. If things don't work out, I can boot off the drive I took out and rebuild the array.

S-
Click to expand...

Thank you.
both of you answered my question about acronis.
Click to expand...

Just to toss out a alternative solution, not better or worse, just different. I went out and bought a Windows Home server here Buy Home servers from HP. I use it for my backups of all my systems, (Mine, Wife's and sons) as well as media storeage/shareing. Just a option.
 

My Computer

System One

Acronis is a good tool. For those that have Vista Ultimate, there is a full system backup feature. It's not automatic, but can also be very useful when it's needed.

I personally use the built in full system backup feature, and at least once a week I run it to be sure, if I have to roll back my system, I don't roll too far.

Good luck in the future!
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Intel Q6600 Quad Core 2.4 Ghz
    Motherboard
    Dell 0TP406
    Memory
    4 X 1 GB DDR2 Kingston 800 Mhz
    Graphics card(s)
    Nvidia 8800 GT 512 MB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual Dell 22" Widescreen
    Screen Resolution
    3360x1050
    Hard Drives
    320 GB Internal Main 500 GB USB External 160 GB USB External 2TB USB External
    Internet Speed
    DSL 3MB
.Joe,

Have you ever tried to do a full restore to a brand new hard drive using the built-in full system backup feature? Or are you backing up the system using that feature without testing the restore process?

Acronis is easy and fast and you don't need a running Vista system to do a restore.

S-
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Intel E6600 @ 3.0 GHz
    Motherboard
    EVGA nForce 680i SLI (NF68-A1)
    Memory
    4GB - CORSAIR XMS2 PC2 6400
    Graphics card(s)
    EVGA GeForce 8800 GTS (640MB)
    Hard Drives
    2 - Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (320GB) 1 - Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (500GB)
wwoods said:
hatehereyes said:
HexManiac said:
Acronis will work fine. Build a rescue media disk(CD). If anything happens, boot to the Acronis rescue CD, browse to your backup and restore your image. I have used this method to replace my boot drive and to recover from a jacked up software install (I figured it might happen so I imaged right before the install). Works perfectly with Vista 64.
Click to expand...

sidewinder said:
Yes, Acronis TrueImage is designed just for this and it has saved my bacon many times.

To another drive, I do a full backup of my RAID 1 C drive (the only drive that is important) every 7 days and a differential backup every night. I had to make a BART PE disc with my system's hardware-based RAID drivers though. This backup strategy, along with the RAID 1 setup, is almost perfect. I am pretty well protected for drive failure and severe data or system corruption.

Plus, if I am going to do something particularly risky to my system, I can take out one of the RAID 1 drives and experiment on the other. If things don't work out, I can boot off the drive I took out and rebuild the array.

S-
Click to expand...

Thank you.
both of you answered my question about acronis.
Click to expand...

Just to toss out a alternative solution, not better or worse, just different. I went out and bought a Windows Home server here Buy Home servers from HP. I use it for my backups of all my systems, (Mine, Wife's and sons) as well as media storeage/shareing. Just a option.
Click to expand...

Ah yes i've seen those servers at my local circuit city but i don't really need it since i've already got 2 seperate 1TB hard drives and a seperate 300gb rapter boot drive. I have a friend though that's looking into getting one of those to use as external storage for his laptop.

.Joe said:
Acronis is a good tool. For those that have Vista Ultimate, there is a full system backup feature. It's not automatic, but can also be very useful when it's needed.

I personally use the built in full system backup feature, and at least once a week I run it to be sure, if I have to roll back my system, I don't roll too far.

Good luck in the future!
Click to expand...

Yes that's what i have been using lately but the automated feature in Acronis is much more convenient for me that is why i was looking for an alternative to the built in back up feature in Vista.

Thank you everyone for your help.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Pentium 4 3.0ghz/ Dual Xeon 2.8ghz 8 cores
    Motherboard
    Intel D915GUX
    Memory
    4gb DDR2 533MHz Memory/4gb DDR2 FB-DIMM
    Graphics card(s)
    ATI Radeon x600 Series/ATI Radeon x2600xt
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual 19" Gateway FPD1965
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    2tb WD Velociraptor 300GB WD 40gb Mac Pro - 500gb, 2x 320gb, 150gb
sidewinder said:
.Joe,

Have you ever tried to do a full restore to a brand new hard drive using the built-in full system backup feature? Or are you backing up the system using that feature without testing the restore process?

Acronis is easy and fast and you don't need a running Vista system to do a restore.

S-
Click to expand...
I have done a full restore with a complete pc backup image on my wife's Business x86 computer. Its as simple as putting the O/S disk in, restarting, booting from disk, and clicking on complete pc backup restore, and inserting the restore image disks. The only drawback is you have to use the same Array config as you did when making the image- i.e., If you backed up a RAID 0 you cannot reinstall the image onto a single disk, and vice versa, you cannot install a single disk image onto a newly configured array. Disk size doesnt matter though. I can restore a 200GB RAID 0 image onto a 1TB RAID 0 array.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    T7600G Core2Duo 2.66 Ghz
    Motherboard
    Intel 945PM + ICH7 Chipset
    Memory
    4GB DDR2 PC2-5300 667MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Mobility Radeon x1900 256MB
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    WUXGA 17"
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1200
    Hard Drives
    640GB 7200RPM SATA/RAID 0 (2x320GB) and 320GB 7200RPM External
    Mouse
    Wireless Microsoft 3000
    Internet Speed
    10 mbps/2 mbps
    Other Info
    Optical Drive: Panasonic UJ-220 DL BD-RE (Blu-Ray)
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