backup software

[alintatoc]

Which backup software you would recommend?

[hech54]

I use Norton Ghost. It may not be the absolute BEST available...but I backup my important program executables, licenses, video, audio and picture data myself...so Ghost is a backup to my backups.

[alintatoc]

I use Norton Ghost. It may not be the absolute BEST available...but I backup my important program executables, licenses, video, audio and picture data myself...so Ghost is a backup to my backups.

Thanks, how about a defragmentation software, which one you use?

[hech54]

Free one....PowerDefragmenter.
I also run CCleaner very often too before backing up and defragging.
Why defrag or backup junk right?

[guns1inger]

JK Defrag is pretty good, if ugly. I like Auslogics Disk Defrag. Both are free.

For image level backups I like Acronis TrueImage, although I am running an older version, and the new versions isn't getting great press.

For standard file level backups you might look at the free Comodo Backup.

[alintatoc]

JK Defrag is pretty good, if ugly. I like Auslogics Disk Defrag. Both are free.

For image level backups I like Acronis TrueImage, although I am running an older version, and the new versions isn't getting great press.

For standard file level backups you might look at the free Comodo Backup.

How long it takes to defrag?

[Poppa_Meth]

Defragger I use JKDefragGUI, which is the prettier version of JKDefrag. It does an excellent job.

I use to use Ghost and then Acronis for backups. Both were fine in my experience. Acronis was great on IDE connected HDDs but had problems getting SATA drives to boot back up correctly when restored. I had to do some repair work every time I restored a SATA drive.

I'm now using Paragon Drive Backup. I've heard nothing but good about it and have no issues with it yet, though I haven't restored anything from it yet either. There is a free express version as well.

[hech54]

I'm not using Paragon Drive Backup.

Yea...I'm not using that either.



SORRY....couldn't resist.

[lordsmurf]

I've been using Paragon since Ghost let me down about 4-5 years ago. Works great.

[alintatoc]

JK Defrag is pretty good, if ugly. I like Auslogics Disk Defrag. Both are free.

For image level backups I like Acronis TrueImage, although I am running an older version, and the new versions isn't getting great press.

For standard file level backups you might look at the free Comodo Backup.

How long it takes to defrag?

what is image level backups and standard files backups?

[pepegot1]

Acronis True Image is what I use. Great results over the years-much better than Norton.

[alintatoc]

I've done the defrag, this is how it looks. Anything that I can do?

[Poppa_Meth]

I've been using Paragon since Ghost let me down about 4-5 years ago. Works great.

Yeah that's what happens when you are typing on a forum at work instead of actually working!

[guns1inger]

I've done the defrag, this is how it looks. Anything that I can do?

What more do you want to do ?

You can ignore the "Your PC is not optimised" message, as that is just their way of flogging more software to you. Your PC is defragmented and running faster for it.

[alintatoc]

I've done the defrag, this is how it looks. Anything that I can do?

What more do you want to do ?

You can ignore the "Your PC is not optimised" message, as that is just their way of flogging more software to you. Your PC is defragmented and running faster for it.

How often do I need to run this defrag?

[stiltman]

Which backup software you would recommend?

Define backup?

Imagining a computer? Ghost 32bit from a BartPE disc
Backing up files/directories? XP's built-in backup works fine
Backing up Servers? Veritas

[guns1inger]

How often should you defrag ? How long is a piece of string ?

How often do you install and uninstall software ?

How often do you create and delete files ?

I defrag the system drive every few months, but realistically every 6 months if probably adequate for most users. If you use Vista then you don't need to run a standard defragger because the OS defrags in the background when idle.

[alintatoc]

Thanks you guys for the info! I really appreciate your help!

[Xylob the Destroyer]

Karen's

[TimA-C]

I defrag the system drive every few months, but realistically every 6 months if probably adequate for most users. If you use Vista then you don't need to run a standard defragger because the OS defrags in the background when idle.

XP will also defrag in the background if you want. There's a registry key but I always use the TweakUI XP Powertoy to turn it on or off - usually off as it's one less background process and I can run Auslogics defrag when I want to. As for backups, I still tend to use Ghost 2003 for image backups although SATA and USB issues are becoming more and more of a problem. I've used Acronis ocasionally and will probably go down that route when Ghost becomes too much hassle. For regular backing up of selected files I use Cobian 9 which is a free backup prog, is very flexible, and can use XP's Volume Shadow Copy feature which allows open files to be backed up. I also manually make copies of important files as and when I feel it's necessary.

[stiltman]

[quote="TimA-C"]

I still tend to use Ghost 2003 for image backups although SATA and USB issues are becoming more and more of a problem..

That's why everyone should be using the 32bit version and WinPE, BartPE, UBCD or any other 32bit Boot system. The nice thing is about these 32bit CDs, you just keep adding the drivers you need. No more DOS boot. Plus, since you are booting basically WinXP you get full access to large HDDs. Try seeing a 1TB HDD with Ghost without booting to 32bit

[bevills1]

I've had no problems seeing USB drives or 1TB SATA drives using Ghost 2003. Build .793 of Ghost 2003 is needed to work with SATA drives. I read of 1 instance where Ghost 2003 didn't correctly recognize a 1.5TB drive, and perhaps 1TB may be about the limit for Ghost 2003.

There's much good info on backup programs at http://radified.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl , including how to make a BartPE CD with either Seagate Disk Wizard or Maxblast 5 plugins if you have a Seagate or Maxtor drive. I just made that BartPE CD to use for Vista backup because Ghost 2003 doesn't work for Vista according to posts on that forum. Seagate Disk Wizard and Maxblast 5 are free downloads and include the BartPE plugins.

One need be very careful about downloading some versions of UBCD4WIN. I downloaded UBCD4WIN a couple of days ago, and my Win2k SP4 system failed to boot after I booted to that CD. I tried repair from Recovery Console without success, but in trying the repair I learned my Win2k had been changed to Q drive while I don't even have a Q drive. I was able to recover by restoring a recent Ghost 2003 image of C drive in less than 10 minutes.