Full Disk Backup

[Flick]

I want opinions on backup and disk image programs. Let me provide you with a little background. My OS is Windows ME. I have 2 hard disks (60 gigs and 80 gigs) and a CD writer. I use the second hard drive (D:) for the exclusive use of backing up my primary hard drive (C:) just in case my C: drive goes bad. I also make complete CD copies of the C: drive once in a while (stored elsewhere) just to have another backup. During the past several years, I have used Norton Ghost to create the backup copies. However, I have decided to get rid of ALL the Norton products on my computer (Norton SystemWorks Pro 2003 and Norton Firewall 2003). In several years experience with Norton products I have found them all to be more trouble than they are worth.

In short, I want to be able to keep a full copy of my disk on a second drive and CD's so that if the C: drive fails, I can just pop in the new drive and be ready to run. I understand that the newer versions of Partition Magic are very bad and have been told to avoid that program. I hear that Acronis PartitionExpert 2003 is a good product. Any suggestions?

Also, I downloaded "BootIt" but it seems to have a very high learning curve. I want something that is easy to use.

[Paul Komski]

Hi Flick. I have never had problems with PM (upto v8 anyways) but it isn't really designed for backing up; just partition management.

The PQ utility that does the trick (IMHO) is Drive Image and it is usually the first app I install after a clean OS install. You can use it to copy the whole drive or individual partitions to pqi, power quest image, files.

These can be restored in a variety of ways; to the original locations and sizes or to different partitions etc.

The images can also be viewed with an image explorer and just individual files selected and restored. Images can be made into large files or split into sizes that will fit onto CDs.

Whenever possible all the procedures will be run from a windows GUI, which is much quicker and simpler than diving into DOS. Make the rescue diskettes though so that you can "get in" and restore stuff if you cant get into windows for some reason or another.

EDIT
Having reviewed the above, I can see that DI would be the app to use to get copies onto CD or to store image files wherever. PM can copy partition to partition - though I have never used it for backing up, since I have found image files the most useful and flexible. The PQ utility that is specifically designed to clone a HDD is called Drive Copy; so maybe that is the one you want. HDD makers may also provide similar software for free when you get a new HDD.

And if you have any references to why PM has "gone bad" I would be most interested in reviewing them.

[mjc]

As to BootIT......it took me a couple of days of trial and error (mostly error) to get it to work to my satisfaction , and that was after reading the documentation several times......:rolleyes: ), so yes I'd say steep is a good description of its learning curve.

For partition management there is also a nice little freebie.....Ranish Partition Manager (http://www.ranish.com/part/)

Acronis also makes a drive image utility that is supposed to be pretty good (works from within Windows and can create spanned sets of CDs)...I haven't tried it yet but several friends/aquaintences have and they like it very much.

[ErnieK]

Flick
I would not put Norton sytem works on my worst enemies machine. BUT! I do use Ghost as a stand alone program. I have did this for the past couple of years.

If you do not want to install it onto your machine just make a floppy with the basic files and run from there. (Boot with Windows boot disk and then relpace with Ghost floppy disk and run from that point)

[Flick]

Hi Paul. I got most of my information about the various PowerQuest products from a series of articles in Fred Langa's newsletter "LangaList". While he said that Drive Image 5 was still very good, it was his opinion that Drive Image 7 had taken several steps backward. Personally, I don't know that much about the subject so that's why I decided to ask for opinions here. And thanks for your input.

Hi mjc. I too printed out the BootIt NG docs and found them to be way over my head! I feel a little better knowing that even you had problems understanding them. I think I'll stay clear of this product for now at least. Your statement confirms my own research in that Acronis True Image 6.0 seems to be the best product for my use. However, if anyone else has any opinions on this please let me know. Thanks.

ErineK thanks for the advice concerning Ghost. I agree and was thinking of doing exactly what you suggested. However, I have just decided to swear off all Norton products. As I stated, I used them for several years without any problems but a few months ago all that changed. The problems I have encountered are just too numerous to mention. I almost have the entire Symantec knowledge base printed out and cataloged in a loose leaf binder. To tell you the truth, I have found that Norton products are very much like Gator. Once you get it in your system, it's almost impossible to remove! The files spread out everywhere. So, I have decided from here on to go Nortonless! And, may I add, my system has never run better.

[Paul Komski]

Presumably
Drive Imaging Special Issue (http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2003/2003-07-03.htm#1) was the article in question.

It is funny how vehement he seems against a product that he has previously supported; and all because DI7 needs .NET and has moved away from DOS and he has been unlucky with some poor technical support???

IMHO these are weak arguments for what has been a sterling, if not the benchmark, application. It remains one of my must haves and is usually the first thing that gets installed after the OS.

If Fred had rubbished the application because it didn't work or because it had caused any specific problems then that would be one thing. Methinks he "doth protest too much" and the cynic in me wonders why; especially when he now recommends another product in its place; one that is technically difficult to use and with little/no support to boot.

That's my 2cents anyways - and I'm not for leaving DI on the strength of that article. In addition the improved Windows GUI that DI uses should allow it to give much better support for optical drives, SATA, FastTrak, etc, etc, that a purely DOS-based product is gonna have issues with.

[Flick]

Yes Paul, that was one of the articles. I value your opinion on this matter and perhaps DI7 would work for me. Heck, I don't even know if I have .NET. I (like you) still use Windows ME. Thank you very much for your input! So now (unless I hear a better solution) I am faced with the decision to choose between DI7 and Acronis True Image 6.0.

[ErnieK]

In the newsletter that Fred Langa rubbished DI he followed this up in a later newsletter release explaining, in detail, exactly why he held a poor opion of the latest release of DI.

[Flick]

Hi ErnieK! Drive Image 7 comes with Drive Image 2002, therefore it will handle Windows ME (which I now use) and it will be able to handle XP when I upgrade. I don't mind installing .NET and I have no intention of ever using Linux so I think DI7 will work just fine for me. Now I just have to search around for a good discount because the list price is rather high.

Speaking of price, I also have another idea. Does Drive Image 5 work with both Windows ME and XP? If it does than that might be the program of choice for me. I saw it listed on Price Watch for as little as $22.96 (shipping included). I don't see the need to buy DI7 if DI5 will work just as well for me and I'll save a lot of money. Am I correct in this conclusion?:confused:

[Flick]

Well, I made my decision. I want to thank all of you folks who were kind enough to share your knowledge and experience with me. I really appreciate the help you provided. Since I'm still using Windows ME and intend to continue with ME for the next year or two (maybe three), I saw no need to get Drive Image 7. However, I did decide to buy Drive Image 2002 and I found it for $24.00 including shipping. I ordered it today. So again, thanks to all of you for your expert advice. It was of great help to me! Special thanks to Paul!