Backup HDD

[pop pop]

I want to backup my HDD. I don't have an app to do it but W2K has a backup utility under programs/accessories/system tools. I have a W2K book. The section about using this is confusing and talks about creating media pools and such that I know nothing about. I just wnat to backup the entire HDD using my CDRW. What's the simplest way? Thanks.:)

[Paul Komski]

You can backup quite a lot using the Windows backup and then burn the file to CD or DVD using normal burning software. Not so easy to backup the whole drive (including all its partition information) and would highly recommend you use a program such as Drive Image or Ghost to do this; they will split such image files into chunks that will fit onto a sequence of CDs if necessary.

My own preferecnce is to make images of one partition onto another hdd partition first. This is faster and separates the image/backup creation and burning processes - which I find preferable. It also allows you to use free imaging software such as Image Maker (http://www.pcreview.co.uk/showthread.php?threadid=1037), which is a bit basic but seems to work just fine.

[pop pop]

Thanks, good info and sort of along the lines of what I suspected. Does the process of making an image of a partitionto the HD then burnning it to CD assume that the image size is less than the max size of the CD, say 700 meg or will the free program prompt you to insert another? Finally, is restoring using that program fairly straight forward? In the good old days, before FATWARE, I used tape backup and that was all pretty easy.

[Paul Komski]

Programs like Drive Image will give you the option of choosing to split the image file into CD-sized chunks. Image Maker and MS Backup wont, AFAIR, but you can split these single files into parts with a Splitter and Merger (http://www.splitter.vze.com/) utility. The only thing here is that you would need to merge the split backup file on the HDD first prior to restoring the image, whereas if you burn directly from DI you should be prompted for each subsequent CD required to span the whole file.

If one is stuck for space then running DI (or similar) from bootable floppies or CDs and burning directly to CDs is the only viable method unless you decide to install a tape drive, second hdd (fixed or removable), etc. My own preferece is to have an additional hdd.

[pop pop]

Thanks. I have a second HD that used to be on an old PC and I put it in my new one. It's a 20 gig Fujitsu, FAT32 that had W98 and alot of garbage on it. I deleted everything, reformatting seemed to be a problem. It's now 98% free space and defragged. Will it being FAT32 and my W2K C-drive being NTFS be a problem? I guess DI is a "buy" product?

[PrntRhd]

DriveImage is a pay program now owned by Symantec: link (http://www.powerquest.com/driveimage/)

Box packaging has version for XP/2000 and second version for earlier Windows OSs. Retail price ~$69.95.

[Paul Komski]

Will it being FAT32 and my W2K C-drive being NTFS be a problem?

In a word, no. Win2K/Xp can see and use FAT32 regardless of what format they themselves are installed onto.

reformatting seemed to be a problem
Not sure what problem you are referring to.