How do I backup my harddrive using my CD RW?

[blazer2boy]

I want to create a back up of my HD using my CD RW can I do this. I tried using backup and got No Tape drive attached. Do I need a specific program
to do this? If so what program is good for this. Also I have used over 3GB on the HD and would need to use multiple disks.

Machine specs if needed.

Pentium 3 733MHZ
Soyo sy ba6+4 mother board
392 MB ram
52x cd rom Creative labs
Que cd r/rw 4432
Maxtor HD 20gig
Savage S3 creative labs AGP 32MB Video card
Sound Blaster Live sound card.

[sea69]

Hi

I hope u dont mean back up all 20 gigs.....that would be like 24 cd's.

Tape back up is a totally different (more expensive and better) way.

Adaptec 4.0 is THE EASIEST app I have seen. It doesnt have the 'cute' lil graphics like some others. It is a straight forward no=nonsense powerfull accurate program that works.

u can get up to 800Mb's of data on to one cdr or rw
HERES WHERE TO GET adaptec (http://www.roxio.com/en/products/;$sessionid$LCTXVMIAARUU3J4YZ0)

**NOTE: 'Adaptec now goes by "Roxio"**
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"re-inventing the hammer.. why I oughtta..."



[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 01-23-2001).]

[Reid]

I use Symantec/Norton Ghost in DOS to create partition images, then write the CDs while in Windows with Nero. You'll need another partition or another drive to save the images in, however. A backup program that runs in Windows will have problems with open files, but that does not happen while in DOS after a clean boot. I also use Ghost to create an image on the second hard drive.

Ghost can compress the data, so 3G should be reduced to about 2G. It will only copy data, not blank space. I set up the command line to split the image into segments that will fit a CD.

When it comes time to restore a corrupted disk, or transfer the data to a new drive, Ghost takes care of the partitioning and formatting.

If someone does not like working in DOS and figuring out command switches, then Ghost is not for them.

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reido@my-deja.com

Friends don't let friends load Windows ME

[This message has been edited by Reid (edited 01-23-2001).]

[blazer2boy]

Thanks for the ideas Sea & Reid. I think I have have the Ghost software somewhere at home, came with 1 of the Motherboards. I do have a version of the Adaptec software, its not the new 4.0 version that they have available now. Wonder if the version I have will be able do this. I'll try these ideas tonight.

Thanks again

Blazer

[This message has been edited by blazer2boy (edited 01-24-2001).]

[Reid]

The version of Ghost you got with the motherboard is probably the limited version which may only allow cloning of one disk to another. I had a version like that before I bought the more complete edition, and it would only allow the master drive to be copied to the slave. It was intended to work in a similar method to EZ-Drive and other hard disk utilities for transfering the OS and files to a new hard drive. You'd then have to swap drives after the clone to boot with the new drive.

You could still use that version to create backups on a second hard drive, but you'd have to swap jumpers to revert to the saved image.

If you don't already have a good utilities suite, a better value is probably to get a Norton System works that contains at least the Personal Edition of Ghost, rather than buy Ghost alone.

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reido@my-deja.com

Friends don't let friends load Windows ME

[This message has been edited by Reid (edited 01-24-2001).]

[sea69]

Hi

I want to stress the importance of backing up "Everything".

This includes your settings in connections (especially if u have a type connection such as :cable, adsl-winpoet-)

Occasionally (after a caustic event, like having to cold/hard boot, after a 'freeze') WINBLOWS98se will scan reg and choose a prior version of registry settings ( that may not be correct) but windows will 'switch' to the registry settings..(thinking that they r 'ok')
[B] Even if they are not

and then u (like me) will find that if you had backed them up life would be MUCH more simple!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**Note: I will be posting more on this (connection permitting) in the appropriate area here.**



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"re-inventing the hammer.. why I oughtta..."

[Reid]

That is why I like Ghost, it saves everything, into a single file or slices. Ghost copies everything in the image: boot sector, partition, and all data. Only takes about 20 minutes to restore a 3G hard drive image.

I use a removeable drive tray for the slave so I can remove it from the computer for safer storage.

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reido@my-deja.com

Friends don't let friends load Windows ME

[Ivanko2000]

oK i understand that if i want to make an image of my system i have to use the Norton Ghost, but how can i save one image of 4 GB in many CD´s... what i should do for part the image in diferents cd´s.

Ivan

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif

[Randy_tx]

The fastest, long term cheapest way to back an entire HD is to Ghost it to ANOTHER HD !! have you considered buying a second HD and ghosting to it?? I've never seen two hd's go at once (even with an electrical spike)...just a thought.

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When all else fails...I'm a heck of a parts swapper!

[Reid]

Randy's suggestion is my preferred method. The full version of Ghost PE or higher will allow you save compressed partition images onto another drive, so you can have multiple saves, depending on space available on the second drive.

By running Ghost from the DOS prompt, you can set the switches to have Ghost automatically divide the image into segments that will fit onto a CD disk. You still need another partition or drive to save the images in, then burn the images onto CDs.

I don't recommend Ghost unless you are comfortable working in DOS.

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reido@my-deja.com

Friends don't let friends install Windows ME

[CrudeDude]

Just a mention - Ghosting obviously will only work on the same machine or same model... For instance, I use it on a suite of 20 PCs. I prepare a good machine (Defragged with all software - no problems etc..) then copy an image onto a second partition. i can then (Over the Lan) copy the same image onto every 2nd partition of every machine. That way, if ever anything goes wrong with a machine, I use the image on the 2nd partition to restore. Instant fix (well, in 20 mins or so!)

A little off the topic but just an Idae how to use a ghost!

[This message has been edited by CrudeDude (edited 02-15-2001).]

[bassman]

OK lets see how much of a fool I can make of myself here. There are two people asking the same Q. here and not getting a direct answer. Although the answers are the best solutions to the prob. at hand. Here is my Q on the same topic. Could you COPY and PASTE the HD to the desired CDROM and just keep putting in new disks like you would with a floppy? 800 mgs on 1 cd= 4 cd's. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif

[Randy_tx]

Sure.......you can copy n paste everything......BUT dont plan to be able to Boot to Windows when you "copy" it to another HD from all of those cd disks....it wont work....

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When all else fails...I'm a heck of a parts swapper!

[Reid]

Originally posted by bassman:
Could you COPY and PASTE the HD to the desired CDROM and just keep putting in new disks like you would with a floppy? 800 mgs on 1 cd= 4 cd's. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif
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Of course you can COPY and PASTE files, but I believe a true hard drive backup is one that saves everything. Ghost even restores the partitioning, formatting, and makes the disk bootable again, if it were that badly corrupted.

Also, working from DOS, it doesn't have problems with open files that you will have while working in a Windows backup program.
reido@my-deja.com

Friends don't let friends install Windows ME

[This message has been edited by Reid (edited 02-15-2001).]

[Big T]

Norton's Ghost don't work with Window's ME folks!!!!!!!!!!!! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif

[kenja]

As to the question "I want to create a back up of my HD using my CD RW can I do this...Do I need a specific program to do this? If so what program is good for this." The answer is:Ghost 2001 (http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/ghost.nsf/docid/2000032414453025). It's part of my "SystemWorks 2001 Pro" and works great across multiple CD-R(W) disks.

About ME compatibility: symantec (http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/ghost.nsf/docid/2000060912175925).


[This message has been edited by kenja (edited 02-25-2001).]

[kenja]

(P.S.): I bought the "Full CD" version of Norton SystemWorks Pro 2001 for Win 95/98/Mill and NT W/S 4.0 or Win 2000 Pro from BuyCheapSoftware.com .

(Box?...I don't need no stinkin' box!)

[callbar]

Hi,
There is an application called DRIVE IMAGE 4.0 ( standard and pro editions available) by PowerQuest - the compay who make PartitionMagic. It is desined to write direct to CD-R/W. It states that it allows an exact hard-disk for fast OS deployment, hard-disk upgrades, and backups.
I havn't tried it myself but have thought about getting it installed and testing out at some time. If anyone has already tried please let us know how it compares.

[kenja]

I've got an earlier version of Drive Image. It's easier to use than Norton Ghost.

[rdaniels]

Originally posted by Ivanko2000:
oK i understand that if i want to make an image of my system i have to use the Norton Ghost, but how can i save one image of 4 GB in many CD´s... what i should do for part the image in diferents cd´s.

Ivan

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif
You mentioned that you had 20GB HDD. If you partitioned it out your free space into several FAT16 650MB partitions, you could use Ghost to span your system image across these several 650MB FAT16 partitions (in order to make them fit onto a 650MB CD-R). After making the .gho files, you then boot into Windows and use Adaptec to copy these "spanned" .gho files to sequentially numbered CD's.