backup software

I've been playing with a system backup tool the I think may be being overlooked. I'm talking about the backup on Nero 6. On the drive that I do testing on I have made 6 backups to DVD. The DVDs are bootable and restore from them has been flawless in all cases.

Just thought I'd let ya know...

 

jaylach,

I've been looking for a system backup program for a while now. I have nero 6
but havent tried the backup function.
Are you talking a full winxp OS (drive C) backup?
I saw it, but figured it was for music files only.....

Just wondering, have you backed up the OS and (shudder) had to restore it?

Just shows, its not enough to look, investigation is required!!!

savagcl

 

My experience (in another post) is that some backup programs do not work so well with some backup devices. Specifically backing up to USB External Hard Drives. Might be worth remembering if you buy one of those. My USB External HD came with a back up program that works fine, but Ghost 2003 is very slow.

 

I just tried the backup program (Nero),.

While it would run against drive C, every file that is Open or shared gives an
error (32) or just states that the file is in shared mode. Some of the files that
fall into these errors seem critical to completing a good backup.

Apparently, there is no shadow copy process included. Not sure i could trust
a restore from Nero backups but before i stop trying, i want to do some
checking. Maybe the nero site has more info....

savagcl

 

I've done 6 backup and restores on an entire drive image to DVD on a small drive I use for beta testing. No errors or problems restoreing. Nero backup also allows selective backup where you can backup any drive, folders, and or files. I must also say that I'm running it in win 2000, not XP.

 

Did your backups include the operating system (windows2k)?

If so, i'd like to know how you did it and whats the version of your Nero?

savagcl

 

Using Nero 6.

Yes, included op sys. In fact, on two trials, I formatted the drive before restore. No problem. I did notice that on the first boot after restore it did do a 2000 version of scandisk but came up with no errors.

I need to point something out here. It's something that came up on the same discussion on Computer Haven I am not using a retail version of Nero 6. I am using an OEM version that came with my Memorex DVD burner.

If wanted I can supply screen shots of the options offered.

The version I have allows full control of drives, folders, even individual files ( and it looks like full install saves of software packages) in a totally selective mode.

 

The version # may explain the errors i get. My version came free with this
system and is much older.

No need for the screen-shots, thanks for offering.

I looked at computer haven, good site, good info. While there i looked at the
R-Drive Image writeup and went and got the free version. Its 50% cheaper
than Roxio 6.

Will give it a try and get back to you.

Thanks for the info,
savagcl

 

jaylach,

Just saw your pic at computer haven. At first i thought the dog was a picture
on your t-shirt but a closer look fixed that.

R-Drive Image, I did a backup of the "C" drive, backed up to an external USB HD.
Worked OK, a little slow but thats the USB(2) i recon.
They were off on the estimate of the output file size by more than 50%. Their
estimate was 11.5Gig while the outputs actual size was 4.4Gig. My complete
C drive is 11.8Gig so compression is pretty good (like a zip file).

The output file had an extension of ".arc ", not real crazy about using a zip
compatable file for backups.

Also, i didnt see any dual-layer DVD's in the acceptable output devices (from
their Help file).

The Restore looks like it can get pretty involved (i didnt try this).

I'll have another look at roxio 6.

thanks,
savagcl

 

sorry, meant Nero 6.

savagcl

 

Win XP pro Built in Backup is Very Slow

I am trying to use the WinXP pro Backup tool and can't believe how slow it is. I am backing up to an external Western Digital USB 80 GB drive; full backup of a 40GB primary HDD; with about 34 GB of data.

Athlon 1GB desktop PC; 640 MB RAM. PC has only built in USB 1.1, so I am running off a 4 port USB2 add on card. WinXP pro SP2 installed and up to date. Symantec Norton AV auto detect enabled. Started the back up 1.5 days ago and the backup info box is telling me I still have 5 days to go !; about 20% of the total data is transferred; about 50% of the files total so far. IS THIS NORMAL ? ? ?
Thanks. ........................ Jan

 

Hello Jan,

No, it's cetainly not normal.

Go into the Device Manager via right click My Computer > Properties > Hardware > Device Manager and expand Universal serial bus controllers and right click on the USB Hub > uninstall > reboot. XP will reinstall them. See if that helps.

Regards - Charles

 

JanJL--Did you get Dantz Retrospect back up software with your Western Digital USB external drive? If so, use it instead of Windows Backup or Ghost. I get the same miserably slow backup speeds when I use those two programs with my Western Digital USB external drive. With Retrospect things go at least ten times as fast. Same cables, connections, etc. Just the different backup program.

 

Started the back up 1.5 days ago and the backup info box is telling me I still have 5 days to go !; about 20% of the total data is transferred
Hey Guys,

Good advice, but IMO there is still something drastically wrong here, drivers and better backup software notwithstanding.

Jan, are you including OS files as well? I don't don't what effect that would have, but it certainly wouldn't speed things up

On 2nd thought - maybe that's right, the problem with XP's backup is that the "buffer" for that backup has to be HUGE. A straight copy would suffice and be a lot faster.

Regards - Charles

 

Christer--Forgive me. I am feeling very lazy today. Much of the references you provide deals with creation of a boot floppy and/or drivers applicable to USB 2.0 external enclosure kits , which I do not feel is what JanJL wants to do. I never did find the driver that would improve Ghost's Backup and Clone performance with USB2. But as I say, I feel lazy now.
Can you please give us the URL for that driver? Thanks!

JanJL--Have you tried Dantz Retrospect if you have it?

 

MS Backup So So So Slow

Big Thank You to all the respondents and their very prompt response to my question / dilemma.

I killed the backup this morning. NET: backing up for 2 days 15 hrs; estimated time to go 4 days 7 hrs; 76% of files copied; 38% of data copied. ........ It would be one week minimum to backup 34 GB of data.

I believe I was backing up the OS files since my MS backup choice was "All information on this computer ". I don't understand the statement "On 2nd thought - maybe that's right, the problem with XP's backup is that the "buffer" for that backup has to be HUGE. A straight copy would suffice and be a lot faster. ".

I did receive Dantz Retropective Express (now owned by EMC2 I understand) with the WD HDD; but didn't install since I assumed the MS backup would be a better choice if it worked, .... Bad assumption. I will install Dantz this weekend and give it another try. I have Norton Ghost 9 but had a bad experience a month ago when trying to use for the first time. I tried to use Ghost to copy the 30GB drive to a new 120GB drive and then replace the 30GB (primary, bootable, OS drive). Result was a 120GB drive that would not boot no matter what I did even though Partition Magic showed no problems; plus the original 30GB drive would not boot initially when put back. Some spirit was with me, after a week of trying everything to get the original drive to boot (could not even run the WinXP pro upgrade CD to try to have MS solve the problem); it all of a sudden booted and that is the reason I want a fresh backup. I am not comfortable with the stability of the system.

I will do the USB Hub uninstall. I have never been thrilled with the performance of the add on card to get USB2 (IOGear) on my on board USB1.1 system. USB thumb drives read significantly slower to the desktop with the add on card that to my laptop with a USB2 PCMCIA card adapter ((D-Link).

I will visit the RADIFIED forums in an attempt to maybe try Ghost again in the future.

Thanks again. ................... Jan