Best way to backup my system

I have done a search and found some info but I was hoping to get a more clear answer.

I recently had some problems with my system that caused me to have to wipe the HD and start from scratch. Reloading windows 98se and all the drivers and other software. My question is - Can I back up the OS, hardware drivers and other software and settings so I can just reload them instead of starting from scratch again if something goes wrong?

I know on a mac you can make a disc with the os and programs and run your system from the cd if you have a problem. Is possible on a PC.

Thanks
Paul

 

Hi pwgphoto
Welcome to the boards!
Do you mean something such as Norton's Ghost?

Daizy

 

That may be what I am looking for if it makes disc that will copy my OS and program files allowing me to just reload them the way they were in the event of a HD failure or some kindof bug that screws up my system.

If I have to start from scratch again I would like to be able to just copy my current OS and program files right back to the HD with out reinstalling the OS and each program and driver individually. Do you think this program will do this? I want to do something now, since I just got everything back in with the minimal amoput of junk files in the system.

Thanks
Paul

 

Hi pwgphoto

Not sure what exactly you are looking for, I to had a hard drive melt down, twice actully, and I know how frustrating it can be. I use a software I downloaded off the net called Backup Plus. It is free to try then cheap to register. You can backup files, folders and complete hard drives to most medias. I use it to backup my data files, database, spreadsheet etc. I have now bought a CD burner and will backup my entire system to CD's, expect it will use about 4 CD's.
Nice thing with Backup Plus you just need to reload windows, and Backup Plus, do a restore, Bingo you are back to normal in just a few moments.
Cost nothing to go to the home page and read about it.

http://www.avantrix.com/

Good luck

mopar.

 

Thanks for the replies so far. Mopar that may be what I am looking for I will check it out. I just hate having to reinstall all the drivers for things like the video card and modems and such. It is a big hassle. Not to mention it always takes me forever to solve the IRQ conflicts I sometimes get when starting for scratch. It took me three hours tio get my modem to work properly again.

Maybe I will just copy my current HD to a spare one I have lying around so if I get in trouble again I can just copy it back.

Anyone know the procedure to copy an HD from another?

Thanks
Paul

 

Another one worthy of consideration is Instant Recovery .

It's operating system independent and backs up everything on your drive. When restoring, you need not reload the operating system or any drivers since it uses its own self contained OS. It works great when installing a new hard drive and using the old backup instead of having to reinstall everything using original disks, etc.

It works with all operating systems so you'll be all set for XP and any others that may come along.

It's also cheaper than most alternatives.

Whatever you decide, be sure it is capable of backing up system files as well as data. Many backups can't handle all system files and especially XP system files. Read their specs carefully to determine if they're capable of creating a "Bootable" backup image!

Good luck.

 

pwgphoto

As far as I am concerned, Ghost is the only way to go.

I have used it extensively and I can restorm my entire C:\ drive (or any other I choose) in about 53 seconds (1.048 GB).

Before I do any update or install anything on my computer, I make a ghost image of my C: If the new thing goes wrong, I use4 my ghost image and go on like nothing happened.

Having Ghost makes you absolutely fearless.

Bill

 

Do the newer versions of Ghost work with NTFS formatting yet? I have a copy here (2000) that I was about to use and then I realized that it couldn't do NTFS.

 

Here's what Symantec says.

And here's what Radified says.

Daizy