Windows Backup Utility...

I noticed in the backup poll above that no one else is using the Windows Backup Utility except me. I use it to manually backup about once a month. My post in that thread: http://www.windowsbbs.com/showpost.php?p=389442&postcount=16

Is there something wrong with this program?

Should I be using something else?

 

I use it. It is not the integrity of the backed up data that is the problem, if that is what you are worried about. I suspect the reason most don't use it is because restoring XP is problematic in any case. I have never been successful restoring the registry and various other things when XP breaks. The only way to really guarantee you can fully recover is to create a disk image which would require a bootable backup program (Windows can't be running when you back it up) and that could not be automated easily. In any case 'ntbackup' does not do that.

I use it because I am backing up just data files with no illusion that backing up the OS is worthwhile, plus I can automate and schedule the backups. The only difference is I back up to a SCSI VXA-2 tape drive.

In your case, if you don't mind doing it manually, I'd suggest you use some bootable disk copying program (Partition Magic comes to mind or even a free Linux on a bootable CD with 'cpio' would work. Then set your backup partition to the same size as the system partition, boot the program, and clone the system partition onto the spare. To restore, just reverse the process using the same software.

 

When I said Windows could not be running I didn't mean in the sense that the backup would not run, I meant that the system state backup would be useless. While Windows can be running when they run, 'ntbackup' will run too, but I have never seen a single one of those successfully restore a broken Windows when the backup was done or restored while Windows was active.

 

Creating an image backup for system disk when using Acronis True Image Home ...
When creating/writing the file, user can have Windows loaded / running -(OR)- use Acronis Boot / Rescue CD, user option.
When restoring an image back to system drive, user must use a Acronis Boot / Rescue CD or an equivalent. Windows can NOT be loaded.

 

I have used Acronis True Image (ver. 7) extensively and can attest to its ability to restore the system drive to full bootability for any date that a backup image is available.

A system drive restore can be initiated from within a Windows session and when you do that, it will offer to reboot in order to complete the request. It requires no boot CD or floppy under that circumstance since it invokes its own special boot program code.

If the system is unbootable, you will need to have the install CD or the rescue CD or floppies on hand to boot to an Acronis session and perform the restore operation.

Both ways work equally well and I have never had any problems deploying older images. I do it often when testing new software and want to return the drive to the condition it was before the test. It relieves me of wondering if some strange program might have left some junk in the Registry that could cause problems later.

It has a scheduler feature that allows me to make automatic daily incremental backup images, which take less than 4 minutes daily at first boot. I keep the last 3 months of those stored on a second hard drive.

It has kept me safe from having to re-install Windows and I consider it the best software investment I have ever made.