Making A Backup

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Powerless

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What is a Backup?

A Backup is a copy (or copies) of a folder or file.

Why should I Backup?

A backup is important because it allows you to store a copy of a folder or file in another location. For example a picture file [*.jpeg] whilst the original file will remain on your computer's hard disk, the backup (the copy) will be stored, for example on a CD-R or another hard disk.

If your computer?s hard disk fails and all of your folders and files are lost, you can then rely upon your backup to restore all of your work.Backup to?

You can make a backup to:

1) Floppy disk

2) CD-R/RW and DVD formats

3) USB flash/Pen drive

4) A Second Internal Hard disk

5) USB External Hard DiAdvantages and Disadvantages:Floppy Disk:

Advantages: Inexpensive, ease of use.

Disadvantages: You are limited to only 1.44MB of DatCD-R/RW:

Advantages: You can store up to 700MB of Data, inexpensive when bought in bulk. CD-RW can be written to, many times.

Disadvantages: CD-R can only be written to, the one time; CD-RW has a reputation for the data to become unrecognisable by WindowsDVD Formats:

Advantages: You can store up to 4.7GB of Data.

Disadvantages: Expensive Media. (At presenUSB flash/Pen drive:

Advantages: Quick installation (Windows XP), Inexpensive (depending upon size), Fast and reliable.

Disadvantages: Need USB 2.0 hardware to transfer data at higher speeds, limited to 1GB of data, Expensive (depending upon sizeA Second Internal Hard disk:

Advantages: You can store up 250GB+ of data, no special software needed, just use it like your currently installed drive, fast transfer of data (depending on type and speed of the hard drive).

Disadvantages: Can be expensive, need to be competent in connecting

a hard drive, Need to know of BIOS settings and how to format although formatting is relatively easy in Windows XUSB External Hard Disk:

Advantages: Plug and play installation using a USB OR FIREWIRE port, ease of use.

Disadvantages: Expensive, Need to have USB2.0 or Firewire port to take advantage of higher data transferNote: There are other forms of medium that can be used to store a backup, for example a Tape drive. But this would be considered a little over the top for the average home user so it will not be discussed herUsing Windows Explorer to make the simplest of Backups

The Windows Explorer is the simplest way to make a backup. I?ll assume you have a Floppy drive for this examOpen the Windows Explorer:r: Start, Programs, Accessories, Windows ExploCreate a file:e: Right click (white open space), New, Text DocumSend To:o: Right click on the file: New Text Document, Send To and click 3? Floppy (A:).

You must have a floppy in the drive and the New Text Document will be sent to the floppy disk.

floppysendoto.JPG

You have just made your first backup. The example file could have been anything. However you are limited to 1.44MB of stoUsing Windows XP to write to a CD CD

Windows XP users can take advantage of its (limited) CD burning capabilitOpen the Windows Explorer:er: Start, Programs, Accessories, Windows ExplCreate a file:le: Right click (white open space), New, Text DocuSend To:To: Right click on the file: New Text Document, Send To and click CD-RW Drive (X:)*.

* Where X: is the letter of your CD-RW Drive.

cdrwsendto.JPG

You should now SEE a balloon tip appear.

baloontip.jpg

Click the balloon tip to open the CD writing folder. You should now see the file that is going to be written to the CD.Write these files to CD CD [top left] and this will open up the CD writing Wizard.

writexp.jpg

By default the CD name is the current Date but you change it if you wish. You can write to a CD-RW or CD-R disk and it must be in the drive before we proceed.

Nextext when there is a CD-R/RW in the drive and the writing will start.

1wizard.jpg

You are shown how many minutes are left and the writing wizard will close and the CD will be ejected when finished.

2wizard.jpg

You have just made a backup to CD, and you can have 700MB of storage to use for your backups.

p><p><a href=HOW TO: Install Backup from the CD-ROM in Windows XP Home ECD Burning Softwareng Software

CD Burning Software has many, many different purposes to creating a Video CD or an Audio CD. But they can also be used to create a backup.

The major players in tNero be <Roxio.d Roxio.

For this example I?ll be using Nero 5.5 to create a backup of a few files and folders.

Open up Nero Burning ROM.

Click File, New; selecMultisession:Multisession: Label:on

Label: If you want to give the CD a name then enter the name in the box next Burn:me:

Burn: Check Write and Finalize CD (No further writing possible!)

Now click New.

The files that will be written to the CD will be shown on the left side and the files that are on your computer are on the right side. Navigate on the right side to your files that you wish to backup. Highlight them and right Copy to compilationo compilation.

http://mysite.freeserve.com/powerimages/images/backup/nero1.jpg' alt='nero1.jpg'>

When you are ready to burn theWrite CD Write CD .

nero3.jpg

When the writing has finished you will haNote:up.

Note: The Multisession options are to do with the option of continuing to write to the CD after the CD has been written to. If you wish to write more data later on then check Start Muli?Using a CD-RW like a floppy disc? a floppy disc?

It is possible to use a CD-RW like a floppy disk using Drag-to-Disk or InCD. They in simple terms are the same thing. The CD-RW will be formatted in a way that allows files to be dragged and dropped to the CD. As a CD-RW has to be used, you can also delete files from the disk. This can be used to make a very simple backup. However it would be a good idea to make 2 backup disks as I have said before as a disadvantage of CD-RW is that CD-RW has a reputation for the data to become unrecFull System Backup>Full System Backup

What if there was way to make a full system backup of your hard drive? All of you documents, settings, applications all backed up in one go. Software such as Drive Image 7 allows you to do just that. It allows you to create an ?Image? of a hard drive. This image is your backup and as the image can be big in size, especially with modern machines, you will need a suitable storage that can hold AT LEAST 10GB or more of the image. An example would be a second hard disk. You keep the image on the second hard disk. If disaster strikes you restore the image and when the restoration has completed you will have your computer back to way it was when you took the image.

An example: 80GB hard drive to which there is 95% free space. You create an image and the image file will be 3GB. Approximately it has taken seven minutes to create this image. Now if something does go wrong you can restore the image, it takes approximately seven minutes to restore the image. If you compare this with the hours it would take you to reinstall windows, applications, tune the settings to your liking?Its clear that Drive Image has a significant advantage. If you accidentally delete a file you can browse your image to restore the file that you deleted.

The size of the image will depend upon the hard disks usage. The time it takes, to take an image will depend upon the specification of your computer. You can also use compression to make the image file smaller. With Drive Image 7 you can also backup to CD and DVD, USB drive and across a network.

http://mysite.freeserve.com/powerimages/IMPORTANT: Second (physical) Hard Diskcond (physical) Hard Disk

If you are planning to make a backup, then DO NOT keep this backup on the same hardWhy?e original file.

Why?

If the hard disk fails and you cannot gain access to your folders and files then you can also not gain access to your backup as it is on the same hard disk. So in case of a hard disk failure it makes the backup useless aA partitioned hard disk.

A partitioned hard disk

Whilst windows ?sees? two separate drives with a partitioned hard disk; there is only one physical hard disk. If you keep your backups to the second partition then you can keep them separate to the original folder and files locations. If something does go wrong, i.e. a corrupt installation that will need Windows to be reinstalled then your backups will be safe as you could reinstall windows and then restore your work from the second partition. However if the whole disk faThinking?e lost everything.

Thinking?

There is nothing wrong in making a backup to a hard disk, but to be safe, it is best to make the backup to a second hard disk. A hard disk failure is likely but tWindows ME and XP System Restore

Windows ME and XP SyIMPORTANT:DOES NOT[/u]pan>System Restore DOES NOT backup your personal folders so do not rely upon system restore. System Restore will keep the current files for example in MY DOCCUMENTS when you use System Restore to restore your computer to an earlier state. But System Restore cannot restore your personal files so pWhen to make a Backupkup device.

When to make a Backup

This will depend upon how often you use your computer and how often changes to files are made. If you are regularly making changes to files then a backup everyday would be good practice.

If you only make a few changes to files once a week then a backup once a week would be good practice.

However there is no definite answer as to when a backup should be made, it is all down to you the individual as to how you value your work. For example if you just typed the next three chapters in your soon to be released novel, it would be wise to make a backup because if anything should happen you can rely upon your backup to restore the three chapters as apposed to retyping them.

If you are going to install some new hardware or install a piece of new software, make a backup prior to the installation. 99.99% of the time, everything will run smoothly but if something dHow long to keep your backupsup.

How long to keep your backups

If you make a backup everyday then there is no need to keep the backups that you made the week before. If you make a backup once a week then there is no need to keep the backup that you made several weeks before.

How long you keep your backups is for you to decide. As long At the end of the dayu?ll be OK.

At the end of the day

As long as you have a backup of your work or your entire system then you will be safe if something does go wrong.

The ?trick? is to get into the routine of making a backup and sticking to it. If you make a backup o?Things? to rememberckup every Monday.

?Things? to remember

  • There is no point in making just one backup; you have to get into the routine of making a backup regularly. A backup that is several months old will be next to useless.
  • Choose suitable storage for backups, look at the advantages and disadvantages above and decide where you are going to place your backup.
  • If you are planning to keep your backup on a hard drive then at least partition the haIdeallyeep your backup on the second partition. Ideally you should have a second hard drive as I have said one hard drive failing is likely but two hard drives failing is unlikely.
  • If you have made a backup to external media for example a CD-R, then keep the CD-R away from the computer. If there is an intruder in the night then having the computer and the backup sitCD Burning Software:ur backup useless.

CD Burning Software:

Nero (Also Includes InCD)

Roxio EasyFull System Backup:(Also includes Drag-to-Disk )

Full System Backup:

PowerQuest Drive Image

Acronis True Image 7.0

Norton Ghost? 2003

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andi_kam

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thank you very much for the guide.

Just 2 quick questions...

- Is it possible to make backup copies of SATA hard drives because I hear people have problems with that.

- When you make an exact copy of your current computer and you restore it, do you have to have the software installed to be able to do that? Or can it be done through DOS?

thnx

andi

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RadishTM Veteran

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A decent review (Y)

Anyone know where the Powerquest Drive Image trial is?

Radish?

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Powerless

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thank you very much for the guide.

Just 2 quick questions...

- Is it possible to make backup copies of SATA hard drives because I hear people have problems with that.

- When you make an exact copy of your current computer and you restore it, do you have to have the software installed to be able to do that? Or can it be done through DOS?

thnx

andi

SATA - Not 100% sure but I would say Yes, should be no different from an IDE type drive.

Yes you have to use the program to restore, that you used to make a copy of it. :pinch:

Forget DOS.

I talked about DI7 because, Well I only use that.

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RadishTM Veteran

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I googled for you and came up with this :)

http://www.softlandmark.com/PowerQuestDriveImage.htm

Scroll down to the bottom and there are some language trials versons available for download. :)

All the links are dead apart from Symantec's link - but that will need a previous version :/

Radish?

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Chris Lee

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?Using a CD-RW like a floppy disc?

It is possible to use a CD-RW like a floppy disk using Drag-to-Disk or InCD. They in simple terms are the same thing. The CD-RW will be formatted in a way that allows files to be dragged and dropped to the CD. As a CD-RW has to be used, you can also delete files from the disk. This can be used to make a very simple backup. However it would be a good idea to make 2 backup disks as I have said before as a disadvantage of CD-RW is that CD-RW has a reputation for the data to become unrecognisable by Windows.

Hello, First, thanks for making a helpful guide.

I have a question about "Using a CD-RW like a floppy disc"

If I were to format it, would it be unformattable back into the normal type of CDRW?

would it still be able to revert back?

Thank you.

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Powerless

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Hello, First, thanks for making a helpful guide.

I have a question about "Using a CD-RW like a floppy disc"

If I were to format it, would it be unformattable back into the normal type of CDRW?

would it still be able to revert back?

Thank you.

Been sometime since I've used a CD-RW for that purpose.

But from memory no you couldn't...but i'm prepared to be corrected. ;)

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Zirus

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Hello, First, thanks for making a helpful guide.

I have a question about "Using a CD-RW like a floppy disc"

If I were to format it, would it be unformattable back into the normal type of CDRW?

would it still be able to revert back?

Thank you.

No. You can "unformat it". all you have to do is open something like Nero and go to Erase Disc. It'll still be reconized as a cd-rw, and it will take all the data off of it.

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Lechio

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I find it more usefull to:

boot with a LInux Live CD (knoppix);

create a tar.gz file of ALL the contents of my windows partition.

When i want a fresh install of my windows i just boot with the live CD and extract the backup files into to the partition.

That way you have fresh windows install that just takes about 10 min to do. :D

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