Backup Software

[sarcasticone]

I'm looking for a way to backup my laptop which runs Windows Vista Home Premium.

What I am wanting is to backup everything. I would like to be able to back up all my programs so that if something goes wrong I can just reinstall everything form that backup and not have to go through and reinstall all the programs from their original CD/DVD.

I borrowed (to first see if it would do what I want before buying one) and tried using a FreeAgent Go external harddrive and the included software which seems to backup the program files but I think where my problem is going to be is reinstalling the program files and having the computer be able to run the program(s).

I hope this makes sense.

If this isn't possible then that's fine, I just figured if there was a way to not have to go through reinstalling everything from the original CD/DVD then that would make life easier if something were to go wrong and I needed to reload the laptop.

thanks

 

[Gooberlx2]

Acronis TrueImage
DriveImage XML

 

[pcgeek11]

Originally posted by: Gooberlx2
Acronis TrueImage
DriveImage XML

:thumbsup:

 

[Chiefcrowe]

i love Acronis Trueimage myself!

 

[sarcasticone]

ok, so both software listed above have the ability to backup my entire systems and restore everything without the need of having to go through and reinstall everything from the original CD/DVD? also, for programs that have registration keys, will all that be saved as well or will I have to go through those programs and register them again?

Of the 2 listed, which one would be best to use? I see DriveImage XML is free for private use and that Acronis has multiple versions of it's software. Is either one better than the other? Is Acronis True Image worth the cost of purchasing over DriveImage XML which is free?

If Acronis True Image, which version should I go with? Acronis True Image Home 2009? or...?

This would be mainly for my personal laptop but I see you can save $30 on a second Home version so I would be able to purchase two licenses and backup but my laptop and desktop computer.

Thanks!

 

[sourceninja]

Clonezilla is a free tool that works well for this.

Honestly, I wouldn't bother with backing up my install, just my documents. Installing and putting the apps back is trivial. If you got that route, take a look at mozy or carbonite or even crashplan.

 

[mc866]

I personally have had the best luck with Acronis, it will allow you to make backup images of your hard drive. Which basically allows you to restore your PC exactly the way it was when the image was taken. So you don't have to worry about license keys or reinstalling windows, the only think you would have to keep in mind is any changes to your files/system between when you did the backup and when you restored the file.

Edit: True Image Home 2009 seems to be the latest version and will be perfect for most home users so that is the version I would go with.

 

[Fusion5303]

never cared much for ghost let alone getting it to work right. Acronis very nice. Perfect Image by Avanquest has paragon support in it's software. Seems to be really nice software. Also you can look into Migo PC Backup another to rated backup program.

 

[sarcasticone]

Originally posted by: sourceninja
Honestly, I wouldn't bother with backing up my install, just my documents. Installing and putting the apps back is trivial. If you got that route, take a look at mozy or carbonite or even crashplan.

yes, it may seem trivial but I don't exactly care to sit there and switch disc in and out and go through the whole process of installing everything if I don't have to. Obviously a free program to do all that is nice but even to spend a little to get the convenience is worth it for me.

I don't store documents on the computer anyway, those are all located on a network harddrive that gets backed up separately. And if I am away from my home network then the files I need will be loaded on my flash drive.

 

[sarcasticone]

Originally posted by: mc866
I personally have had the best luck with Acronis, it will allow you to make backup images of your hard drive. Which basically allows you to restore your PC exactly the way it was when the image was taken. So you don't have to worry about license keys or reinstalling windows, the only think you would have to keep in mind is any changes to your files/system between when you did the backup and when you restored the file.

Edit: True Image Home 2009 seems to be the latest version and will be perfect for most home users so that is the version I would go with.

do you know if I would be able to just go back and reinstall just the programs from the backup and not the operating system?

The laptop has a recovery console for the windows, so as long as nothing happened to that I can just use that to restore the windows system/files. Then could I go into the backup from Acronis and just reinstall the programs and not the operating system? or would I have to reinstall the complete backup image?

Thanks again for everyone's responses, I appreciate the help.

 

[Rottie]

Originally posted by: sarcasticone

Originally posted by: mc866
I personally have had the best luck with Acronis, it will allow you to make backup images of your hard drive. Which basically allows you to restore your PC exactly the way it was when the image was taken. So you don't have to worry about license keys or reinstalling windows, the only think you would have to keep in mind is any changes to your files/system between when you did the backup and when you restored the file.

Edit: True Image Home 2009 seems to be the latest version and will be perfect for most home users so that is the version I would go with.

do you know if I would be able to just go back and reinstall just the programs from the backup and not the operating system?

The laptop has a recovery console for the windows, so as long as nothing happened to that I can just use that to restore the windows system/files. Then could I go into the backup from Acronis and just reinstall the programs and not the operating system? or would I have to reinstall the complete backup image?

Thanks again for everyone's responses, I appreciate the help.

Yes you can do that with True Image 2009 even if you image or back up the whole hard drive and then you can able to retore indiviual files/folders. that is why I love True Image 2009

 

[sarcasticone]

I was looking at the Home 2009 version from Acronis and noticed it has a recovery console. Will this interfere with the windows recovery console built into the laptop for restoring the windows system?

 

[Chiefcrowe]

true image home 2009 is the latest which is what I use. I got a rebate also so it ended up being about 18 bucks via amazon!

i've never used the recovery console partition though... i just boot from the cd and then restore that way.

 

[sarcasticone]

care to share where you got the rebate

ok, so it's another partition on the main harddrive.

 

[sourceninja]

Originally posted by: sarcasticone

Originally posted by: sourceninja
Honestly, I wouldn't bother with backing up my install, just my documents. Installing and putting the apps back is trivial. If you got that route, take a look at mozy or carbonite or even crashplan.

yes, it may seem trivial but I don't exactly care to sit there and switch disc in and out and go through the whole process of installing everything if I don't have to. Obviously a free program to do all that is nice but even to spend a little to get the convenience is worth it for me.

I don't store documents on the computer anyway, those are all located on a network harddrive that gets backed up separately. And if I am away from my home network then the files I need will be loaded on my flash drive.

Well then, I suggest clonezilla.