Computer backup program

[rklepper]

I feel the need for a new backup program (PC). What is the best one to use. I have reached the end of the road for flexibility on the one I have been using. It is really quite old. Backup Exec.

Let me know what you use and highly recommend.

[OdiN1701]

BackupExec is one of the best programs out there. But it depends on what you use it for.

It's more for enterprise solutions than personal desktops.

Personally I just use 2 hard drives in a RAID 1 array which means I have a copy of everything automatically. Both my data drives are setup in this way.

[rklepper]

BackupExec is one of the best programs out there. But it depends on what you use it for.

It's more for enterprise solutions than personal desktops.

Personally I just use 2 hard drives in a RAID 1 array which means I have a copy of everything automatically. Both my data drives are setup in this way.

But you need to ability to carry one of the back up drives off site. That is why I need a program I can use to back up to. RAID arrays are nice and everything, but are really only for redundancy and not a true back up solution.

[rklepper]

Perhaps I should just get the newer version of Backup Exec. It has served me well, but I am just not sure how well I trust Symantec to not have turned the new one into bloatware, like it has everything else it has touched.

[Robert_Lay]

There are two recent versions of Symantec Ghost.
I have tried them both. One of them was originally a product of another company and sold under that name. Now it is the best of the two offered by Symantec.
I think it's version 9.0 that you would find of value.

[rklepper]

There are two recent versions of Symantec Ghost.
I have tried them both. One of them was originally a product of another company and sold under that name. Now it is the best of the two offered by Symantec.
I think it's version 9.0 that you would find of value.

Is Ghost a backup program? I thought it was for imaging computers.

[rklepper]

Well I see that Symantec sells Norton Ghost 12.0. IT does images, but also does backup and restore. I know the college used to use Ghost for distributing images to multiple computers.

[rklepper]

Ok, so can I set Ghost to do multiple backups to multiple disks at different times? I think I will take a close look at this one.

[Robert_Lay]

Ok, so can I set Ghost to do multiple backups to multiple disks at different times? I think I will take a close look at this one.
I wish I could be more specific. I am living away from home for an extended period, and everything thing that I have on the two versions of Ghost that I own is at home. If I can remember to bring it here on my next visit to the house on Monday, perhaps I can be more specific.

[OdiN1701]

But you need to ability to carry one of the back up drives off site. That is why I need a program I can use to back up to. RAID arrays are nice and everything, but are really only for redundancy and not a true back up solution.

You didn't say you needed that ability :P

I've used BackupExcec 9 and it works great.

What version do you have, and why does it no longer fit your needs?

[PeteJaffa]

I really like Acronis True Image. Although you would need it installed on any other PC to restore your data.

[JimAskew]

I really like Acronis True Image. Although you would need it installed on any other PC to restore your data.

Another vote for Acronis. I got it two years ago on the recommendations of our IT folks in the company. It is easy to use, makes a complete image of your C Drive and then does incremental updates on a schedule you select (weekly for me). It also can create a bootable CD-R which you can use to restore your HD should you experience a HD failure. Here is a link:

http://www.acronis.com/

[PeteJaffa]

Another vote for Acronis. I got it two years ago on the recommendations of our IT folks in the company. It is easy to use, makes a complete image of your C Drive and then does incremental updates on a schedule you select (weekly for me). It also can create a bootable CD-R which you can use to restore your HD should you experience a HD failure. Here is a link:

http://www.acronis.com/


It's definitely the best I've used.

[jonnythan]

What kind of media do you use for backup?

I've been using Microsoft's Synctoy along with an external hard drive. It just synchronizes a selection of directories from one place to another. It's very fast and works very well. Ideal for backing up to an external hard drive IMO.

It won't let you directly restore your OS, but I don't want something that will. I just want my data backed up. If my system gets hosed I'd rather reinstall the OS and applications from scratch.

And it's free.

[jjackflash]

http://www.fssdev.com/

this is easy to use

[lakiluno]

robocopy.

See the link in my sig. It's simple, easy to schedule and very flexible.

[slimninj4]

Lots of tools out there some free some not. I use SyncBack SE. I used the free one for a while then bought it since it did what i needed.

[steved110]

Another vote for Acronis. I got it two years ago on the recommendations of our IT folks in the company. It is easy to use, makes a complete image of your C Drive and then does incremental updates on a schedule you select (weekly for me). It also can create a bootable CD-R which you can use to restore your HD should you experience a HD failure. Here is a link:

http://www.acronis.com/

I use this one - it's good value and the reviews I read placed it above Norton's Ghost.

[bphillips330]

Ok, so can I set Ghost to do multiple backups to multiple disks at different times? I think I will take a close look at this one.

I am in the same situation that you are in. THe one thing that i don't like about ghost, is that when it does it's backups, it encapsaltes all the files in one large file, and you need ghost to view the contents. I am looking for a program that backups to mulitple drives, but i have full access to information, with out the need of a program.