Questions About Backups

[jimsteranko]

Greetings all!
Just a couple of questions regarding backups that have occurred to me.
I've backed up my whole XP system recently (Acronis True Image) after a short period of "ticking" sounds from my HD which have since stopped, but you never know...

First, how do I check that the recovery process will work. That's regarding both the integrity of the backup and the procedure itself. I don't want to get halfway through and find some arcane message that I don't understand. IOW, how do I test it? Wiping my HD to try this is not high on my list of preferred options...

Secondly, a full backup would include my OEM copy of XP. If the mobo fries or if I try to recover to the same system with a new OS then presumably the backup would be useless?

Do people keep a full system backup to restore their existing system in the event of some sort of corruption and also a backup of data only in case a new PC (say) is required as that's what I'm tempted to do?

Any advice appreciated.

 

[m4cc45]

Well I use Symantec Ghost which is a very similar product.

Basically I install my Operating System, fully update it with graphics drivers, patches, etc. install all of my software that I use and then activate windows assuming all has gone well.

The reason I do it like the above is I know then I can go back to it at that point in time and it's fine all thats left is to install games, etc.

For data I normally have that backed up on DVD's / removable HD / USB stick or some other method.

If you try and restore your O/S to another computer then it will restore but, chances are, will require a lot of messing around with drivers to even get it to boot.

To test the image there should be something in True Image to do that - verify image or something like that?


M.

 

[jimsteranko]

m4cc45:

Thanks very much for the quick reply! I think the "data to an external HD" approach is a good one; I've got several so that shouldn't be a problem. I'll check the True Image facilities when I get home.

Thanks again!

 

[bledd]

best way to use acronis..

get it to create a bootable acronis cd, do the backup & recovery from here (ie not from within windows)