What backup software are you using?

[peteg]

Hi Darrell,

I have SyncBack set up to run a backup every 30 minutes, and I turned on copy verification to verify the integrity of the backup. SyncBack has all sorts of cool features, like it will email you an error log, can back up to an FTP directory etc.

Lifehacker has a good, easy to follow how to that got me started. That is here

[LoungeLizard]

For data, I use Microsoft's SyncToy

For operating system drive, I use the imaging software that came with my computer.

[hhscr]

For the Syncback users.

Does the program make the backup into a compressed archive file or is it an exact copy of the file tree

I am testing the Acronis product and it creates an archive file.

I think I would rather have a file structure copy that would not have to be accessed from an archived file.

What is your thoughts?

[DJ.]

Originally Posted by hhscr

For the Syncback users.

Does the program make the backup into a compressed archive file or is it an exact copy of the file tree

I am testing the Acronis product and it creates an archive file.

I think I would rather have a file structure copy that would not have to be accessed from an archived file.

What is your thoughts?

You can right click on the image file and mount it as another drive letter. After mounting it displays just like your original drive and you can drag and drop to anywhere.

[peteg]

Darrell, I believe you can set SyncBack to create a compressed archive (I have never done this) or exactly copy the file and folder structure (this is what I do). Did I mention it's free?

[bfphoto]

I agree with Dave, Acronis is one of the best out there and is highly recommended by various PC user groups.

[thedutt]

Originally Posted by bfphoto

I agree with Dave, Acronis is one of the best out there and is highly recommended by various PC user groups.

Software backup is a good idea (if nothing else exists), but given how cheap hardware is these days, there is a strong reason to run a Mirrored RAID in your computer (with x monthly DVD backup). In fact windows XP professional can be tweaked with some registry hacking to support software mirroring (xp server comes with it by default). THis way, you have an exact same copy of your data living on 2 drives. Everything you copy, gets copied to 2 drives at the same time. Another benifit, read time is reduced to half (though write time can be marginally increased)