Which backup software is popular ?

View Poll Results: Which is the best backup software you use?

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  • Windows System Restore

    2 10.00%
  • Symantec Norton Ghost

    3 15.00%
  • Acronis True Image

    11 55.00%
  • Other....

    4 20.00%
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Thread: Which backup software is popular ?

  1. #1
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    Which backup software is popular ?

    Just interested to know, who thinks what is best....

    Windows System Restore ?
    Symantec Norton Ghost
    Acronis True Image ?
    Any other backup software ?

  2. #2
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    Acronis True Image. It beats all the others hands down as far as I'm concerned.
    Nick.

  3. #3
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    HAN is offline Virtual PC Specialist!!!
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    My fav is ShadowProtect Desktop. It is a bit pricier than many but IMO, it's an excellent program. (My 2nd fav is Image for Windows/Image for DOS. Rock solid but not as fast as ShadowProtect.)

  4. #4
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    I haven't used either of HANs progs but Trueimage has been great for me.

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  5. #5
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    Still using Ghost 2003 here, I only run it from a boot floppy!

    But there are lots of options out there and TrueImage seems to be the favorite.

    Check the Backup listing at our sister site.
    http://www.sysopt.com/forum/showthread.php?t=162275

    Some of you just may find other listings there of interest.

  6. #6
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    I agree, Acronis True Image.


    With Ghost2003, if you boot off a boot disk then NTFS partitions wont be seen. i use a windows 98 dos boot disk to boot into a FAT32 then launch ghost.exe, Acronis is totally difffernt, it even lets you boot without a boot disk before even the OS starts.

    But also isnt Windows system restore the same?, if you create a restore point just before you make a change? then you can roll back? or you cant really rollback like you can with Acronis before the OS starts ?

    btw, does anyone know how to get access to the restore points on the hard drive for windows system restore? i know there is system volume information folder but it wont let you access it, what if you want to save the restore points somewhere else before a reinstall or format for example?
    Last edited by shahan; December 23rd, 2008 at 03:38 PM.

  7. #7
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    HAN is offline Virtual PC Specialist!!!
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    But also isnt Windows system restore the same?
    No, not even remotely close. An image is everything on that partition. System Restore deals only with files deemed necessary by Microsoft (I don't think I've ever seen a definitive list of what is included and what's left out.) IMO, System Restore is better than nothing... but not much.

    btw, does anyone know how to get access to the restore points on the hard drive for windows system restore?
    I've seen ways to do it but it's convoluted. Microsoft intentionally made it difficult to access. It's certainly nothing I would ever recommend anyone try to do. There are too many other great alternatives.

    what if you want to save the restore points somewhere else before a reinstall or format for example?
    I can almost guarantee that would never work. System Restore doesn't back everything up and therefore could not restore everything needed. Keep in mind that Microsoft now has an imaging program built into the best versions of Vista. Even they know it's a better way...

  8. #8
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    I also prefer Ghost 2003 .. it came with my copy of Norton System Works Pro
    Acronis may be very good, but I have not tried it. Now, when / if I ever move to
    Vista or WIndows 7 (or whatever new system they think of) then I would need
    something else as Ghost 2003 doesn't work with Vista file systems.

  9. #9
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    I don't think, System Restore should be listed as a backup method, since as Han said, it backs up only system files.

  10. #10
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    What about Symantec Norton Go-back ?

    (specially when you dont want to create an image as it would take time and/or slow down the computer and you have to leave it alone while it does it)

    any way how often do you do an image of your pc? i guess, if you make changes frequently and install stuff more often like me you have do a drive image again everytime, unless you use Symantec Norton Go-back, even Acronis secure zone which puts the pc in a shell gets slow.

  11. #11
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    Making an image is designed to save you time getting your pc up n running in the event of a nasty failure. If the things you do everyday are PRICELESS and you can't afford ANY downtime, then yes, the more often you make an image the easier...Don't forget a simple copy n paste of important data to a flash drive only take a couple of minutes.

    So everyone and every situation is different.
    If you're happy and you know it......it's your meds.

  12. #12
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    Why do thing I back up all my graphics first thing. Yep hate to lose them.
    Data CDs/DVDs are easy to do and there are external drives to boot. All kinds of options available. just have to decide what fills the bill for your usage.
    I make a copy of my Data disk and store them off site. Just in case something drastic happens.

  13. #13
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    what is your opinion of Norton Go-back ?

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by shahan View Post
    what is your opinion of Norton Go-back ?
    I WOULD NOT TOUCH IT!

    Do a search here in the forums for go-back.

    You will not believe the amount of trouble it gave folks.

  15. #15
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    System backups or complete images should ALWAYS be backed up to a different physical drive/medium than the C drive. In it's default state, GoBack is tied to the C drive (I don't know if this can be changed.) If the C drive goes bad, is stolen or damaged by fire, weather, etc., you may well end up with nothing. Add to these serious problems what Train says about GB reliability.

    GB seems to be an easy solution. But IMO, it's a bad way to go if you really want protection...

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