Backup software?

[jo]

I pushed the magic button on my external hard drive this morning to get an incremental backup and it proceeded to delete all the data and start backing up all over again instead of doing the 10-20 minute incremental backup that it usually does. After 5 hours I had to leave to babysit my grandson and I have no idea how much longer it ran. I don't know why it decided to wipe out the data and start all over again, but maybe I need to buy a good backup software package. Anybody have any suggestions?

[genevh]

I use Second Copy. You can set up various profiles for different backups you may want to do, schedule your backups, etc. You can get it here (http://www.secondcopy.com/). The latest version is $29.95. And you can go to Download.com (http://www.download.com/) and do a search there and find a bunch of freeware programs, also if you want to go that route. I am sure there are others here that have used various backup programs that will let you know their experiences.

[baderms]

I use SyncbackSE. There is a freeware version that you can get from here (http://www.2brightsparks.com/downloads.html). It's rated as one of the best available and has a lot of different features not found in other backup programs (no I don't work for them:D ).

[Carbone]

How much free space on your external drive?
Have you rebooted lately?
Have you run disk maintenance on your computer (defrag, check for surface errors, etc.) ?

Ray

[ClickCardo]

I use Acronis True Image 10.0 to full+incremental "image" the drive(s)/partition(s) that has my operating system(s) on it. This makes an exact copy of everything on the drive to another drive so if you lose your OS hard drive it's a very, very, easy restore right back to the EXACT place you left off. No re-installing Windows and remembering all the little tewaks you made. This is a must have program.

It also backs up individual files, but I use the free Cobian Backup 8 program for the data files/folders I do backup because it keeps the m backed up in the same format as the original.

You can Google both to find where to get them. I got Acronis at Amazon.com and Cobian at their own website.

Good luck.

[jo]

How much free space on your external drive?
Have you rebooted lately?
Have you run disk maintenance on your computer (defrag, check for surface errors, etc.) ?

Ray
That external drive is a Western Digital 120 gig with 28 gig free space right now. It may have been less before I pushed the *&^ button. I rarely turn it off -- rarely, like once in several months. I run defrags on the internal drive but I've only done a check on the external once and Windows told me it didn't need a defrag. I wonder if that's when it decides to delete all and start all over again.

The good thing is that before I delete files from the hard drive I back up to the external and also copy them to cd/dvd, so I haven't lost any data. It just bothers me that the external's software sometimes does a "start from scratch!"

Anyway, I bought a bigger one that I haven't plugged in yet - 250 gig. That should hold me for a while. :rolleyes:

[jo]

Mark, Gene, and ClickCardo, thanks for the pointers. I'll check them all out. Maybe I should try Acronis on the 120 gig Western Digital for a full backup with programs and all. Then something else for files and incremental backups on the new 250 gig drive -- if I can find a free USB port... :)

[Carbone]

What I meant is rebooting your computer itself, and defrag / checked the internal C: drive. Often the case, an error on a disk will cause the backup software to fail or stop.

Ray

[jo]

I turn the computer off every night and every time I leave the house, Ray. And I probably run a defrag on the C drive once a month whether Windows thinks it needs it or not. Check for surface errors? I guess I don't do that 'cause I don't know where to find it. I suppose I should look at the disk utilities more carefully. :o

The backup didn't fail, it just took a wide detour.

[GraceT]

Check for surface errors? I guess I don't do that 'cause I don't know where to find it. I suppose I should look at the disk utilities more carefully. :

In Windows XP, click Start > My Computer > right click Local Disk (C) > Properties > Tools > Error Checking

I run the Error Checking before I run the Diskeeper defrag software. Error checking takes a long time and I have read that if there is a power failure while running error checking or defragging that the hard drive might crash. I don't run the error checking or defrag very often unless I have deleted a lot of files and folders and uninstalled software programs.

[virgo1]

I have Acronis True Image on a WD MyBook (500 G) and it's a good thing. This afternoon the internal drive (F) I use for the Archive died. I didn't lose anything, it's on the WD external. Woowee, was that a close one. This machine has to go to the shop Saturday to find the problem. It can be as simple as a loose cable or the drive is toast. Oh well, as least I have a laptop. Would it be redundant to backup the backup?
Eva;)

[genevh]

Yes...that is redundant....but not a bad idea. :) And then get the 2nd backup to a safe place. Preferably not in the same place with the first one. What good are multiple backups if they are all sitting on the same shelf and the house happens to burn down taking that shelf with it? Just a thought. And yes, right now I would lose all my stuff too except for what is on my site.