Backing-up Files,etc.

[Grandpappy]

If I (at the command prompt) enter the line xcopy c: j: /d/s does this mean that I will copy everything from my c drive to my external drive j and if at a later date I then add the letter e before the /s I will just copy newer file/s ? Does this mean that I can dispense with a 'third party' for doing my backups?
And if so ,what then would be the command to transfer all of my files back to c in the event of a catastrophe?
Any help on this subject ,please?
Cheers

[MarkRae]

Assuming that your C: drive is "active" i.e. the one on which Windows is running, then there are thousands of files which xcopy won't have access to because they will be in use by Windows. Xcopy is a throwback from DOS and, as such, is really not suited to doing backups in this way.

If you want to do a complete system backup so that you can, as you say, restore in the event of a catastrophe then you really will need to use third-party software which will allow you to create boot media. You will boot the machine from this (so that it's not running from your C: drive), and this will then allow you take a complete "snapshot" of the entire drive.

Doing this is a very sensible thing to do. I do it once a month, or just before doing a major update such as applying a new service pack.

I use this: http://www.acronis.co.../products/trueimage/. Less than forty quid...

[VHG]

As Mark says, what you want to do is no use. The xcopy command wont copy hidden files or system files for example.

Anyway, if, as a you say, you have a catastrophe , and Windows wont start, where are you going to type this command to copy everything back onto your C drive?

I believe Windows 7 (and maybe Vista) have Backup software built in to enable you to do this, though I have not used it myself.

Acronis has been "rebadged" and given away free by some disk makers as backup software.

It is called "Disk Wizard" by Seagate/Maxtor

http://www.seagate.co.../downloads/discwizard

Western Digital also make it available free

http://support.wdc.co...addetail.asp?swid=119

Note I have never used either of these products from Seagate or WD.

[MarkRae]

> The xcopy command wont copy hidden files or system files for example.

Yes it will - that's what the /H flag is for.

Still no good for what the OP wants, though...

[Grandpappy]

I'm astounded at the speed of responses! many thanks to you both and I think I might be downloading the WD supplied Acronis and it's accompanying pdf Handbook which looks horrendously complicated.
What a way to start the New Year!
Cheers

[ChuckFickens]

"and I think I might be downloading the WD supplied Acronis"

Make sure at least one of your drives is a western digital drive then, otherwise it won't run.

[MarkRae]

I would strongly suggest that you consider your actual backup requirements first and then investigate the most appropriate hardware / software combination to meet them.

[VHG]

It is important to understand the difference between an image backup, a general backup, and a clone backup.

1) An image backup is where you run some software (like Acronis) to make an image of your hard disk that is normally held in a single compressed file (or split into multiple compressed files). This image will contain ALL the files on your hard disk (Windows files, personal files etc).

This "image" can then be used if your version of Windows crashes or is lost for some reason (or if you just want to replace it). You normally boot from the Acronis boot disk and chose Restore and it "builds" a new version of Windows on your hard disk (overwriting everything that was there).

2) A general backup (for want of a better expression) is where you backup individual personal files or folders, maybe on a regular basis (daily, weekly, monthly etc).

These individual files will NOT be enough for you to rebuild your Windows system, but it will mean you have multiple backups of your most important files and folders.

3) A clone backup is where you make a clone copy of your hard disk, perhaps if you want to take out your existing hard disk and replace it with a new one.

The clone will not be compressed, but it will be a full bit by bit, file by file copy of everything on your current hard disk.

It is probably a good idea to do an "image backup" when you first get your computer, then once every so often (every month, or every 3 months or every year or whatever).

Then you can always do a recovery of your hard disk if everything crashes.
But note when you do do a recovery it will only restore the files as it was when you took the image.

So you need to do a "general backup" of your personal files on a more regular basis:- hourly, daily, weekly etc (depending on the importance of your files). That way you always have a recent backup of your most important personal files.

Then if you get a crash you can use a combination of your "image backup" to restore Windows, and use your "general backup" to restore your recent personal files.

[VHG]

I should add that you should store these images and backups on an external hard drive, not on your main computer, as if your computer crashes you will still be able to access your external hard drive to get to the files.

Acronis and other products can access an external hard drive to do a restore if you boot from the bootable disk.

[MarkRae]

The backup regime that VHG has described is quite similar to the one I use. However, I make my living with my computers; you might not need quite so regimented a process.

But whichever backup regime you end up with, I'd strongly urge you to consider the commercial version of Acronis True Image 2012. As Chuck mentioned, if you get one of the free OEM ones, you're then tied into that particular manufacturer's hardware. This would mean that, e.g. if you got the Western Digital "branded" edition, this would tie you into WD. If your hard disk suffered a catastrophic failure, you'd then need to replace it with another WD drive. Again, this might not be important to you...

[Grandpappy]

Thanks all of you(MarkRae/Chuck &VHG).
I think I'm going to do an "Image" using Macrium Reflect (Free edition) every month for a while and then when I replace my C: hard drive for a newer and larger one I can use the "Image" to setup my new hard drive.
If I create an "Image 1" in Jan. and then an "Image2" in Feb. can I dump "Image1" and contiue in this manner until I replace my C:hard drive, or are things going to get even more complicated ??
I used to have such fun using my Oric.

[ChuckFickens]

If you are making an image of the drive, then yes, you can dump old images once the newer one has been created.

[MarkRae]

http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx

Doesn't support file and folder backup, and won't restore a disk image to dissimilar hardware, incremental / differential backup, recovery from Windows boot menu.

[ChuckFickens]

I'd also suggest not simply restoring an image when you replace the C drive, why transfer all the crap back onto the new drive, use it as an excuse to start afresh and get a nice clean system.

[Grandpappy]

Thanks again guys for all of the information. I think I'm going to buy a Western Digital 'Caviar Black' 1Tb. to replace the primary drive that came with the Dell Dimension 5150 which is sending out strange noises (ticking or clicking like!) now and again and sometimes starts running at full speed for no reason? I think the advice from ChuckFickens is probably preferable to trying to install an "Image" created with Macrium ( for the reasons given by MarkRae;even though I don't understand them) and re-install the 'system' and all of my software from their discs.My one concern is that of legality, will Microsoft allow me to install Windows7 on another hard-drive and my second concern is that of actually installing the replacement drive;is it an easy job using the particulr replacement drive I've opted for?
I'm currently running a Dell Dimension 5150( with a 150Gb hard disc) with 4Gb. of memory and Windows 7 Ultimate installed. Its 'heaviest' use is photography(video & stills) and the C: drive down to 12Gb of free space.
So thanks again to you and I really appreciate your advice
Cheers