Backup software used/suggestions

[haslamjd]

What is a good (low cost) back-up solution that you use, and why do you like it?

I need to backup my files soon (as they should have been done long ago), and I want a good, fast, and easy to use system that is dependable and not too expensive. Also, is it better to use removable media (disc/tape), or buy an external hard drive for this? I have two computers, one with two hard drives (360 GIG total), and one with 120 GIG. I can restore all software programs (less updates) from disc media, by client data is what I need to safeguard.

Thanks for any suggestions.

[Sidewinder]

I have always found NTBackup to work quite well. NTBackup runs at a reasonable speed, is free and it meets my number one priority of being idiot-proof. (XP Home users need to manually install NTBackup from the ValueAdd directory on the install disk)

NTBackup does not work with CD or DVD media but is great with an external disk. It's easily scheduled on the Windows scheduler and can be run from a command or script file. One nice feature is the the backup catalog can be recreated from the backup should it become corrupt or lost.

Commerial programs can be found with Google.   Cobian makes a free backup.

Note: NTBackup is known as Backup on Win9x machines.

Good luck.   8-)

[soybean]

Note: NTBackup is [highlight]known as Backup[/highlight] on Win9x machines.

And, on Win XP, right? In other words, it's found via Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Backup.

[Sidewinder]

And, on Win XP, right? In other words, it's found via Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Backup.

Yeah, go figure. Microsoft was never known to be consistent.

[LegoLas]

And I use Acronis True Image Corporate Workstation.
I like it cause it's rather cheap for utility that can backup/restore/clone/create bootable disk over network.
Also, i've used Universal Restore feature to restore on bare-metal my full system(even OS and drivers).
anyway, check that out

[aclambert]

OK - I used the windows system tools- Files and Settings Transfer Wizard to back up my drive to an external drive because I need a new hard drive.  However, when I look at my external drive, I can't see the files.  Are they hidden somehow?  How do I check that they have actually transferred?

[toughguy4]

You can try a test restore. You can do the restore to a file and make sure your stuff is there. Make sure you backup system state if you want your windows config on your new HD

[WillyW]

What is a good (low cost) back-up solution that you use, and why do you like it?

Check out Syncback:

Free.
Simple.
Does not use proprietary compression.   Uses plain old Zip files.
In other words,  having and using Syncback is not required to get your data back.  

http://www.snapfiles.com/get/SyncBack.html

http://www.2brightsparks.com/downloads.html#freeware


Cobian was mentioned above.   You can read about it, and download it here:
http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,23148-order,1-page,1/description.html


These programs are nice for backing up to another hard drive - internal or external.

I need to backup my files soon (as they should have been done long ago), and I want a good, fast, and easy to use system that is dependable and not too expensive. Also, is it better to use removable media (disc/tape), or buy an external hard drive for this? I have two computers, one with two hard drives (360 GIG total), and one with 120 GIG. I can restore all software programs (less updates) from disc media, by client data is what I need to safeguard.

Thanks for any suggestions.

"...is it better to use..."

"Better" depends on lots of things.  
Speed.
Ease of use.... which often translates into frequency of use.
and so on...

A tape drive, with appropriate software can be very dependable.
IF it is used regularly.
One method, for example,  would be to purchase seven tapes.   Rotate them daily, one for each day of the week.
Have the backup run via scheduling software, - daily.
Now you've got daily backups, and if a tape should fail just when you need it,  the worst case is that you've lost only the last 24 hours of data.
This method is not the least expensive though.
And you need to buy new  tapes regularly.  They wear.

Hard drives:
Internal or external -  they are machines with moving parts, so eventually they wear out and die.    So, if you are backing up to a hard drive,  you are really just hedging your bet that your daily working drive and your backup drive do not fail at the same time.
For many people,  this is fine.    Depends on your situation.   You get to decide.

Even if you use something like Syncback with another hard drive,  you should get yourself on some sort of schedule to burn the backed up data to CD.    For most of us,  burning to CD is a pain in the *censored* because we have to track down the most recent copy of our data,  for each app we want to back up.    At least using something like Syncback makes that simple.   Set Syncback up once and it takes care of that part.   You come along once a week or month or whatever suits you,  and simply burn the backed up data that is all stored already for you.   You don't have to go find each piece.