Author Topic: Need help with back up (Read 5584 times)

Bobh · « **on:** January 15, 2010, 02:57:16 PM »

Hi -
I am running Vista Home Basic 32 bit. I am trying to run a back up. I insert a disc and the program formats the disc and starts the back up. After a while it asks for another disc. I put in another disc but the program never formats the disc as it did the firest one and it tells me there is no disc inserted. I was told that the second disc had to be formated before being inserted. I started over and when it came time for the second disc, I inserted one that I formated before starting the program. Again the program said no disc was inserted. I hope this is plain enough for somebody to tell me what I am doing wrong. Thanks Bob

patio · « **Reply #1 on:** January 15, 2010, 03:37:17 PM »

I'm not trying to discourage you from backing up...far from it.
But i found the Windows built in backup utilities flakey and a bit clunky.

One option you have would be to pre-format a bunch of CD's using your CD/DVD burning app..
Try that and see if things change.

If not Post back and i can suggest some alternative approaches for you...

Allan · « **Reply #2 on:** January 15, 2010, 03:39:51 PM »

I'm not going to wait for you to post back

. Your best backup solution is disk imaging. There are any number of good choices, both paid and free. If I were you (or ANYONE), I'd look into it.

Bobh · « **Reply #3 on:** January 15, 2010, 03:58:50 PM »

Patio -
When I formated the disc I right clicked on the RW (E:) and a panel came up that had
"format" in the list. I clicked on that. Can you explain more about "using your CD/DVD burning app" I have never burned a DVD. Thanks Bob

Bobh · « **Reply #4 on:** January 15, 2010, 04:02:25 PM »

Allen -
I don't know what "disk imaging" is. Can you explain to some one who doesn't know much about computers. Thanks Bob

Allan · « **Reply #5 on:** January 15, 2010, 05:27:06 PM »

The software essentially takes a "snapshot" of your hd. You can restore the entire drive, partition, or any files or folders at any time in the future. I image my system partition twice a week and save it to a separate hd, keep the 3 newest images. Acronis True Image is, in my opinion, the best of breed. It is not free. There are a number of excellent free options as well.

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGLL_enUS304US305&q=disk+imaging

Bobh · « **Reply #6 on:** January 15, 2010, 06:05:02 PM »

Allan -
Thanks for your reply. I will work on this tomarrow. Bob

Broni · « **Reply #7 on:** January 15, 2010, 06:07:23 PM »

Acronis True Image: http://www.acronis.com/ - not free, but the best

Free alternatives:
- Macrium Reflect: http://www.macrium.com/ReflectFree.asp (highly recommended)
- DriveImage XML: http://www.runtime.org/driveimage-xml.htm
- SelfImage: http://www.excelcia.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=21
- Paragon Drive Backup: http://www.paragon-software.com/home/db-express/

Bobh · « **Reply #8 on:** January 16, 2010, 06:16:02 AM »

Broni -
Thanks for your reply. I downloaded your free recommendation. I chose the free one because I do not have anything really really important to save. I only use my computer to e-mail, do jig saw puzzles, get weather, etc. Loosing everything and starting over is something I have done a couple of times in my learning process. I will try this way of backing up my files. Bob

Bobh · « **Reply #9 on:** January 16, 2010, 06:27:34 AM »

Patio -
OK I figured out that when I put a DVD in the tray and downloaded I was burning a DVD. I did pre-formatted a couple of DVDs and tried to use them but when it came time to use the second DVD I kept getting a message that said there was no disc inserted. I would still like to make my own back up but if I can't I am going to use the recommendation that Broni gave me. If you want to make other suggestions I will try them. Thanks for your time. Bob

patio · « **Reply #10 on:** January 16, 2010, 08:51:37 AM »

I would go ahead and use the Macrium Reflect...it works well as i personally tested it myself and it's far easier than the Vista backup.

Bobh · « **Reply #11 on:** January 16, 2010, 01:07:31 PM »

Patio -
I very carefully formatted 2 discs. I know they were formatted because afterwards they had 4.37GB free. However, the back up program continued to say there was no disc inserted. I give up. I will just use Macrium Reflect as you and others suggest. It just bothers me that something does not work like it is supposed to. I thank you and others who helped me with this problem. Could not get along with you. Bob

patio · « **Reply #12 on:** January 16, 2010, 02:48:20 PM »

Bob...
i understand your frustration... Vista backup suxx...
Macrium will handle it...

Bobh · « **Reply #13 on:** January 17, 2010, 06:36:24 AM »

Patio -
Boy I have got to be more careful what I write. What I meant to say was, " I could not get along WITHOUT you." Bob

patio · « **Reply #14 on:** January 17, 2010, 06:37:11 AM »

Bobh · « **Reply #15 on:** January 17, 2010, 07:29:16 PM »

Hi -
I followed the suggestions and downloaded Macrium Reflect. I have copied the instructions but they have some instructions that don't exactly match what comes up on my monitor. I get the idea and I think I can figure it out. But a couple of questions to get me started. I am running Vista Home Basic 32 bit. My hd has 2 partitions: C & D. Do I want to back up both of these? I guess I want the back up put on DVDs or is there someplace to put it? If I use DVDs should they be formated before inserting them (I'm assuming I will need several) or can I use non-formatted ones? Please bear with me, I'm on a learning curve. Thanks Bob

patio · « **Reply #16 on:** January 18, 2010, 06:46:00 AM »

Concentrate on backing up C: for now...D: may be a hidden recovery partition for restoring the machine back to Day One status...if that's the case there is a different method for creating the Recovery CD's...

Bobh · « **Reply #17 on:** January 18, 2010, 07:42:44 AM »

Patio -
OK I will try C when I get through running my security. I want to make sure all the bad stuff is gone before I try a back up. Thanks Bob

patio · « **Reply #18 on:** January 18, 2010, 08:16:50 AM »

Good idea Bob...you're an astute Student !

Bobh · « **Reply #19 on:** January 18, 2010, 01:01:49 PM »

Patio -
I did it!!! I ran my security and called up Macrium Reflect and followed the instructions (guessing at a couple) and it ran a back up of "C". It took 3 discs. They need not be formatted before as the program will do it when you insert a new disc. I am not going to try to back up "D" as it is the registry and several people have told me to leave that alone. If anything happens to "D" I have a disc to use to start over. Thanks for your help and time. Bob

patio · « **Reply #20 on:** January 18, 2010, 01:40:49 PM »

Excellent ! !

Post more info on your machine and let's get those Recovery CD's built...
You don't neccessarily need them now that you have a succesful image created...but it's good to have for peace of mind anyways...

Bobh · « **Reply #21 on:** January 18, 2010, 03:29:09 PM »

Patio -
I hope this is what you want, if it is not or if you want more let me know and I will try to find it.
Windows Vista Home Basic
Intel Celeron D CPU 3.33 GHz
1.50 GB RAM
Intel 82945G Express Chipset Family

I don't know what this is but I copied it from a "Welcome" page. I know there is a page that has more information but I could not find it. Bob

Bobh · « **Reply #22 on:** January 18, 2010, 05:59:15 PM »

Patio -
My computer is an E Machine (built by Gateway). While I was looking at programs to find more information about my computer I found a page " eMachines Recovery Center" I wish I could give you a screen shot but I tried that and found out that I did not know how. This page had 4 items listed:

Recovery - Factory system recovery
Programs - Application recovery - Add/Remove Programs
Hardware - Device driver recovery - eMachines User Guide
Applications and Drivers external media - Create Application and Drivers recovery disc

It sounds like I can go to these programs to recover somethings. I have not tried any
of these nor do I know where I can get any explanation. Do you know where I can get help with E Machine computer? Bob

bahala2142 · « **Reply #23 on:** January 18, 2010, 10:59:38 PM »

maybe ure CD was the problem try another CD becoz some CD`s that was burn was have a problem....

ImnoGuru · « **Reply #24 on:** January 19, 2010, 03:19:19 AM »

Pardon me Bobh, for butting in. I saw in the thread that Broni suggested some free backup software and went there.

Broni, I wanted to find out what the paid edition means when they say, password protection, please.

Does that mean it will save the passwords or you can create a password for your files?

Thank you Broni and Bobh.

Bobh · « **Reply #25 on:** January 19, 2010, 04:58:33 AM »

Imnoguru -
I do not know the answer to your question. Bob

BC_Programmer · « **Reply #26 on:** January 19, 2010, 05:54:46 AM »

Quote from: ImnoGuru on January 19, 2010, 03:19:19 AM

Pardon me Bobh, for butting in. I saw in the thread that Broni suggested some free backup software and went there.

Broni, I wanted to find out what the paid edition means when they say, password protection, please.

Does that mean it will save the passwords or you can create a password for your files?

Thank you Broni and Bobh.

Imnoguru: think about the name. password, <protection> if it was saving the passwords, would it be called that? I can see how one might see it as "protecting" your passwords from getting lost, but in common parlance "password protection" means that a password is issued onto something so that only somebody knowing that password can access whatever is protected.

In this case, the image file.

ImnoGuru · « **Reply #27 on:** January 19, 2010, 06:06:48 AM »

Thanks Bobh for the reply, I see that BC_Programmer has the answer I was looking for. Thank you BC_Programmer.
I thought I was on the right track... but as they say the only silly question is the one you don't ask.

Bobh, I was looking through post for answers to questions, that I had been thinking of myself since obtaining my laptops.

Thank you all.

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Author Topic: Need help with back up (Read 5584 times)

Bobh

patio

Allan

Bobh

Bobh

Allan

Bobh

Broni

Bobh

Bobh

patio

Bobh

patio

Bobh

patio

Bobh

patio

Bobh

patio

Bobh

patio

Bobh

Bobh

bahala2142

ImnoGuru

Bobh

BC_Programmer

ImnoGuru