System Restore Points

[Mike Connor]

Seems quite a lot of people have trouble with system restore points.

I disable system restore functionality on my machines, as I use regular image backups for my system, and my system and data files are kept in separate partitions on my machines. One reason for disabling the system restore functionality is to save space, and reduce the size of backup images!

If you keep on setting system restore points, and a lot of software does this automatically, ( if it can! ) then you just keep on adding rubbish to your partitions.

Here are clear instructions on how to disable system restore for XP;

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310405

ONLY DO THIS IF YOU MAKE REGULAR SYSTEM BACKUPS!

Regards.....

Mike Connor

[Mike Connor]

A couple of people asked why I bother trying to reduce the "size" of image files. I don't actually care much about the size per se, but I do care about how long it takes to make an image backup!

The smaller the amount of data to be backed up, the smaller the image file!

A complete backup of my system files ( using Paragon Drive Backup Express 9.0 Free Edition), to an external USB drive ( USB 2.0 NTFS Disc, and with caching enabled ) takes just six minutes! So it is no problem at all.

If you have a system full of stuff, ( I recently backed up a system with 168 GigaByte on the "system" partition), it will take ages! The time involved also seems to be why a lot of people don't bother with backups at all! ( This is a mistake, believe me!!! ).

I used Titan backup for a while for data, but I just did a clean install of XP-Pro SP3 on a new machine, and am still undecided what backup system to use on this machine for data. I may simply copy it to an external disc.

For copying large amounts of data, then it is better to use a "special" copying program, which uses different methods to the "standard" copy program in windows. This is a lot faster. At the moment I think this is probably the best;

http://www.codesector.com/teracopy.php

( Reviewed here; http://www.techsupportalert.com/best...py-utility.htm )

Regards.....

Mike Connor

[peter]

See also:
http://www.techsupportalert.com/part...d-drives-1.htm

for more about reducing image file size.

[jim]

All good points here but, for me as far as just backing up files are concerned, you just use whatever does the job most ACCURATELY. Time usually doesn't matter because there are plenty of programs out there which will back up (or restore) overnight and shut down your machine when finished. System restore is handy and quick and has saved me (and my son) many times so, unless it gives you a problem with resources, I would let it do it's job. When it comes to imaging though things get more complicated. I have tried just about all the free and bought ones (including Acronis, Paragon etc.) and they all have given problems except one. As I understand it, you can't RELIABLY image a system while it is still running because it is changing all the time. As a result I tried a (not too expensive) paid system in which you make a backup disk which you then use to boot your system and it backs up (or restores) without running Windows at all. You can do it byte-by-bye so it validates each byte as it backs it up and with many other parameters. This one also shuts down the machine if you want when it has finished. I have used it many times and have never had a problem at any stage. The logic behind this seems good to me (unless any of you more technically savvy types have more to say) and so I have stuck with it. Yes, it is a paid-for one rather than free as we like to promote here but sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and put your hand in your pocket rather than take a chance. As it is not free I won't mention the name here unless asked (although I think I may have done elsewhere earlier) but, for me, it's the only one that really does the job and any questions for them (and I had quite a few) have always been answered within the hour - even at weekends.

[peter]

Please mention the name; it violates no rule.
Does it work reliably for Vista 64-bit?

[jim]

OK. It's called Image for Windows/Image for Dos/Image for Linux. You get all three programs in one download when you buy it (if you want). I think it was about 20 US dollars. You also get a product key for each product or one for all three in case you need to reinstall or download. I had a few problems when I first ran it so emailed. I got a reply (and on further questions) within one hour from a man called David. I assume he is a "one man band" working from home. It turned out the problem I was having (and this answers your question Peter) was because my system is Vista Home Premium 64-bit. He advised that I should use the Image for Linux version of the program. I did that and everything worked perfectly - every time. It seems that the important thing is that you burn a disk and then boot from it. You then get the option to either backup or restore, using many different parameters according to your choice. You then just remove the disk and reboot. The backup or restore is therefore done without running Windows at all and you can back up/image the whole system or just files. You also get a viewer program which enables you to view the files in their backup location and, depending on how you backup, you can just restore some of them instead of all. As you back up your operating system as well, it can therefore act as both a full imaging program or just a file backup. I really can't recommend it enough judging by my own experiences.
On another related subject, going back to just file backups: I use the free Cobian backup program as well. Scheduled or manual it just backs up exact, readable copies of any files you want to wherever you want. Very quickly too. I use it on a daily schedule to backup my every day used (and therefore changed) files. It is very simple and not a all resource hungry.
So, with System Restore, IFW and Cobian I think all my backup needs are covered - hopefully.

[peter]

I notice there's a very new version
http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/image-for-windows.htm
which claims 64-bit compatability. We'll see!

[Mike Connor]

Theoretically at least an "off-line" backup or restore is "safer" and "more reliable". in that you are basically correct. However, you can use the boot disc from Paragon to boot the machine, and backup an image from that. You DO NOT have to have the Paragon software running under Windows ( Although I use it under Windows and have never had a problem, I have installed it on loads of machines).

When you start the Paragon software in Windows, you get a screen offering to build your recovery media.



The resulting disc is bootable of course, and may be used to backup or to restore partitions or discs WITHOUT STARTING WINDOWS. To make a so called "Off-line" ( meaning without running Windows) backup, or restore. If you feel safer doing this, then fine.

In the meantime I have backed up and restored hundreds of images, and never had a problem. I keep a few images of various operating systems handy so that I can change at any time without having to install etc.

Until I got the Paragon software I used Norton Ghost, a full commercial paid version ( admittedly an old one now, also coincidentally Version 9), but it started causing me problems, and is why I changed to Paragon. I have used others, but Paragon has proven itself fast and reliable.

As I ONLY use backup images for my SYSTEM partitions, I don't need the "file-backup" capability you mention. ( This was in Norton Ghost of course, but it also caused me problems).

Usually, trying to restore "bits and pieces" of image backups simply wont work.

Regards.....

Mike Connor

[Mike Connor]

Of course, you can not restore an image to a running system from software that is running on that system, it will simply crash!

The bootable media usually uses either a Linux variant, or a proprietary operating system to boot the machine and carry out the various operations required like mounting discs etc etc.

The image is NOT on the recovery media! The image is on some other source, in my case usually an external USB disc.

Regards.....

Mike Connor

[jim]

Yes, I didn't realise that was out. Thanks Peter. Am downloading it now (free for existing customers) and will be testing it over the weekend. Will let you know the results.
I bought Paragon and had loads of problems. As I said earlier, I have tried (almost) all the paid and free versions of everything but they have all given me (or my son) problems. None with IFW (or I should say IFL) so far.
My image btw is always stored on an external USB drive.