Easiest way to backup a harddrive?

Doug5984 · 06-22-2006, 06:54 PM

I have an external hard drive, and I want to make a complete backup of my PC...What is the easiest way to do this? I had been just copying important files every other week or so, but someone told me it is bes to back up the entire thing? Is there a program that can easily and safely do this?

Any help would be greatly appreciated

-doug

CraigSca · 06-22-2006, 08:01 PM

Really, you don't need to back everything up, but that's up to you. I use Genie, which won some Editor's Choice somewhere for home backup...

www.genie-soft.com

Doug5984 · 06-22-2006, 10:37 PM

I just downloaded the software- made a backup, I must say that was very easy. I made a backup of everything it gave me the option to backup. Was about 20 gigs...my HD is using about 30 right now, so there are 10 missing. I'm not sure exactly what is missing, but the most important things are my songs, pictures, and documents.

gottimd · 06-23-2006, 07:18 AM

I need to do this. My laptop recently crashed on me, but thank god it was the laptop I have been using from my old company that I am still consulting for on the side.

If it were my home laptop, the earth would've come to a screeching halt and hell would've taken over shortly after.

So genie-soft program is really that easy?

Doug5984 · 06-26-2006, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gottimd

I need to do this. My laptop recently crashed on me, but thank god it was the laptop I have been using from my old company that I am still consulting for on the side.

If it were my home laptop, the earth would've come to a screeching halt and hell would've taken over shortly after.

So genie-soft program is really that easy?

I am by no means a computer wiz and I figured it out very easily- a few clicks and its good to go. I haven't tried any others, but I'd def. recomend that one.

Franklinnoble · 06-26-2006, 03:56 PM

hoosierdude · 06-26-2006, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Franklinnoble

Dude, that is SO 80's.

Hurst2112 · 06-26-2006, 06:59 PM

is that the 10 or 5 inch?

Franklinnoble · 06-26-2006, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hurst2112

is that the 10 or 5 inch?

Dude... 5.25 inch. I can remember cutting the extra notch in the other side so I could write to both sides.

Oh, and he said he wanted to know the easiest way to back up the hard drive, not the most effiecient.

yabanci · 06-27-2006, 01:59 AM

The best and easiest way to backup your data is by imaging the disk. If something goes wrong, you boot with the boot disk/cd and restore the image. Everything is back exactly the way it was before.

The other way to backup is by backing up individual files, folders, and settings. If sometjhing goes wrong, you format the drive, reinstall windows, reinstall programs, redo customizations, and the restore the backed up data. This is the method Genie uses. Genie is good at what it does, but it cannot image a drive.

I would recommend Acronis True Image 9 Home Edition. It can both image a drive and do backups the way the Genie does. It costs the same and has a free trial.

Here is a link that will give you more information: Imaging software or backup software/Reviews

06-22-2006, 08:01 PM	#2
CraigSca Pro Starter Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Not Delaware - hurray!	Really, you don't need to back everything up, but that's up to you. I use Genie, which won some Editor's Choice somewhere for home backup... www.genie-soft.com __________________ She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah! She loves you, yeah! how do you know? how do you know?

06-23-2006, 07:18 AM	#4
gottimd Dearly Missed (9/25/77-12/23/08) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: DC Suburbs	I need to do this. My laptop recently crashed on me, but thank god it was the laptop I have been using from my old company that I am still consulting for on the side. If it were my home laptop, the earth would've come to a screeching halt and hell would've taken over shortly after. So genie-soft program is really that easy? __________________ NAFL New Orleans Saints GM/Co-Commish MP Career Record: 114-85 NAFL Super Bowl XI Champs In memory of Gavin Anthony: 7/22/08-7/26/08 Last edited by gottimd : 06-23-2006 at 07:18 AM.

06-26-2006, 06:59 PM	#8
Hurst2112 College Starter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Minneapolis	is that the 10 or 5 inch? __________________ http://www.myspace.com/longliveanalog

06-22-2006, 10:37 PM	#3
Doug5984 College Benchwarmer Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Louisiana	I just downloaded the software- made a backup, I must say that was very easy. I made a backup of everything it gave me the option to backup. Was about 20 gigs...my HD is using about 30 right now, so there are 10 missing. I'm not sure exactly what is missing, but the most important things are my songs, pictures, and documents.

06-26-2006, 03:56 PM	#6
Franklinnoble Banned Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Placerville, CA

06-27-2006, 01:59 AM	#10
yabanci College Benchwarmer Join Date: Jun 2003	The best and easiest way to backup your data is by imaging the disk. If something goes wrong, you boot with the boot disk/cd and restore the image. Everything is back exactly the way it was before. The other way to backup is by backing up individual files, folders, and settings. If sometjhing goes wrong, you format the drive, reinstall windows, reinstall programs, redo customizations, and the restore the backed up data. This is the method Genie uses. Genie is good at what it does, but it cannot image a drive. I would recommend Acronis True Image 9 Home Edition. It can both image a drive and do backups the way the Genie does. It costs the same and has a free trial. Here is a link that will give you more information: Imaging software or backup software/Reviews

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