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View Full Version : 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 (http://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
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
http://www.discinterchange.com/Floppy5-50.gif
hoosierdude
06-26-2006, 06:53 PM
http://www.discinterchange.com/Floppy5-50.gif


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
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. :p
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 (http://disk-imaging-software-review.toptenreviews.com/imaging-software-vs-backup-software-which-is-right-for-you.html)