Good software for backing up HDD?

Zuuljin · 09-10-2007, 11:44 AM

So recently my disk told me that its got problems and is probably going to fail soon. I was worried so I went out and bought an external hard drive to backup my computer on. Well, I used windows XP backup system, but it wants a floppy disk drive to save the system state info. As you can guess, I dont have a floppy disk drive, so I cant complete the backup.

Does anyone have any suggestions on good (free) software I can use to backup my computer, or a workaround to the floppy problem?

Zeste · 09-10-2007, 12:12 PM

are you trying to make a complete image of your installed OS and programs, or just your data?

For the data, I recommend SecondCopy. If you want to preserve the whole drive, OS and apps and all...I think only something like Norton Ghost can do something like that.

Zuuljin · 09-10-2007, 12:39 PM

Well preferablly the whole thing, OS and all so if my drive crashes soon I'll be able to boot from my external and then send in the other one (since I think its still on warranty) for repairs/replacement.

The only problem I worry about with backing up everything but the OS, is that if I have to get a whole new hard drive, I dont want to have to re-buy all the shit that was registered to my first one, such as antivirus, windows, etc etc. Or would backing up just the registry hold all that data?

Rensho · 09-10-2007, 03:47 PM

open a command prompt and type "ntbackup"

a little raw, but it should do the job

09-10-2007, 11:44 AM	#1 (permalink)
Zuuljin So there's this plane on a treadmill... Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 2,904 +3 Internets	Good software for backing up HDD? So recently my disk told me that its got problems and is probably going to fail soon. I was worried so I went out and bought an external hard drive to backup my computer on. Well, I used windows XP backup system, but it wants a floppy disk drive to save the system state info. As you can guess, I dont have a floppy disk drive, so I cant complete the backup. Does anyone have any suggestions on good (free) software I can use to backup my computer, or a workaround to the floppy problem?

09-10-2007, 12:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
Zeste Ben's Secret Assassins - HIPPITY HOP RABBIT Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,809 +25 Internets	are you trying to make a complete image of your installed OS and programs, or just your data? For the data, I recommend SecondCopy. If you want to preserve the whole drive, OS and apps and all...I think only something like Norton Ghost can do something like that. __________________ Locke: Where do you get electricity? Ben: We have two big hamsters running around in this giant wheel in our secret underground lair. Locke: Yeah, that's funny.

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09-10-2007, 12:39 PM	#3 (permalink)
Zuuljin So there's this plane on a treadmill... Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 2,904 +3 Internets	Well preferablly the whole thing, OS and all so if my drive crashes soon I'll be able to boot from my external and then send in the other one (since I think its still on warranty) for repairs/replacement. The only problem I worry about with backing up everything but the OS, is that if I have to get a whole new hard drive, I dont want to have to re-buy all the shit that was registered to my first one, such as antivirus, windows, etc etc. Or would backing up just the registry hold all that data?

09-10-2007, 03:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
Rensho Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 87 +0 Internets	open a command prompt and type "ntbackup" a little raw, but it should do the job