Best back-up program

Following a recent GPU failure and OS re-install I'm looking for a good free back-up program for Vista.

This is the situation that I would I like to be able to deal with:

1. Critical error; either destroying the boot files or hardware failure (HD's).
   
2. re-install windows and then use the Back-Up Software to restore the PC to exactly as it was from an file on an external hard drive.

I have Ultimate that came with Windows Back-Up, will this do the job or do I need something else?

If any more details are needed let me know.

72oo

 

The best backup program is Acronis True Image

 

Is there a freeware program that could do the same?

 

I was unimpressed with Acronis; never could get a successful restore. Paragon Drive Backup worked for me.

I have the cost version, but see that there are some free "express" versions of their software here. You might test to see if they work for you.

I have not personally tested it, but I have also not heard any grumblings about the backup built into Vista Ultimate not working. If you have it, try it. Let us know.

 

I've used Windows Vista's "Complete PC Backup" with great results for a while now.

The only quirk I've had is that when you use optical media to store your disk images (I don't have an external drive) you need to remember to insert the last disk of the backup first, after you boot from the Vista DVD and choose "repair my pc then "Complete PC Backup."

Other than that, pretty smooth sailing, the discs burn pretty quick too.

 

if you have a Maxor or Seagate HDD (either internal or external) you can get a truncated version of ATI on the Seagate page.

It worked great for cloning. I back-up manually but have yet to do an image restore. Since it cloned so well, in Windows, I have no reason not to believe it won't work with a bootable CD if the time comes.

Seatgate DiscWizard or MaxBlast are the program names. If you don't have either in your machine it would be worth it to buy an external. They'll only work with either attached.

 

ive tried pretty much everything i could find and i always go back to acronis. imo it just plain works..

 

I use Windows Home Server and never look back. It should be in every house on this planet (where there are >=1 windows machine).

But Acronis works great, too, normally.

 

If you had a blank hard drive (lets say after the laptop was dropped) could you boot from the DVD and then restore the Image of your old hard drive? (This is really the crux of what I'm after).

BTW; Currently I'm running Drive Image XML and Vista Ultimate Back-Up.

 

I agree. I think Microsoft has a great product on their hands, just a lot of people haven't realized the need for it yet. WHS is awesome.

 

yep, you'd just boot off of the Vista DVD, select "repair your computer" then "complete pc backup"

After that, you'll be prompted to insert your backup image DVD's you made using the program earlier from within windows.

 

That's a really good service. Cool.

 

Hi guys

also a question on this.
I'm running a dual boot but i really only need to backup the D: partition in which Vista is located. I tried Acronis but both the XP and Vista partition are selected when i want to do a system backup, i can't uncheck the box for C: XP. Any way to do this?

Btw....does Vista Ultimate Backup also work if i have the system image on an external hdd?

 

That's my way of backing-up and to my knowledge it does work for an external HD. (Haven't confirmed this from MS)