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    External HDD and backing up data

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by squelchy451, Jun 19, 2010.

  1. squelchy451

    squelchy451 Notebook Consultant

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    Hi

    I have an external HDD that doesn't have any software that came with it.

    Is there a backup software that anyone would like to recommend? Does windows 7 pro come with such a software and is it good?

    Thanks!
     
    squelchy451, Jun 19, 2010
    #1
  2. davidt1

    davidt1 Notebook Evangelist

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    davidt1, Jun 19, 2010
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  3. deeastman

    deeastman Notebook Deity

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    Windows 7 Pro does come with backup / restore software and it works fine creating backup images of your HD. I have used it a few times with no problems whatsoever. I use Acronis True Image and recommend it.

    I tried the Easeus Todo Backup software and did not have a good experience, after reading the recommendation by 'qhn'.

    I installed it on a Windows PC running XP3. The computer has a 250GB drive with 50GB used. For some reason when I try to create an image of the HD, Easeus doesn't stop after the 50GB of data is imaged, it continues and wants to save a complete 250GB image. Six hours later the imaging software was still running, eek!

    There are no chkdsk errors on the drive and I am not doing a sector by sector image so I don't know what Easeus problem was. I like to try out new programs but this is one that I had to uninstall, it didn't work for me the way I wanted it to.
     
    deeastman, Jun 19, 2010
    #3
  4. Padmé

    Padmé NBR Super Pink Princess

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    That is exactly what it is supposed to do.
     
    Padmé, Jun 20, 2010
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  5. deeastman

    deeastman Notebook Deity

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    Well then I don't think it is a very intelligent imaging software package. Other imaging programs don't work in the same manner. Why would anyone want 50 GB of data and 200GB of empty HD space to create an Image 250GB in size and takes 8 hours to complete? Yes, if I chose a sector-by-sector backup then that is what I would expect but not just a normal image backup of data and system parameters.

    Windows 7 Backup, Acronis True Image, Norton Ghost all yield a 50GB drive image which can be restored to any HD greater than 50GB in size and is for all practical purposes an exact clone of the original HD. The time to do so is in the range of 50 minutes. Easeus did accomplish this for me but in a 250GB image (not practical) eight hours later.
     
    deeastman, Jun 20, 2010
    #5