System Backup/Clone Software

For a couple of weeks now I have been searching for a backup/clone software solution that fits my needs. I am basically looking for a software package that completely backs up my system (system files and all) and does not compress it. Technically cloning, I guess. But at that point I want to be able to simply do incremental backups to the drive to update the clone.

I have tried Acronis and it seemed like the only way to save the "mirror" or whatever they call it, was as a proprietary compressed file, and as such it didn't seem like I could boot from it. The only program I have found that will completely clone the drive and will allow me to boot from it is HDClone. The problem with this is that the more data I add to the target drive, the longer these clones will take, and that is all that the program does.

I am essentially using this external drive solely for backup purposes, so file compression does not interest me. If I need additional storage (which isn't likely with this spacious 320 GB HDD), or portable data I will buy an 8-16 GB flash drive.

Am I crazy or does such software not exist?

 

Get Shadow Protect Desktop or Acronis True Image.

Yes, they create a compressed file, but here's how it works:

1.) You create the compressed file.

2.) If you need to access a file or folder inside of the compressed file, you'll just open the program (Shadow Protect or TrueImage) and use the built-in "backup explorer" feature to get to the stuff you want.

3.) If you ever need to do a full restore (hdd crash and you bought a new one, for example), you simply pop in the boot disc you will have made after first installing the software, turn on the computer, let that disc load and follow the instructions for restoring a drive image.

there's really nothing to it.

I strongly recommend Shadow Protect Desktop, through TrueImage usually works okay.

 

Windows Home Server.

(Automatic) Backup and much more.

 

x2. I've been using WHS ever since it was released, and it's a fantastic way to stream multimedia, access your files away from the house, and do complete backups for all of your computers.

Go to Home Server Hacks and read about inexpensive WHS builds you can do. For around $300 you can build a top of the line WHS.

 

I would go this route, but the only problem I have with this is if my HDD physically dies in the middle of an extremely busy week at school and I have assignments/papers to do, then I'm losing that time working on it, when if I have a HDD that is basically my internal drive, I could plug it in and boot from there and lose some work, but make it up by having the ability to start over right then and there. Theoretically I could simply buy a back-up drive somewhere down the road, but sometimes you can't prepare for the worst.

 

Try Disk Copy, its free, I used it many times and does the job.

http://www.easeus.com/disk-copy/

 

Jep. Best thing ever.

I normally configure them with a cheap atom pc from www.mini-box.com for <200$, get a licence, and then, maybe some hdds.

but for me, i got now a core2duo solution (but completely silent), as i want more powerful stuff on it, namely "My Movies" and such.

 

Actually sounds like what you're talking about is a RAID1 Array.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_RAID_levels#RAID_1

 

Raid is not a backup. if you delete something accidentally, by virus, by some buggy application, by a powerdown, what ever, the raid can not help you.

 

I wanted the same thing - a swappable cloned backup, runs in an external enclosure, then if my hdd dies in my notebook, I just whip it out, and take the backup drive out of its enclosure and pop it into my notebook, up and running within 5 minutes, no restoring of an image.

Acronis Easy Migrate does this well (although only the 15 day trial version is free), or get Seagate's own disc wizard (based on Acronis) which is FREE.

 

You can do file by file backups and incremental backups using xcopy and robocopy. I believe if you use the right switches with xcopy you can even create a bootable disk.

 

Try Toucan and get a hard drive dock.

Simple but effective

 

Good point.

Best bet would probably to do incremental images on an extra harddrive.

Wow that's pretty awesome.
Didn't know they made docks just thought you'd have to get an external enclosure.

Bookmarked.

 

Yeah, here's my mini-review:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=385075

Great accessory IMHO.

I was wondering what to do with my "old" hard drives that have been upgraded to significantly larger ones. Now I can use them to do a redundant backup of my more important docs (like photos, music, etc)

 

The Seagate software will only work if at least one of the drives is a Seagate or Maxtor ... unless they've changed it.

 

I tried Toucan but it seems like it is only for data backup (like what's in your Documents or Pictures folders etc) not for the entire drive. Did I miss that feature somewhere?

 

Sorry, you're right. Toucan is only for data, not a full drive image. Sorry about that. For freeware imaging I use DriveImage XML. Has a WindowsPE add-on too.