Backup software?

[jlh007]

I just installed external Maxtor 80 GB USB harddrive and it came with Retrospect 5.6 express bckup software. MY question is what software would you recommand for backing up my 120 GB harddrive? I have read reviews on Drive Image 6.0 and Norton Ghost 2003 but I would like some more opinions. I running Intel P4 2.8 CPU, 512 MB Dual channal memory, Asus P4P800 Deluxe MB. Thanks

[John Prophet]

ghost is a great product....though I have never used it for backup.

Retrospect is popular I guess....I have only worked with it once on a customers computer and I never got it working, lol.

[wju425]

I use drive image. Ghost's too complicated for me.

\o/ Billy

[Southern Belle]

heyal,

when i did my drives i had programs on 1 that needed to go on the other i used ghost and it worked out great.

does seem at first reading, a little confusing but u have a few options to choose from, I went with making images of piticular files/directories that i selected.

thought doing the "back up" method would confuse me and could run into probs.

Try it its worth it.

Good Luck
sb

[Bill in SD, CA]

Originally posted by wju425
I use drive image. Ghost's too complicated for me.

\o/ Billy

I've used both and I agree.

Bill

[jlh007]

Ghost 2003 is the software I'm using for backups without any problems. The only problem that I'm trying to figure out is how to create a bootable cdrom with two ghost floppy disks. I have already wasted about 12 cd but tomorrow is another day and will keep on trying. Drive Image 6.0 would start but would stop with errors. Thanks

[RayH]

PowerQuest was acquired by Symantec. Now, Drive Image and Ghost are manufactured by the same company. I use Drive Image 2002 to back up my computer.

I have my OS and program installations on a dedicated partition to facilitate backup and restore. It's those that usually go wiggy, if at all.

The ABILITY to backup to devices other than an internal hard drive doesn't necessrily mean it does it fast.

[jmichna]

I use the version of Ghost that came bundled in Norton System Works 2003 (I use just NAV and Ghost... not the Utilities... too many problems caused by them). You can probably find a copy of NSW2003 for less than $30, incl 1 years of NAV def updates. Stay away from NSW2004 or NAV2004... some bugs that affect performance and slow system down.

I happen to use a third HD -- for B/U purposes only.

[AsteralTraveler]

Some of the reviews of Drive Image, whether it be 2002 or 2003, at Amazon.com are a mixed bag. Some people really slammed it, but others praised it's ease of use and such. The reviews about 2002 (version 6) are almost a year old, but some people who review 2003 (version 7) say to stick with 2002 because 03's got bugs that effect WinXP op systems. I've read posts here at TIMO that pretty much reflect the same opinions there. Ghost doesn't seem to get too many raves either.

I need a good imaging program as well, but there seems to be too many dangers right now with either of these programs. I'm holding off on buying a DVD writer and this one of the reasons. And doesn't the drive have to be one that's supported by the Imaging program? I may just wait until the Symantec buyout of PowerQuest settles, then maybe they'll all get their shnit together. The waiting is the hardest part.

AT

[jlh007]

I settle on Ghost 2003 to backup to USB 80 GB maxtor drive. I finally got the two ghost boot disk on one cdr by editing both disk down to one. I have no mouse support by doing this but I really don't need it to get around in ghost application. I know some user here don't like Maxtor harddrives but they have never fail me peresonaly, I own 120 gb and 20 gb maxtor in my system.

jlh007