Best Backup Application and Strategy for Home Business 1

[LOKIDOG]

I just recovered from a hard disk corruption melt down. Took me 5 days to get back online, a week to be up and running with my old documents, and I still have many apps to reload. And I thought I had all my BU's in order!

I use my Desktop computer for my business (Win2K Pro, 2 200 G hard drives). I also use my laptop for the business on the road (W2K Pro, one 40 G HD). I use a wireless network to link them and share a Cable Internet Connection.

Here's the Backup Situation:

I NEED my computer to work on my projects.

I need the apps as well as documents, Windows settings too.

Some things are important to backup every day - like emails and recently worked on documents.

Others are not that important for every day BU - like my Applications and windows settings.

I've used Norton GOBACK 4 (but it did not get me back!) and I think it caused my files to become corrupt (after trying to use the retore console to repair bad boot files/ MBR) I had to disable GOBACK, but after doing so chkdsk automatically started and 'fixed' things. Most of my documents were corrupt - they would not open in their associated applications (Apps said unknown format etc.) They were scrambled.

I've also used Genie Backup Manager, but it also seemed to fail. It was scheduled to backup certain items every day, others once a week. Some were to be completely backed up, others incrementally (only changed files backed up) Well, it seems that these scheduled backups were not completing. Yet there was no error - the program screen would still be on in the AM but no errors - so I would close is down. I needed to be checking to make sure the backups were there I guess? Not a great solution - I need a more robust solution.

SO:

+ What application/s would be best for me?

+ What hardware (I have two 200 Gig drives, one just for BU's) Should I have a third external?

+ What Strategies should I use to back up (I've done web searches, but am barraged with sites devoted to certain applications that are biased towards their solutions) Links are welcome!

 

[Xaqte]

LOKIDOG, I'm guessing this is in relation to the question you asked in thread531-702522. I posted back to that thread in response to your question, so I guess you know what I suggest. However, you'll find that alot of people will also recommend Norton Ghost. Let me know if you have any other questions in regards to casper & good luck!

X

 

[steveot]

The way I look at it removable hardrives are getting cheap. I use Acronis True image. Similar to what the new version of Ghost has to offer but I have found Acronis to be faster. I only backup about 40 gigs a nite and take less that 20 min in the background. Its a snap of the whole drive and you can do incrementals, etc. In your case you report you have 400 gigs worth of data so backing upa whole hardrive may not be practical. If you can backup the entire drives then re-installing apps is always part of a DR solution. I would place your data on one drive and OS on another.

 

[Xaqte]

steveot, I believe Casper XP is faster. I can back up 120 gigs in 12 minutes & thats w/ version 2. Version 3 is supposed to be even faster that that. Just my 2 cents.