Back up Harddrive??

[Cyric]

Hey guys had a question. My dad harddrive stopped/crashed the other day and he lost lots of stuff. Well he always backup his files but not the entire harddrive. I told him he should get a second internal HD and ghost it and then unplugg the harddrive and save it just encase it happens again. What do you guys think and what do you guys think about external harddrives? Thanks

later Cyric

[spigidygak]

Its not a bad idea to have a mirror image of the drive as backup. Personally though I think its more secure to get a dvd burner and ghost onto dvd. Since as long as you store the disc fine without it getting damage, it has a lot better chance of being a better backup. Where as a second hard drive could fail itself too.

[Cyric]

Yea the dvd sounds better but the prices are up there right now not sure if my dad would get one. He's not very computer friendly :) I was looking at getting him something he could just plug and play. Maybe one of those HD enclousures I saw on newegg.com.

later Cyric

[Cubsfan]

There used to be some online services that would allow you to backup your data to them. You have the obvious advantage of someone else having the responsibility (and means) to keep it safe, but then again there's the issues with security, ongoing cost, and transfer time.

[VileOFFender]

Did the drive jsut totally doe or did the OS jsut become so corrupt that it becase unusable?

Well, IMO I never have the OS and any data that is important to me on the same partition (on a different drive would be better). That way I can always wasily back up all my documents and vital files without having to back up the whole hard drive. That way I can usually ghost the OS partition into no more then 2CD's (saves me from having to pony up the bucks for a DVD and media). If any of you are still using win9x, I'm sure you noticed how win9x seems to always drop in performance after about six months of normal use. I haven't used win 9x for years, but i know people that are still happy with it and that is what i suggest to them.

[spigidygak]

Yeah if a dvd writer is too much, nothing wrong with using a cd burner. IMO still more effective way for backup than an actual hard drive. Plus external drives can be pricey depending on the size.

[kain9i6]

Wish I would have done that.. I decided to try out Windows XP, so I got XP Pro Corporate and proceeded with the install.. well when installing, it asked me if I wanted to format the drive.. I THOUGHT it meant my C: drive (my OS and Software drive), but it listed D: (my 60 gig movie, pr0n, backup) drive.. I almost cried as soon as it started to format.. sigh.. Now since xp is installed on my D: I have to download ghost, format my C: and ghost D: over to it.. too much hassle I tell you.. where is good ole DOS 6.2 when you need it..

[Cyric]

The drive just stopped working/broke(no longer usable???). Not sure why. But like you guys said I probally set up a partition with just the OS and important stuff on it. ANd get him to buy a burner and let him back up stuff to CD's. Hey guys is the partition wizard on windows any good and is it easy to used? Thanks guys.

later Cyric