Re: [SAGE] reliable Windows backup/recovery software

[Ruth Milner <rmilner@nmt.edu>]

Ages ago, after finding myself appalled by the volume of negative
end-user reviews about various packages available, I posted a query
to this list about Windows backup/recovery software that provides
the following capabilities:

   1. Make a complete image of the system disk contents (preferably
      only the used space, not the entire surface) into a *file* on
      a separate hard drive.
   2. The choice of browsing the image to restore selected files, or
      to restore the entire image.
   3. Support CDs as bootable rescue media.

I promised to reply to the list about responses to my query, and I'm
afraid I neglected to do that. Mea culpa. Herewith the results:

I received four replies. One recommended using dd under Linux (with
a good discussion of why). Two others recommended Norton Ghost. The
latest version (10.0) does handle all three of the above require-
ments, and the limited experience the responders had using it for
recovery was positive.

The final recommendation was for a program called partimage. I had
to resort to using Google to find this, as the URL supplied was
not correct; it is http://www.partimage.org (not .com). It turns
out that not only does partimage also run only under Linux, it does
not fully support NTFS, which is the default fs under XP, so it
isn't something I can use, though of course it may be useful to
others.

At any rate, I ended up going with Ghost 10.0. I had no problems
installing or activating it, and it seems to work well for making
backups and for the few single-file test restores I have tried.
It remains to be seen how reliably it will do a full-system restore,
but it boots fine off the distribution CD into a recovery environ-
ment. It allows you to set up automatic full and/or incremental
restore schedules, and for purists (or those with Win98) it also
includes the CD of Ghost 2003.

One of the reasons given for preferring dd under Linux (aside from
having greater Linux expertise) was the complexity of commercial DR
software. I have to say that while Ghost does provide a number of
options for customizing backups, browsing the image, etc., it struck
me as quite straightforward to set up and use. (There is also a $20
rebate available if you provide proof of previous ownership of any
of a wide variety of other retail software.)

Many thanks to the people who took the time to post a response,
and to Jim Lawson, who - only slightly less long ago - sent me a
query about what I'd learned. I humbly apologize for the delay
and hope this is useful to someone.

Ruth