buzzstar...
There are two approaches to backup. One is to backup the entire
hard drive, using a method called "cloning". This backs up the
entire Windows system, along with installed programs, personal
settings, and, in short, everything. This tends to be a bit
complicated for the casual user, and requires something of a
technical bent.
Since you stated "she never backs up her work", it sounds to me
like the concern is to make backups of significant files which
constitute her work, and can be backed up and reinstated to a
new installation of Windows in the event that the hard drive
fails. Fortunately, this scenario requires considerably less
technical prowess, and can be done with the combination of an
external USB and/or Firewire hard drive and some backup software
which can be set to back up on an automated schedule.
One such solution is detailed at LifeHacker.com, in this article
by Gina Trapani, and consists of a backup drive of your choice
used in combination with a freeware backup solution called
SyncBack v3.2.9. The article discusses precisely how to set up
your system for automatic backup, using this freeware:
http://www.lifehacker.com/software/geek-to-live/geek-to-live-automatically-back-up-your-hard-drive-147855.php
Follow the link from that page to download SyncBack:
http://www.2brightsparks.com/downloads.html
Another solution which has gained considerable popularity lately
is a series of external hard drives made by Maxtor, called OneTouch,
which are designed specifically for backup, and come bundled with
Dantz Retrospect Express backup software. The software backup process
is instantly activated by simply pressing a button on the hard drive,
once you've selected the directories you want backed up, which is,
again, a one-time prospect, though additional directories can be
added at any time.
Per a review of the Maxtor series on PC Magazine:
"Over a USB 2.0 connection, a 621.9MB backup of 5,192 files took
5 minutes 4 seconds complete with a second pass for verifying the
files. However long backing up your system takes the first time,
future backups are far faster, because Retrospect Express backs
up only new and changed files. We also found we could keep working
while backing up with little to no effect on the foreground program."
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1744196,00.asp
You can shop for one from a link at the bottom of that page,
or use Google's Froogle.com to look for a better price.
Note, from the same page, that:
"The 120GB OneTouch supports USB 1.1 and 2.0 only, but the 200GB,
250GB, and 300GB versions also have a pair of FireWire connectors,
which let you easily daisy-chain multiple drives."
These are essentially the same solution, consisting of a fast
hard drive and backup software. The Maxtor solution simply
provides it all in one purchase, and includes a Wizard for
selecting your backup directories and settings.
Please do not rate this answer until you are satisfied that
the answer cannot be improved upon by way of a dialog
established through the "Request for Clarification" process.
A user's guide on this topic is on skermit-ga's site, here:
http://www.christopherwu.net/google_answers/answer_guide.html#how_clarify
sublime1-ga
Additional information may be found from an exploration of
the links resulting from the Google searches outlined below.
Searches done, via Google:
system backup USB OR firewire drive
://www.google.com/search?q=system+backup+USB+OR+firewire+drive
One Touch backup Maxtor 5000
://www.google.com/search?q=One+Touch+backup+Maxtor+5000+ |
Clarification of Answer by
sublime1-ga
on
06 Mar 2006 19:38 PST
buzzstar...
I just noticed another quote from your question:
"to back up the entire computer (as opposed to single items)"
Typically, "work" is stored in specific directories and sub-directories
thereof, such as 'My Documents', and backup consists of selecting only
the master directory(s), so that all subdirectories will be included, or
selecting the master directory and unchecking undesired directories.
If you want to backup the entire computer, you can do so simply by
selecting, say, the C: drive and everything under it. Just be aware
that this will probably not be of any value in reconstituing the
system in the event of a hard drive failure. Windows prevents some
system files from being copied while it is up and running, for the
sake of security, and simply copying all the backed up files to a
new, formatted hard drive would not make it bootable. You would still
need to format a new drive, install Windows, and then copy any needed
backed-up files back onto the new drive.
If you want to be able to restore the entire system, this calls for
"cloning", and is a bit more involved and technical than you imply
would be comfortable for your wife. There are automated "cloning"
backup programs available, but setting them up and restoring from
them is not as simple as the basic backup methods I outlined before.
If cloning is a requirement, let me know, and I'll point you to
the appropriate software.
sublime1-ga
|
Clarification of Answer by
sublime1-ga
on
21 Mar 2006 16:07 PST
buzzstar...
Hmmm...Ms. Trapani's instructions are actually quite clear, as
instructions go, and fleshed out with good illustrations. This
makes me think that you are getting hung up over what I, and
geeks like me, would consider a minor thing, such as when she
says:
"Once your external drive is connected to your computer and
turned on, name it ?Backup? and browse to it in Explorer.
(On my computer, it?s the F:/ drive.)"
This simple instruction assumes you know how to go about
opening your computer (with it powered down, of course),
and hooking up a second hard drive (the new one) to the
IDE interface in a slaved configuration, which is done
by setting a jumper on the new drive to 'slave' and one
on the regular drive to 'master'. Once this is done, you
can turn the computer back on and the new hard drive will
show up in Windows Explorer with a designation such as
'F:' as she noted, and you can create the folders she
instructs you to create (assuming you know how to do that).
I can certainly walk you through whatever level of direction
you need in order to get everything up and running. Once it's
set up, it will be pretty much automated. However, this is
considerably beyond the scope of the original question, in
which you simply asked for a simple recommendation and a
source of purchase, and I would never have undertaken such
a detailed degree of instructive dialog at the price you
set for this question.
Bearing in mind that researchers earn only 75% of the question
price, I would ask you to consider that, if you need further,
detailed assistance of the type I'm suspecting, it would be
more fair to me if you opened a new question with my name
in the subject line, and a suitable price on the question.
Another option which is available, since you have not yet rated
this answer, is that you still have the option to provide a tip
on this question. Some researchers have been promised tips in
similar situations, but there's no way to guarantee that they
will be given as promised, so you can understand my reluctance.
Nevertheless, if that's what you would prefer, I will work with
you here.
In order to do this effectively, however, I need to know exactly
where you are getting stuck, rather than just hearing that you
gave up. I can then provide detailed instructions as I showed
you above.
Let me know your wishes...
sublime1-ga
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