Easiest, most *Reliable* BU method - disregarding cost ?

Not sure where to post - could be hardware or software solution.

I'm looking for easiest & MOST RELIABLE method to BU OS & installed programs partitions, AND the restore or copying BUs to original partitions / HDDs ACTUALLY works.

I just spent days w/ HP printer software / registry issues. HP support was useless this time.

1) Imaging software seems to always have potential glitches. Any new program installed or Windows update, as examples (Vista x 32 / 64) seems to potentially cause BU software problems - Acronis, Ghost, etc. - read the thousands of posts on the subject.

2) I don't care WHAT the best method / solution costs, long as it's easy as possible (scheduled automatic is better), AND most reliable method available.

I'm partially disabled & though have advance ability to figure out almost any computer problem, have NO time or physical ability for such. I have NO time to trouble shoot why Acronis, Ghost, etc., is no longer working / restoring properly.

3) What do IT pros use for simplest, most reliable BU & restore?

4) My desktop has open bays for several more HDDs (but not my laptop). Maybe buying 1 or more giagantic HDDs & just copying the entire partitions & have DOS prgm(s) capable of copying entire partitions back, if windows or HDD fails completely?

For laptop, maybe large external HDD?

Thanks for suggestions.

 

I wouldike to echo what HALO has already said. I have also used Acronis True Image without problems. I have used Ghost in the past without problems also. Recently, I have used a free product called DriveImage XML without problems as well.

I will look into Easeus To Go now that I have seen it mentioned here.

My suggestion whould be to purchase a new drive, not that expensive, and try all of the products mentioned. The ones that cost all have trial versions and the free ones are just that.

Have fun.

 

Hello Halo,

Have Vista hm prem x64 on my box & Vista hm prem x32 on laptop.

Don't remember if Acronis '09 worked on Vista x64. Someone gave me a copy - doesn't say on box & I never took it out / installed it.

I also have Ghost ?12? on the laptop, but honestly backing up an entire 160 GB drive (w/ very little data) to DVD is like watching paint dry. I guess an ext HDD would be much faster. Laptop has serial, ethernet & USB (slow).

This is the kind of gripes I've read for years about Acronis:

Symatec's CS has been non existent for years.

Notice you can get Acronis '10 for ~ $20 after rebate & Ghost 14 for $15.
I used a trial ver of Acronis (believe was ver before '09). It did some strange things w/ partition drive letters in the image.

Have 4 partitions on laptop. In the image, it changed the letters / or switched letters , skipped a letter on the image or something like that. I wrote acronis support. Would be more likely to get response from Pres Obama. Went on Wilder's "official" acronis forum. Never got a good (or any) explanation.

Ghost 12 did work on Vista 32 & restored image to a 2nd disk & could boot OK. For that ver, it was anything but intuitive or "one button BU."

I don't want to spend an hr doing a BU everytime I install some software or updates.

What about ext BU drives like Seagate FreeAgent or Buffalo Link Station? http://www.frys.com/template/onad/product_navigation/spot5

Some people like windows home server but little more $ for software & a HDD (or box from HP, etc.) Seems they have 32 & 64 bit versions?