Syill looking for backup!

Hi there, I have hinted around in a few of my posts, to no avail, about the best way to backup data for my PC. I want to be able to reload Windows and my programs, and maybe a few other folders, in the event of a catastrophic HD failure. So now I am formally asking for help! I tried and liked MS Backup Utility, that is until it hit 4GB and stopped, telling me that my backup file could not exceed 4GB. It was close to 7GB then, and may have grown a little as this was a couple of weeks ago, maybe a lil over 7 now. Isn't Windows XP over 4GB by itself??? Anyway, I also tried Karen's Replicator, but all that does is copy the data to another location and that is not what I am looking for. So what I am looking for, is a way to make some type of backup that will put my current state back on a HD in case mine fails. I like the way I have things now and it would be a load of work to get everything back the "old fashioned" way. My HD is a few years old and on top of that, I have recently started experimenting with Linux and have heard that it is very possible to hose your system! I have also heard of creating an "image" on a CD, which is very interesting to me, but I never got any feedback on that subject So if anyone can give me some info on thi subject, I would greatly appreciate it Thanx in advance, Ray.

 

Try Acronis True Image:
http://majorgeeks.com/download2236.html


Didnt see ya there Halo

 

These aren't true backup programs, but if you have XP Pro you have "Automated System Recovery" (ASR) and in XP you have the "Files and Settings Transfer Wizard".

Not a replacement for the imaging programs outlined above, but can be handy nonetheless.

 

I do have XP Pro. I will look into that. In the meantime, I had Norton Ghost all along as part of System Works 2005 Premier, just never took the time to look into it, a friend told me it was useless and a resource hog, so I never installed it. Anyway, I have my HD split into 3 parts with my OS on the first partition. I used Ghost to create an image of that part of the HD. My question is, if my HD were to fail, and I installed a new one, will I be able to use the image I created to re-instate Windows and apps. to the new HD?

 

This is why I asked the last question. I read this in the "Learn About" section of Ghost...

Everything on the drive you select will be included in the backup, so it will be bootable later if you restore it. An exception to this is if you back up a bootstrapped operating system, you must back up-and then restore-every drive that includes operating system boot information in order for your computer to boot the same from a restored system as it did from the original configuration.

My HD has a D:, E:, and F: partition. My OS is on D: and that is the only partition that I imaged. If I try to run this image on another HD, is it going to work?

 

Hey MA! Thanx for reply, I am doing this so that I can install Linux as per your cure for my boredom! Chas gave me some links to malware fighting sites also. I still try to post when I think I can help, but I still need to read...ALOT! Anyway, just havin fun still, let me know if I can do anything