The Elder Geek Website

I like to start out to clarify that this commentary is not meant to disparage the author of the article "Protecting the Windows XP System and Data"
I went to this website through a link posted by one of the moderators and the subject was about BACK-UP.
Since I am very confused about the backup and restore subject, with high expectation I went to the link and read the whole article. After finishing I asked myself now what have I learned and did it satisfy my expectations.
What I learned was:
1. There is no real need to backup everything.
2. The types of backup XP has (XP has 5 types of backup)
3. The NTBackup utility is timeconsuming and confusing
4. Learned how to install the NTBackup utility.
I am always grateful to people who can teach me a thing or two.
The more meaningful question I have is did it satisfy my expectations and after reading the article did it really explain the process of backup and restore and give me the confidence in performing those operations, to this my answer is negative.
I have made some side notes to the above mentioned article in the hope that some geek understand the situation that some of us are not very computer savvy and will be generous enough to write a step by step procedure to the backup and restore subject.
So here I go:
Article: (in other words, the archive attribute is not cleared).
My note: How important and what is the significance of this state.
Article:Copying is useful if you want to back up files between normal and incremental backups because copying does not affect these other backup operations."
My note:Are the normal backup and copy backup different files?
Article:If you're going to go full bore in your backup strategy this type of backup can be useful to provide an up to the minute backup.
My note:How about a step by step procedure
Article:If you are performing a combination of normal and differential backups, restoring files and folders requires that you have the last normal as well as the last differential backup."
If you use a combination of normal and incremental backups, you will need to have the last normal backup set as well as all incremental backup sets in order to restore your data."
My note: What is the difference between the two, and what consist of a backup set.
Article:Unless you have a specific reason for wanting to get involved with the NTBackup utility I suggest you spend some time organizing your directory and file system so your current and archive data files reside in separate locations.
My note: Give a alternative otherwise why publish this article.
Article:Step by Step NTBackup Using the Backup or Restore Wizard
Step by Step NTBackup Using Advanced Mode.
[ Both links are graphic intense and take extra time to load on dialup connections ]
My note:This is a rehass of what will be presented if we click on backup, there is no additional info or recommendation.

I know this is a lenghty rebuttal hopefully you can understand that I am still confused about the procedure of backup and restore. If there is a link on the step by step procedures of both subjects please post it.
Again I am not trying to offend the author I am just letting you know my ignorance on the subject and looking for answers.
Thanks a million.

 

No rebuttal here either.But even after reading your post on backups has me confused!
Norton ghost 2003 user here and I like it.

 

Concur on both issues. To save your data a seperate program must be used.

 

I was too late to edit...

To try and simplify things...

- A Back-Up allows you to save data and files from your PC to another location or medium (another HDD, PC, CD or DVD). Read this link if you haven't already. http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=27238

- A Restore allows you to turn back the clock of your Operating System and restore various settings. Usally to correct a problem. Create a Restore Point before I make any significant changes to my PC (hardware or software installs or removals).

Hope this helps.

 

jerkyking
Thanks for your clarification and the link.
I do understand the basic philosophy of backup&restore but what I need is a step by step process. I bought Acronis True Image 8 and Norton Ghost2003.
Ghost cause my system to crash(tried several times) so I yanked that out.
With Acronis I tried to follow the instructions and when at some point I am not sure what to do I just select the action to the best of my understanding, many times at the end it failed. Finally trough persistance it image my system successfully to a external hdd. But when the time came, my system was messed up by a virus, to bring my system back to life it refuse to allow me to restore(I don't remember the exact situation it's been so long ago) so I ended up repartition and reformat and reinstall.
So if some one has experienced a system mess up and fixed it with your image back up give me a step by step procedure how you brought it back to life.
Thanks