Archived from groups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage (
More info?)
David Chien <chiendh@uci.edu> wrote in message
news:d9cnlt$b1j$1@news.service.uci.edu...
>>> jmhiggins@gmail.com wrote:
>>>> A non-techie friend has bought an external hard drive, but didn't
>>>> realize she needs backup software, too. I use Ghost, but I think it's too
>>>> complicated and she'll never use it. So what else should I suggest.
>>>> Remember, the emphasis is on SIMPLICITY.
>>> Ghost is pretty simple, IMO,
>> Only if nothing goes wrong. Its a dog if it doesnt go as it should and
>> all symantec products can be quite buggy, they release them too early.
>> Particularly with automated incremental backup, Ghost
>> isnt really a product thats suitable for that level of user.
> (Ghost 9 isn't the best product on the planet, IMO.
In fact it would have to be one of the
worst of the mainstream products currently
> I prefer off-line backups - here, the Ghost 2003, included with Ghost 9, is
> the best program IMO.
Its still got real problems for that level of user.
The main problem is when image creation fails. It makes its own
temporary partition on the boot drive for the dos job and if the
image creation at the dos level fails for whatever reason, the
system wont boot anymore. Quite easy for an experienced user
to manually delete that partition and have the system boot again,
but thats not something that level of user will be able to handle.
Its user interface leaves quite a bit to be desired too, particularly
when restoring, and most users at that level have had to ask me
how to actually do a restore when one becomes necessary.
And no user at that level will ever be able to setup image creation
to a drive on the lan when the nic isnt natively supported by ghost
2003. Its a bit of a challenge even for an experienced user who
doesnt realise that the best approach is to just use bart's network
boot system and run ghost once that has booted the PC.
> Has never failed to do it for me,
It has for me. Not majorly, but then I know what I am doing.
> and a simple verify after write after making a CD-R backup has always worked
> fine for me.)
Sure, but you arent that level of user. Neither am I.
> Hm, how about GoBack?
Yeah, its really that level of product thats
more suitable for that level of user.
> or RAID?
The main problem with RAID is that it doesnt protect that
level of user from the sort of problem that often does bite
that level of user, a virus infection, user stupidity, deleting
what they later do an uh-oh about, or stuff like running a
very aggressive registry cleaner and later regretting that.
And it doesnt protect against fire, theft, flood etc either.
> Seems if you want something that's 'idiot proof', you really have to think
> things through and plan something more sophisticated.
That level of user isnt capable of doing that, which
is why the OP was asking for suggestions on that.
> another link I found that reviews simple-to-use backup software:
> http://www.backup-software-reviews.com/
Yes, that can be useful.
> Windows also has it's own built-in schedulable backup software:
> http://www.pcreview.co.uk/articles/Windows/Windows_XP_Backups/
>
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;320820
>
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308422
>
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;309340
Sure, and that has already been suggested.
> Although the restore process may be too much for her,
Yeah, thats the main downside with that route.
> once the setup of the backup is fixed, it runs automatically w/o her
> intervention (well, except she's got to have the power turned on on the
> external HD and connected).
Yeah, tho I'd personally use one of the mainstream
backup products that makes it easy for that level of
user to do the restore unaided too.
> automatic should be simple enough for her?
Sure, thats certainly very desirable with that level of user.
I'd personally use one of the mainstream commercial products
and an external USB2 hard drive with automatic backup scheduling.
Tho that route isnt ideal on the fire/theft/flood protection with that
level of user. Even if you tell them that the drive should be
physically removed offsite occasionally with two of them,
you're likely to find that when the system does get stolen,
they havent bothered to do that for months and months.
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