Why is Backing Up So Hard to Do?

It sounds like an old country song, but getting an easy backup strategy on a home network can be difficult. I find the backup software that comes with Vista and Windows 2008 server junk. My home network consists of Windows desktops, Windows servers, OS X and one Linux box. This weekend I messed up my main Vista computer and found the backup strategy I was using was flawed. What I was using is Windows Backup and making an image of the computer to an external hard drive. My backup routine consisted of taking the external hard drive from computer to computer and making backup images when the feeling hits me. As all the data from all the computers is saved to the network drive (which is also backed up), computer images only need to be made periodically.

What happened is I used the same external hard drive to backup my Vista machines and my Windows 2008 Server. When I went to restore my Vista machine, the restore software only could see that I had backuped the Windows 2008 Server and would not pickup my Vista computer backup, even though it was still there on the hard disk. Unlike the backup software in Windows XP, the Vista/Windows 2008 Server backup will not backup to a network share, so I decided to find an alternative solution. BTW: Tried the backup in Microsoft OneCare as well (which I use for AV and other features) but it does not make computer images but does allow to backup to a network share. If Microsoft would combine the features of Windows Backup and backup in OneCare it would be actually pretty good for home users.

What I found was Acronis TrueImage 11 Home. It is $49 per computer and well worth it. Even if you only have one computer at home I would pay the money. The installation is painless. After I installed Acronis I quickly made a full system backup to a network share. When Acronis backs up you can set the size of the backup files, so I selected 4.7 GIG so I could then burn a copy of the backup from the network drive to DVDs. After you make a full system backup you can then schedule incremental backups of the image, plus you can set it to backup just Application Setting and/or just data a few times a week. Acronis also makes a boot disk so if you computer dies and you need to re-install you boot from the CD/DVD and then feed it the backup discs.

I recommend after a fresh OS install and installing any programs purchased that needs activation (MS Office for example), make a base backup image. This way when you restore you don’t have to worry about Vista or Office needing to be activated as it already is already in the backup.

Having various computer at home backing up systems is very important. So no data on the desktops so I can re-image them quickly if I need to, all systems backup to a central spot on the network and I and offload the backups to DVD when I need to.

In summary, after anti-virus software I would recommend a good backup software, and for me that is Acronis, it will save your data and many hours of frustration.

[I do not work for or know anyone at Acronis, they just make good stuff.]