Best way to backup/ programs to use

[Lourdes]

I use Acronis but for images of my OS rather than general backups which I don't think it's so well suited to. For normal backing up I use xxcopy or robocopy.

[solar975]

I've used IceMirror which is free and OK - only issue I have with it is when you cancel backup operations it seems to get confused about the state of the last-file-started.

[peterb]

If it is bog standard backup - use Windows backup. It was installed by default on Win2K - on XP it is in one of the add on directories on the CD - don't know about Vista.

It works - even supports tape drives if you have one - seriously under-rated!

[Splash]

NTBackup (which I assume is what you mean by Windows Backup?) isn't present in Vista, having been replaced with the inferior Windows Backup and Restore Centre.

Personally I use a Robocopy script for non-image based backups - this puts everything in a central repository (which is RAID 1 for redundancy) which is then uploaded to Amazon S3 storage on an incremental basis.

[b0redom]

Get the ultimate boot cd for Windows - you need to create this using a legit copy of XP.

http://www.ubcd4win.com/

Then use DriveImageXML. It's free and works great. It's what I use to clone up Windows boxes at work.

[TheReaFireblade]

For those on a limited budget... there are (at least) a couple of free imaging/cloning programs available

Seagate DiscWizard is basically just a trimmed-down version of Acronis True Image!
They even provide a 'Users Guide' (PDF) for those who've never used this kind of program before

And even the FREE version of HD Clone offers loads of excellent features

[Mike Fishcake]

Another vote for Acronis here - used that and it's fine!

For regular backing up of files onto an external HDD though, I use the excellent and free Microsoft SyncToy program. Easy to set up and easy to use.

[monkeychops28]

Regularly copy photos and videos to blank DVD. Then dump them on family whether they want them or not. Once backed up I move them to a folder called 'backed up' and have another folder called 'not yet backed up' which I then put the new photos and vids into. Cheap and cheerful. Don't feel any great desire to backup apps and system folders or do disk images. Tried all that but it ended up feeling over the top.