CD Backups

[TonyMan]

Just bought a CD writer (HP) and it came with all kinds of software. My question is that it looks like the Windows 98 backup doesn't support this device, or is there a way for it to use it? Or is there an issue with compressing data & putting it on a CD? Just wondering since this is the software I am most familar with.

[dosman]

Well, I have searched and searched for backup software for CD. The ONLY thing I have come across was in an issue of Maximum PC magazine, and I cant remember what it is called. What I do is compress my entire drive into 2 big files with WinZip, then burn each file on its own CD-RW. Of course, to retrieve the backup I have to boot off another hard drive with windoze 95 on it (PKUNZIP for DOS cant handle the large archives I make with WinZip) and uncompress the CD-RW's onto my original drive. Not very conventional, but within 30 mins I have my system back and configured EXACTLY the way I like it.
dosman

[Zonker]

If you have an image program, Norton's Ghost or Powerquest's Drive Image, you can create an image file and then burn it on to a CD.

This is how I back up my system

[john.s]

For about $60 you can make your burner one of the best computer investments you've made to date ... I've been using Seagate's Backup Exec for months now and couldn't imagine computing without it!

I have my Win98 OS on a 1GB partition, programs on another, installation folders on another, various data folders on other 1GB partitions, etc. I back them up when they've changed on CD-RWs as needed ... every other night or so the last thing I do with my computer is set it to re-format a CD-RW and copy the entire C-drive ... in the morning it's there, ready to be used later that day or the next if needed. I haven't had to live with Blue Screens in months (If I regret some tinkering I can restore a fine-tuned, "perfectly-working" OS in about 30 minutes).

Once every few weeks I use CD-Rs instead of CD-RWs so I have permanent records of each partition for archive purposes.

[kwai]

nero 4.03 is supposed to allow you to burn partitions for hd backup. haven't tried it yet (still trying to figure out which price i'm supposed to pay), but you can at least try out the free demo (no backup ability) to see if you'd use it for all your other burning needs. very nice burning program.

http://www.ahead.de/en/Index2.htm

[TonyMan]

Thanks for all the advice from everyone. I do have Seagate Backup Exec for my Tape drive. Will reload it & see if the version I have can support the CD drive.

[kwai]

update on that nero backup feature: it doesn't compress the image at all, so it copies blank space and all. with a "little" 4 GB partition, that came up to over 7 cdrw cds.

how much does other imaging software compress the image?

[TonyMan]

John, which version of Backup Exec do you have? I've got Version 2.0 and see nothing about CD drives. Also, Mine is an IDE drive - does that make a difference?

Nero, if it works like it does with tape, it should get 1.5 to 2.0 compression ration. It would also only copy files, so your 4 gig drive would probably only take 2-4 CDs depending on how full it is.

[iago]

I have two questions. First, how do you get rid of the windows swap file. I don't quite know about that stuff. I have a HP CDRW with Seagate software. What's the method to recover the system. DO I make exact copies of the perfectly tuned hdd or what?
My second question is about making a bootable CD. Is it possible to have all the operating system booted from the CD rom drive? Thank you in advance

[TonyMan]

Looks like I've got to buy version 3, but can get an upgrade for $30- not bad.

Iago, don't have an answer since i don't have the software yet.

[kwai]

i don't think you can copy the swap file if win95 is active (at least xcopy32 wont touch it). if you can get a backup proggy to work from dos or linux, then you could make a more accurate copy.

in that case, just let windows manage virtual memory (if you don't have it set that way already) with a min size of zero. a fresh boot (or inactive installation) should have a swap file of size zero, or very small. even if you put the swap file on another hd and its not captured by the backup software, win should create a new swap file after restoration.

[TonyMan]

Actually, Backup Exec doesn't backup the swap file (kinda useless when you think about it. If you had to restore a system just let Windows create one on a reboot). If the backup program wanted to copy the swap file you could just deselect prior to backing up.