Vista - For 2009, resolve to back up your computer files, and do it

Hey that's a great tip skylab2000. I'll start backing up to an Archive CD/DVD from now on as an added precaution.

I do a Windows Live OneCare, Performance Plus Tune-up [Malware/Spyware full scan, Tune up and Back-up and Restore] automatically set to run every 14 days. The Back-up is set to incremental changes and is saved to an external 120GB HD....that is it's sole purpose in life....nothing else goes on to that HD.

I also have my entire system [All Drives, Documents Folders and Files etc] backed-up to the Maxtor One Touch4 500GB External HD. This is USB connected to my Laptop, only as and when I need it. That way, if I do happen upon any nasties, their influence is basically effected and isolated within my Laptop system, where I can then deal to them before re-connecting the Maxtor HD again.

Maxtor [Seagate Tech] claim to be able to do the full restore in 20 minutes flat.

Although I have yet to try this theory [xxxxx fingers], I will soon put it to the test, as I will soon be [well an IT Tech will be] installing a new 320GB HDD into the Laptop. He wants to test the Acronis Software by reinstalling my system from the Maxtor....after taking other safeguards of course.

Thanks. I'll stick with my Vista backup. I would be a bit scared, restoring from an infected backup, but you can of course try. Modern malware is nasty and you never know what creeps back. You could perhaps reinstall your OS from original disk, turn off autorun and scan the backup disk first. Not 100% bullet proof but at least some protection.

What a timely news tip. I had already made the resolution and was trying to get my hands around backups and restore points. I am (was) one of the majority who never backed up anything except some very important text files. Since I have Vista Home Premium and want to fully backup system files, program files, and data I am off to the Acronis site to investigate further.
Thanks
Alan

All my malware scans are ran prior to imaging with Acronis so hopefully carrying over an infection is minimal at best.
I used the Vista backup after my first install and it balked on me because i had changed the partition size ( yes it was larger not smaller ). That took me right back to Acronis.

I have used tape drives at home and in the corporate server rooms for 20+ years. I have two Exabyte VXA320 drives and an HP LTO3 400 GB. I backup twice a week. It is an expensive way to backup. When I go on vacation, one set goes to the office fireproof safe and one to my friends house. In storms, I can grab the last set and keep them with me. My workstation is on the second floor.

Just because you run malware and anti-virus does not mean your backup is not infected. I usually just restore the data. I reinstall the OS and applications so I start clean. Then, recover just the data. Many of the new trojans can trigger months after infection and can't be detected. So I usually hope the new AV updates can stop them.

I backup twice a week at home at least. At work, full backups nightly. first tape of each month is retired and removed from the rotation.

FIY

Just got another Seagate 500G HDD because the Holiday pricing was too good to pass up.
It now ships with Disk Director which is basically Acronis.
Only thing it won't do is scheduled and incremental backups.
Great for cloning though and Free.

Hi Patio,

Is that similar to the Seagate DiskWizard ? Can't complain as it's free, but I found it was not able to mount images.

SIW2

I usually just shove important stuff on to my 2nd hard drive. Not ideal, I know, for if the second hard drive died, but hey. It's saved me a few times when Windows has decided to die on me and I need to re-format.

I don't understand how to restore from a Vista backup, though. I tried it once when I was reinstalling Vista, and it said I can't restore a 64 bit version from a 32 bit version, which I guess means the Vista pre-installed environment?

Oooops i got the name wrong...it is Disc Wizard.
If you click the first window on the top left after it's open which is Manage the options are to Explore; Mount; Dis-mount and error checking.
I just tested it and was able to extract and use 2 file folders from an image i created last week so yes that option is there...
Hope this helps.