Vista backup using two hard drives

I can't believe Vista backup. The simplest thing is apparently not possible.

I have a system with two hard drives. I always buy two hard drives for my
systems. Drive C: gets the OS and installed programs, things I can restore
from original CDs, and the drive most likely to crash. Drive D: is intended
for my own data files.

With two drives, I should be able to back each of them up to the other.

In particular, I want to back up my data files (on Drive D: ) to a folder on
Drive C:.

Apparently that can't be done. Vista backup wizard selects the C: drive by
default, and then won't let me backup to the drive that it is backup up.

If I get past this, I suspect that Vista backup will not allow me to select
the folders I want to backup.

Any suggestions?

Do I have to buy a real backup program to do what I want to do?

Thanks,
Jim

On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:51:15 -0400, "JimW" <>
wrote:

> I can't believe Vista backup. The simplest thing is apparently not possible.
>
> I have a system with two hard drives. I always buy two hard drives for my
> systems. Drive C: gets the OS and installed programs, things I can restore
> from original CDs, and the drive most likely to crash. Drive D: is intended
> for my own data files.
>
> With two drives, I should be able to back each of them up to the other.


I don't think that's a good idea at all. I don't recommend backup to a
second non-removable hard drive because it leaves you susceptible to
simultaneous loss of the original and backup to many of the most
common dangers: severe power glitches, nearby lightning strikes, virus
attacks, even theft of the computer.

In my view, secure backup needs to be on removable media, and not kept
in the computer. For really secure backup (needed, for example, if the
life of your business depends on your data) you should have multiple
generations of backup, and at least one of those generations should be
stored off-site.



> In particular, I want to back up my data files (on Drive D: ) to a folder on
> Drive C:.
>
> Apparently that can't be done. Vista backup wizard selects the C: drive by
> default, and then won't let me backup to the drive that it is backup up.
>
> If I get past this, I suspect that Vista backup will not allow me to select
> the folders I want to backup.
>
> Any suggestions?
>
> Do I have to buy a real backup program to do what I want to do?
>
> Thanks,
> Jim

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

JimW;861720 Wrote:
> I can't believe Vista backup. The simplest thing is apparently no
> possible
>
> I have a system with two hard drives. I always buy two hard drives fo
> m
> systems. Drive C: gets the OS and installed programs, things I ca
> restor
> from original CDs, and the drive most likely to crash. Drive D: i
> intende
> for my own data files
>
> With two drives, I should be able to back each of them up to the other
>
> In particular, I want to back up my data files (on Drive D: ) to
> folder o
> Drive C:
>
> Apparently that can't be done. Vista backup wizard selects the C: driv
> b
> default, and then won't let me backup to the drive that it is backu
> up
>
> If I get past this, I suspect that Vista backup will not allow me t
> selec
> the folders I want to backup
>
> Any suggestions
>
> Do I have to buy a real backup program to do what I want to do
>
> Thanks
> Ji

Hi Jim

It won't let you backup to the partition Vista is on. Guess that's t
stop people doing backups of C on C. You could create another partitio
on your C drive named F or G and do it that way. Might be safer to us
an external drive, though

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/10...ckup-files.htm

You might also use another backup tool

'Karen's Replicator
(http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptreplicator.asp

Hope that help

SIW

--
SIW2

Ken,

Thanks for your input. All good suggestions.

Sometimes the situation is one where the perfect becomes the enemy of the
good. The perfect solution to this problem is really quite expensive. If the
answer is the perfect solution or nothing at all, that's bad.

In my primary job I manage a network of about 15 computers. We have a tape
drive with capacity to back up anything in the network that changes. We have
daily differential backups. Weekly full backups. Monthly backups on tapes
that go offsite, and annual backups that are archived.

DVD's are really not big enough for the backups that I need to make.

So, I could buy a large external drive. But, the next problem: as far as I
know, Vista backup doesn't let me control very well what gets backed up. I
want the ability to select which folders get backed up. Can Vista backup do
that?

Jim

"Ken Blake, MVP" <> wrote in message
news:...
> On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:51:15 -0400, "JimW" <>
> wrote:
>
>> I can't believe Vista backup. The simplest thing is apparently not
>> possible.
>>
>> I have a system with two hard drives. I always buy two hard drives for my
>> systems. Drive C: gets the OS and installed programs, things I can
>> restore
>> from original CDs, and the drive most likely to crash. Drive D: is
>> intended
>> for my own data files.
>>
>> With two drives, I should be able to back each of them up to the other.
>
>
> I don't think that's a good idea at all. I don't recommend backup to a
> second non-removable hard drive because it leaves you susceptible to
> simultaneous loss of the original and backup to many of the most
> common dangers: severe power glitches, nearby lightning strikes, virus
> attacks, even theft of the computer.
>
> In my view, secure backup needs to be on removable media, and not kept
> in the computer. For really secure backup (needed, for example, if the
> life of your business depends on your data) you should have multiple
> generations of backup, and at least one of those generations should be
> stored off-site.
>
>
>
>> In particular, I want to back up my data files (on Drive D: ) to a folder
>> on
>> Drive C:.
>>
>> Apparently that can't be done. Vista backup wizard selects the C: drive
>> by
>> default, and then won't let me backup to the drive that it is backup up.
>>
>> If I get past this, I suspect that Vista backup will not allow me to
>> select
>> the folders I want to backup.
>>
>> Any suggestions?
>>
>> Do I have to buy a real backup program to do what I want to do?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Jim
>
> --
> Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
> Please Reply to the Newsgroup

On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:08:03 -0400, "JimW" <>
wrote:

> Ken,
>
> Thanks for your input. All good suggestions.


You're welcome. Glad to help.


> Sometimes the situation is one where the perfect becomes the enemy of the
> good. The perfect solution to this problem is really quite expensive. If the
> answer is the perfect solution or nothing at all, that's bad.
>
> In my primary job I manage a network of about 15 computers. We have a tape
> drive with capacity to back up anything in the network that changes. We have
> daily differential backups. Weekly full backups. Monthly backups on tapes
> that go offsite, and annual backups that are archived.
>
> DVD's are really not big enough for the backups that I need to make.
>
> So, I could buy a large external drive.


That would be my recommendation.


> But, the next problem: as far as I
> know, Vista backup doesn't let me control very well what gets backed up. I
> want the ability to select which folders get backed up. Can Vista backup do
> that?


I'm not sure, but there are several third-party backup programs that
are much better, and can do that. I recommend Acronis True Image.

By the way, you might like to read this article on backup I recently
wrote: "Back Up Your Computer Regularly and Reliably" at
http://www.computorcompanion.com/LPMArticle.asp?ID=314


> "Ken Blake, MVP" <> wrote in message
> news:...
> > On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:51:15 -0400, "JimW" <>
> > wrote:
> >
> >> I can't believe Vista backup. The simplest thing is apparently not
> >> possible.
> >>
> >> I have a system with two hard drives. I always buy two hard drives for my
> >> systems. Drive C: gets the OS and installed programs, things I can
> >> restore
> >> from original CDs, and the drive most likely to crash. Drive D: is
> >> intended
> >> for my own data files.
> >>
> >> With two drives, I should be able to back each of them up to the other.
> >
> >
> > I don't think that's a good idea at all. I don't recommend backup to a
> > second non-removable hard drive because it leaves you susceptible to
> > simultaneous loss of the original and backup to many of the most
> > common dangers: severe power glitches, nearby lightning strikes, virus
> > attacks, even theft of the computer.
> >
> > In my view, secure backup needs to be on removable media, and not kept
> > in the computer. For really secure backup (needed, for example, if the
> > life of your business depends on your data) you should have multiple
> > generations of backup, and at least one of those generations should be
> > stored off-site.
> >
> >
> >
> >> In particular, I want to back up my data files (on Drive D: ) to a folder
> >> on
> >> Drive C:.
> >>
> >> Apparently that can't be done. Vista backup wizard selects the C: drive
> >> by
> >> default, and then won't let me backup to the drive that it is backup up.
> >>
> >> If I get past this, I suspect that Vista backup will not allow me to
> >> select
> >> the folders I want to backup.
> >>
> >> Any suggestions?
> >>
> >> Do I have to buy a real backup program to do what I want to do?
> >>
> >> Thanks,
> >> Jim
> >
> > --
> > Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
> > Please Reply to the Newsgroup

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup