System backup using a CD-RW

[sethfp]

Am using Win 98. Can a CD-RW be used with Microsoft Backup? Can Adaptec Easy CD Creator do a complete system backup? Have been able to transfer some files, but is not the same as a system backup.(Can't use Restore.)

[NooNoo]

You can use win98 backup in accessories, system tools to create the backup and then transfer it to CDRW without a problem.

However, a full back up is likely to be more than 500mb and no 98 backup will not span the disks.

98 backup only looks for tape devices or a hard drive


As for Easy CD that has a system called take two, I have personally not used it

Nero has its own backup image system.

I use ghost for the os and programs and just use cdrw's put the mail and docs on. Other larger data files such as mp3 I put on cdr.

[Matridom]

ghost will also allow you to burn an image directly to CD and span several CD's... work very nicely. however, not all CDRW are supported and you need a relativly recent ghost version.

[sethfp]

Originally posted by NooNoo
You can use win98 backup in accessories, system tools to create the backup and then transfer it to CDRW without a problem.

However, a full back up is likely to be more than 500mb and no 98 backup will not span the disks.

98 backup only looks for tape devices or a hard drive


As for Easy CD that has a system called take two, I have personally not used it

Nero has its own backup image system.

I use ghost for the os and programs and just use cdrw's put the mail and docs on. Other larger data files such as mp3 I put on cdr. If 98 backup can only do 500MB, which files are essential to be backed up?(I have 10GB of harddrive full, much of it games.)How can the Restore function be used?

[NooNoo]

Originally posted by sethfp
If 98 backup can only do 500MB, which files are essential to be backed up?(I have 10GB of harddrive full, much of it games.)How can the Restore function be used?

I didn't say 98 backup could only do 500mb, I said that 98 backup does not use cdrw as a backup device, it therefore does not span cdrw's (on which you get about 500mb)

As for what you backup, the files that you create... (I assume you have the original install disks for the games and os so they do not need to be backed up as such) Doing a full back up is desirable, followed by modified files only as this tends to be quicker to restore than rebuilding the system and then installing all the games and other software separately.

The restore function in 98 is self explanatory - you choose restore, you choose the files and then you choose what location to restore to and hit the start button.

I suggest you play by backing up one directory such as my documents and restore it to another location to see how it all works.

If you need to backup all 10 gigs then I suggest you either get a spare hard drive to backup to or use ghost... a tape drive that can handle 10 gig is going to be expensive or if you get a cheap one, very slow.

Ask yourself what you wish to achieve with your backup and how much you have to spend on this, and how much the data is worth to you if lost.

[swamprat]

I use willow creek backup to cdrw for my machine. It can do the entire hard drive, or just what you want. Does span cds. See www.willowsoft.com

[NooNoo]

Originally posted by swamprat
I use willow creek backup to cdrw for my machine. It can do the entire hard drive, or just what you want. Does span cds. See www.willowsoft.com

Shame you have to have packet writing installed, but looks like a nice cheap system for the home user.

[sethfp]

Originally posted by Matridom
ghost will also allow you to burn an image directly to CD and span several CD's... work very nicely. however, not all CDRW are supported and you need a relativly recent ghost version.
Tried using Nero to make a backup, using Burn Harddrive Backup. Got the message:
"Some harddisk partitions do not end on cylinder borders. This harddrive cannot be backed up with Nero."
Also tried using a version of Ghost, which moved the CD ROM and CDR drives down a drive letter--at that point my system couldn't find either CD drives.

[NooNoo]

Originally posted by sethfp
Tried using Nero to make a backup, using Burn Harddrive Backup. Got the message:
"Some harddisk partitions do not end on cylinder borders. This harddrive cannot be backed up with Nero."
Also tried using a version of Ghost, which moved the CD ROM and CDR drives down a drive letter--at that point my system couldn't find either CD drives.

OK, so it sounds like you have partition errors on your drive for Nero...

As to you comment about ghost, what do you mean? To ghost a machine you use a boot disk - the drive letters go nowhere....

[El Barto]

In my humble experience, I don't trust Norton Ghost. I prefer doing "hand made" backups.
Call it paranoia, but it never fails. Ghost does.
The only file you wont be able to backup is "win386.swp" that is, windows 98 swap file. Just leave it out when copying your windows installation dir, and voila.
My method is backing up a fresh installed system BEFORE installing non critical apps. (games, Office, etc.) Then, I use a second hard drive to storage data (swap file, MyDocs, etc.). So if i have to recover, I format "C:" and copy my system backup from another drive.
Never tried to do it on cd's because it usually gets past 700MB... but i supose i would separate stuff by hand, also.
I know that looks prehistoric, but never fails.
Win 98 is not a system to trust your life to, though.
Neither do Ghost