The best way to backup windows

[TerryP]

What is the best way to back up a multi-partition install of XP?


I as thinking a full dump of each drive letter, mounting them from my FreeBSD 7 install on the same disk. Then in the case of reinstall being required, format the partitions, restore the files, and give her a boot.


Microsoft software, is far from my area of expertise... but I thought it best to ask, before I commit to it.

[DrJ]

I use bacula -- it runs as host/client software. So I run a tape drive off my (FBSD) server, and set a schedule to back up my various workstations (BSD, XP and W2K).

The easiest way is to run Windows Home Server. Its backup capabilities are outstanding. That probably is not the answer you are looking for. For the main house, where are four Windows boxes and nothing else, that I what I did, and it is very nice. I had adequate hardware lying around, so for me it was easy to get going.

[terryd]

Backuppc is working well for me. Backs up 2 laptops and 1 pc to the server daily.
I run rsyncd on the windows and backuppc polls the machines and when there online grabs a backup.

[jggimi]

I use ntfsclone, which is a Linux application. It doesn't provide incrementals, but it makes disaster recovery extremely simple.

[ai-danno]

At work (Windows Server Hosting) we use Backup for Workgroups (BFW) and Veritas for our generalized backups (and other applications for other backup services.)

BFW is great because it's cheap and it works really well. Don't let the "Workgroups" name throw you off- it has nothing (AFAICT) to do with Workgroup stuff.