Comments for Is a backup an alternative to having no Windows installation CDs?

Comment from George Siter on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T06:04:23Z

My son gave me his laptop (HP). When trying to "bot up" it comes to the end of the line and says, "No Operating System Present". I tried several times to boot up with Ubuntu but there is no recognition of the DVD drive as if it weren't even there. I tried to change the boot preference and that didn't work either. He has no disks since a friend originally gave him the laptop. I have tried everything I know. Please help.

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A comment on: Is a backup an alternative to having no Windows installation CDs?

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Comment from Victor on 2008-11-09

2008-11-09T14:07:20Z

Ok. I can backup everything in my computer, but what if mi whole hard disk crashes and I can not buy one equal to it?
I have to use this backup to restore on the new hard disk, and this hard disk has more size than the first one.
Can tools deal with this? I mean, can I use tools to restore a partition on a bigger one or I have to restore the partition as is and create a new one to fit the whole disk?

Many tools can indeed deal with this. For those that cannot, your backup is still critical, as it has your data that can be accessed after you set up a new system.

- Leo
09-Nov-2008

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A comment on: Is a backup an alternative to having no Windows installation CDs?

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Comment from Duane on 2008-10-08

2008-10-08T09:52:31Z

I recently found Macrium Reflect. This runs free of charge for a reasonable evaluation period. After that, the full registration is about $55.00 Australian. This gives you the option of backing up specific files, or creating a ghost image of an entire partion. Used in conjunction with Microsoft's own back up tool, this makes an effective recovery startegy. It's saved me once already after I deleted some critical client files.

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A comment on: Is a backup an alternative to having no Windows installation CDs?

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Comment from Dennis Webber on 2008-10-07

2008-10-07T21:08:12Z

Although Leo addressed one method of data backup, most of us have computers well modified and can't go back to a pristine state.
However, there is another option, not requiring a backup immediately after you get a computer; one that allows the image backup to take place at any time. One that can be used to boot the system even if you current hard drive fails completely.

What I use is a product called BounceBack. It images your entire hard disk (all partitions) and then maintains the backup continuously and automatically.
In the event of a complete hard drive failure, the backup hard drive can be remounted as Drive C and you can pick up exactly where you were when the original disk failed. Plus you have a current copy of all files should a virus wipe out the Hard drive. Or, you can simply boot from the backup drive (in my case it's drive J).
It's an all-in-one solution to disk failure.
In the case of not having installation disks, having a complete, current image that the computer can boot from is a much better solution than going through a complete reload of the origional operating system and programs and all the custopm settings.
In my specific case, I use a 2nd hard drive located in the optional drive bay of my laptop, but the drive could just as easily be located on the USB bus.
Here is the URL of the products:
http://www.cmsproducts.com/index.htm

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A comment on: Is a backup an alternative to having no Windows installation CDs?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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Comment from Ton Witteman on 2008-10-07

2008-10-07T17:36:10Z

How about getting away from Microsoft altogether and start using the great, free Open Source programs?
I am running Ubunto on my laptop, use OpenOffice.org with its excellent programs and have Firefox 3 as a browser and Thunderbird for e-mail. And all for FREE with excellent update support. Think about it when Microsoft knocks on your door for a $ 100+(or more) for its next OS!

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A comment on: Is a backup an alternative to having no Windows installation CDs?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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Comment from RJ on 2008-10-06

2008-10-06T20:15:26Z

That said, however, is making such a backup basically the same as the recovery disks that most pre-built computers come with?

Not at all. A backup is a copy of the data on your hard disk. Recovery disks have tools that attempt to fix or restore the operating system, often assuming a copy of recover information has been stored somewhere on the hard disk. (Hence if the hard disk is toast, the recovery disks can do little.)

- Leo
07-Oct-2008

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A comment on: Is a backup an alternative to having no Windows installation CDs?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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