Guys, for hdd backup
what's are the differences between copy & paste, and using those norton ghost/acronis software.

Does right click my C drive, copy and paste to external hdd..
means complete backup? , including OS & those installed program?
(if in future i bought new hdd, then i copy pasta back the whole C drive to the new hdd, will it behave like just exactly as before? , boot from OS, running previously installed program, etc. etc.)

Thanks. & Merry Christmas`

hoho..that way cannotla my fren...copy & paste not same with Norton Ghost or Acronis, u just copy the things inside c:, not all including the registry, and some others, can't simply just copy and paste to run the OS, that's why u need CD to install OS, Norton Ghost is use if u have do some installing and setting of the OS (in previous installation), and u want it become like what u hv set after in new installation, there where the Norton@Acronis become useful....correct me if i'm wrong

(^___^)

so, there's no way to complete backup entire OS/installed programs?

Use 'Acronis True Image"

you're wrong, you can actually copy everthing INCLUDING REGISTRY & OTHER SYSTEM FILES when you're not running the OS.
you get access denied message because it's still running, different case if you pull out the disk & copy paste using another set of PC.
yea, REGISTRIES are actually saved in a folder, C:\WINDOWS\system32\config.

i would rather make a copy of items and leave the OS alone.
just installing a new copy of OS is simple as 1 2 3.

Actually, it's much handier when to some people with Acronis or Norton Ghost because like me, I do a lot of egistry tweaks and I require my registry to be back-ed up. Normal, copy and paste can't backup registry (I think).

oo..i see, thanks, u r rite, the registry file is inside the c:, i'm just thinking if u just copy entire c:, then paste inside new clean hdisk, then run the new hdisk, the OS can run perfectly???regarding the issue of registry or other system files??the regedit will be exactly the same from what your copy???

(^__^)

This post has been edited by nash9701: Dec 26 2008, 12:12 AM

You want to run Windows from an external drive? That is fully/totally possible. Make sure that you've got adequate drive read/write speeds.

PC1: pull out HDD0 for backup.
PC2 (already has own HDD1): install HDD0 & new drive HDD2, boot from HDD1, copy whole HDD0 to HDD2.
as long as HDD0 is not running as OS, REGs and SYSfiles will be sucessfully copied into HDD2 and same as HDD0.

it's one of the possible ways of backup, more hassle for some people
but why not? at least works on me before.

This post has been edited by ktek: Dec 26 2008, 02:01 AM

i've always wondered if there's a way to completely copy my current C:\ and straight put in another hard disk and have sort of a "clone" desktop?

So, we can copy the whole OS-1 partition when we'r running on the 2nd OS windows?
Using, this method of backup..
does it mean we can have a fully working OS and those installed programs as well..
when we paste it on new hdd??

Can someone confirm this?

yes, this is wat i want.
i don't want to re-download and re-install 30++ programs/applications.

That's called HDD mirroring.

So which of the options below acts the same as mirroring backup?

1) boot with another OS, direct copy the entire old OS partition.
then paste it to new hdd.

2) acronis true image.

what i want is transfer to new hdd,
use the new hdd as boot drive/partition/OS
everything same as the old OS partition.
(including installed programs/apps. , working.)

That is more hassle to take out hdd and put inside another pc then take out again before put in original pc.
Software make things easier n also compress the image.
Does mirroring backup include empty spaces,I mean fully clone a hdd?

interesting.... thanks at least got something to type in google

u can try driveimage or cobain backup..both software is freeware
or can try media solution like using external hard drive...this only my opinion only ..

Using direct copy and paste or using cloning software??
If using copy and paste, will it work if your HDD1 run on Vista?

You forgotten the existence of E-Sata?

yup..e-sata can do that too ...now the new gadget technology using like dock station hdd SATA ..