I'm looking at using Syncbackfree to backup a Windows 7 Home Premium box to
a NAS. I was just curious if anyone has used that software or had a
favorite alternative?
This is for a non-technical family member's PC, so it needs to be as simple
as possible. Ideally, if things work properly they wouldn't even know it
was there.
I'd love to use the built-in backup program, but it won't back up over the
network unless you've got Windows 7 Pro or higher. Microsoft has disabled
their Anytime Upgrade, so it looks like upgrading isn't an option.
Puckdropper
On 8/28/2016 9:39 PM, [email protected] wrote:
> On 29 Aug 2016 00:00:21 GMT, Puckdropper
> <puckdropper(at)yahoo(dot)com> wrote:
>
>> "G. Ross" <[email protected]> wrote in
>> news:[email protected]:
>>
>>> [email protected] wrote:
>>
>>>> Macrium Reflect - hands down.
>>>>
>>> +1
>>>
>>
>> How does Macrium Reflect handle backup sizes? I ran in to a problem with
>> Windows 7's backup saving all the old backups and costing me about 1TB of
>> space. My goal is to prevent data loss from drive failure rather than
>> "oops, I deleted it" protection.
>>
>> Puckdropper
> You can image or clone. You can keep as many images as you have
> storage space for.
>
There's alway clonezilla. http://clonezilla.org/
--
Jeff
Puckdropper <puckdropper(at)yahoo(dot)com> wrote:
> "J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote in
> news:[email protected]:
>
>>
>> Microsoft has stopped issuing Windows 7 licenses--in principle you can
>> use a Windows 10 license with Windows 7 but in practice they've made
>> thr process so complicated that doing it is a major pain in the butt.
>>
>> Whatever you go with, test it thoroughly--that means do a full backup
>> and restore to a _new_ drive and make sure that it actually works.
>> The NEW drive (and I mean brand new not just different) is
>> important--I've found that some backup software can't deal with the
>> geometry changes that occur when restoring from older to newer
>> drives--Windows 7's built- in backup is among them. Symantec System
>> Recovery can deal with it but try to buy it. The time to find out is
>> _not_ when you have an unusable backup.
>>
>
> I wonder if any backup software does an automatic test restore. Doing one
> just before a new backup and just after a new backup would give you
> confidence the whole thing is working properly.
>
> Puckdropper
>
IMHO if you have an issue with a drive failure you are better off
reinstalling the OS and programs. Back up your data only. I would not
want to copy a cluttered image back on to a new drive. I did do that for
years and spent more time making multiple images than simply reinstalling.
And I don't keep backups of my data in the same location. Worse can happen
to your computer and local backups/ images are not safe either.
"G. Ross" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:
> [email protected] wrote:
>> Macrium Reflect - hands down.
>>
> +1
>
How does Macrium Reflect handle backup sizes? I ran in to a problem with
Windows 7's backup saving all the old backups and costing me about 1TB of
space. My goal is to prevent data loss from drive failure rather than
"oops, I deleted it" protection.
Puckdropper
"J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:
>
> Microsoft has stopped issuing Windows 7 licenses--in principle you can
> use a Windows 10 license with Windows 7 but in practice they've made
> thr process so complicated that doing it is a major pain in the butt.
>
> Whatever you go with, test it thoroughly--that means do a full backup
> and restore to a _new_ drive and make sure that it actually works.
> The NEW drive (and I mean brand new not just different) is
> important--I've found that some backup software can't deal with the
> geometry changes that occur when restoring from older to newer
> drives--Windows 7's built- in backup is among them. Symantec System
> Recovery can deal with it but try to buy it. The time to find out is
> _not_ when you have an unusable backup.
>
I wonder if any backup software does an automatic test restore. Doing one
just before a new backup and just after a new backup would give you
confidence the whole thing is working properly.
Puckdropper
On 8/28/2016 6:43 AM, Puckdropper wrote:
> I'm looking at using Syncbackfree to backup a Windows 7 Home Premium box to
> a NAS. I was just curious if anyone has used that software or had a
> favorite alternative?
>
> This is for a non-technical family member's PC, so it needs to be as simple
> as possible. Ideally, if things work properly they wouldn't even know it
> was there.
>
> I'd love to use the built-in backup program, but it won't back up over the
> network unless you've got Windows 7 Pro or higher. Microsoft has disabled
> their Anytime Upgrade, so it looks like upgrading isn't an option.
>
> Puckdropper
>
I use "iDrive", an on line back up service. You pay for the amount of
storage and you can have multiple computers or devices to back up to
that account.
You can also manage your back ups by deleting obsolete data to keep your
storage usage down.
I once used Carbonate but I could not delete obsolete data and after a
year or so it was difficult to wade through the obsolete.
In article <[email protected]>,
Puckdropper says...
>
> I'm looking at using Syncbackfree to backup a Windows 7 Home Premium box to
> a NAS. I was just curious if anyone has used that software or had a
> favorite alternative?
>
> This is for a non-technical family member's PC, so it needs to be as simple
> as possible. Ideally, if things work properly they wouldn't even know it
> was there.
>
> I'd love to use the built-in backup program, but it won't back up over the
> network unless you've got Windows 7 Pro or higher. Microsoft has disabled
> their Anytime Upgrade, so it looks like upgrading isn't an option.
Microsoft has stopped issuing Windows 7 licenses--in principle you can
use a Windows 10 license with Windows 7 but in practice they've made thr
process so complicated that doing it is a major pain in the butt.
Whatever you go with, test it thoroughly--that means do a full backup
and restore to a _new_ drive and make sure that it actually works. The
NEW drive (and I mean brand new not just different) is important--I've
found that some backup software can't deal with the geometry changes
that occur when restoring from older to newer drives--Windows 7's built-
in backup is among them. Symantec System Recovery can deal with it but
try to buy it. The time to find out is _not_ when you have an unusable
backup.
In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
>
> On 29 Aug 2016 00:05:03 GMT, Puckdropper
> <puckdropper(at)yahoo(dot)com> wrote:
>
> >"J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote in
> >news:[email protected]:
> >
> >>
> >> Microsoft has stopped issuing Windows 7 licenses--in principle you can
> >> use a Windows 10 license with Windows 7 but in practice they've made
> >> thr process so complicated that doing it is a major pain in the butt.
> >>
> >> Whatever you go with, test it thoroughly--that means do a full backup
> >> and restore to a _new_ drive and make sure that it actually works.
> >> The NEW drive (and I mean brand new not just different) is
> >> important--I've found that some backup software can't deal with the
> >> geometry changes that occur when restoring from older to newer
> >> drives--Windows 7's built- in backup is among them. Symantec System
> >> Recovery can deal with it but try to buy it. The time to find out is
> >> _not_ when you have an unusable backup.
> >>
> >
> >I wonder if any backup software does an automatic test restore. Doing one
> >just before a new backup and just after a new backup would give you
> >confidence the whole thing is working properly.
> >
> >Puckdropper
> I would never buy another Symantec problem - or use one if it was
> given to me.
OK, tell us your Symantec story.
In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
>
> On Mon, 29 Aug 2016 04:06:42 -0400, "J. Clarke"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >In article <[email protected]>,
> >[email protected] says...
> >>
> >> On 29 Aug 2016 00:05:03 GMT, Puckdropper
> >> <puckdropper(at)yahoo(dot)com> wrote:
> >>
> >> >"J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote in
> >> >news:[email protected]:
> >> >
> >> >>
> >> >> Microsoft has stopped issuing Windows 7 licenses--in principle you can
> >> >> use a Windows 10 license with Windows 7 but in practice they've made
> >> >> thr process so complicated that doing it is a major pain in the butt.
> >> >>
> >> >> Whatever you go with, test it thoroughly--that means do a full backup
> >> >> and restore to a _new_ drive and make sure that it actually works.
> >> >> The NEW drive (and I mean brand new not just different) is
> >> >> important--I've found that some backup software can't deal with the
> >> >> geometry changes that occur when restoring from older to newer
> >> >> drives--Windows 7's built- in backup is among them. Symantec System
> >> >> Recovery can deal with it but try to buy it. The time to find out is
> >> >> _not_ when you have an unusable backup.
> >> >>
> >> >
> >> >I wonder if any backup software does an automatic test restore. Doing one
> >> >just before a new backup and just after a new backup would give you
> >> >confidence the whole thing is working properly.
> >> >
> >> >Puckdropper
> >> I would never buy another Symantec problem - or use one if it was
> >> given to me.
> >
> >OK, tell us your Symantec story.
> Which one??? Ghost, Antivirus, Internet security? Hours spent dinking
> around with Symantec "support" trying to solve a problem?? In
> Symmantec-ese "support" is a 4 letter word.
How about System Recovery, since it's relevant to the current topic.
However I have no real clue how any software vendor's support is. I've
never run into a problem that I couldn't figure out on my own.
In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
>
> On Mon, 29 Aug 2016 20:41:55 -0400, "J. Clarke"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >In article <[email protected]>,
> >[email protected] says...
> >>
> >> On Mon, 29 Aug 2016 04:06:42 -0400, "J. Clarke"
> >> <[email protected]> wrote:
> >>
> >> >In article <[email protected]>,
> >> >[email protected] says...
> >> >>
> >> >> On 29 Aug 2016 00:05:03 GMT, Puckdropper
> >> >> <puckdropper(at)yahoo(dot)com> wrote:
> >> >>
> >> >> >"J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote in
> >> >> >news:[email protected]:
> >> >> >
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> Microsoft has stopped issuing Windows 7 licenses--in principle you can
> >> >> >> use a Windows 10 license with Windows 7 but in practice they've made
> >> >> >> thr process so complicated that doing it is a major pain in the butt.
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> Whatever you go with, test it thoroughly--that means do a full backup
> >> >> >> and restore to a _new_ drive and make sure that it actually works.
> >> >> >> The NEW drive (and I mean brand new not just different) is
> >> >> >> important--I've found that some backup software can't deal with the
> >> >> >> geometry changes that occur when restoring from older to newer
> >> >> >> drives--Windows 7's built- in backup is among them. Symantec System
> >> >> >> Recovery can deal with it but try to buy it. The time to find out is
> >> >> >> _not_ when you have an unusable backup.
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >
> >> >> >I wonder if any backup software does an automatic test restore. Doing one
> >> >> >just before a new backup and just after a new backup would give you
> >> >> >confidence the whole thing is working properly.
> >> >> >
> >> >> >Puckdropper
> >> >> I would never buy another Symantec problem - or use one if it was
> >> >> given to me.
> >> >
> >> >OK, tell us your Symantec story.
> >> Which one??? Ghost, Antivirus, Internet security? Hours spent dinking
> >> around with Symantec "support" trying to solve a problem?? In
> >> Symmantec-ese "support" is a 4 letter word.
> >
> >How about System Recovery, since it's relevant to the current topic.
> >
> >However I have no real clue how any software vendor's support is. I've
> >never run into a problem that I couldn't figure out on my own.
> >
> Eventually you will - particularly if you use Dymantec products. The
> systemhouse we have looking after the servers had the norton
> backup-restire product installed for a while and even THEY gave up on
> it ans switched to Veam's backup prosuct. Not sure how it's going to
> work, - but it would have to work pretty hard to be worse than the
> Norton product was.Half the time the backup failed, and the restore
> was not to be trusted. If "it usually works" is good enough for you,
> gop for it. I won't waste my time .
Haven't in 40 years. And System Recovery is not a "Norton" product.
The Norton product is "Ghost" and it has always been crap--a good idea
poorly developed.
Sounds like your "systemhouse" lacks experience. Maybe instead of
relying on a "systemhouse" you should learn how to look after your own
servers.
In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
>
> On Tue, 30 Aug 2016 05:01:33 -0400, "J. Clarke"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >In article <[email protected]>,
> >[email protected] says...
> >>
> >> On Mon, 29 Aug 2016 20:41:55 -0400, "J. Clarke"
> >> <[email protected]> wrote:
> >>
> >> >In article <[email protected]>,
> >> >[email protected] says...
> >> >>
> >> >> On Mon, 29 Aug 2016 04:06:42 -0400, "J. Clarke"
> >> >> <[email protected]> wrote:
> >> >>
> >> >> >In article <[email protected]>,
> >> >> >[email protected] says...
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> On 29 Aug 2016 00:05:03 GMT, Puckdropper
> >> >> >> <puckdropper(at)yahoo(dot)com> wrote:
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> >"J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote in
> >> >> >> >news:[email protected]:
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> >> Microsoft has stopped issuing Windows 7 licenses--in principle you can
> >> >> >> >> use a Windows 10 license with Windows 7 but in practice they've made
> >> >> >> >> thr process so complicated that doing it is a major pain in the butt.
> >> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> >> Whatever you go with, test it thoroughly--that means do a full backup
> >> >> >> >> and restore to a _new_ drive and make sure that it actually works.
> >> >> >> >> The NEW drive (and I mean brand new not just different) is
> >> >> >> >> important--I've found that some backup software can't deal with the
> >> >> >> >> geometry changes that occur when restoring from older to newer
> >> >> >> >> drives--Windows 7's built- in backup is among them. Symantec System
> >> >> >> >> Recovery can deal with it but try to buy it. The time to find out is
> >> >> >> >> _not_ when you have an unusable backup.
> >> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >I wonder if any backup software does an automatic test restore. Doing one
> >> >> >> >just before a new backup and just after a new backup would give you
> >> >> >> >confidence the whole thing is working properly.
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >Puckdropper
> >> >> >> I would never buy another Symantec problem - or use one if it was
> >> >> >> given to me.
> >> >> >
> >> >> >OK, tell us your Symantec story.
> >> >> Which one??? Ghost, Antivirus, Internet security? Hours spent dinking
> >> >> around with Symantec "support" trying to solve a problem?? In
> >> >> Symmantec-ese "support" is a 4 letter word.
> >> >
> >> >How about System Recovery, since it's relevant to the current topic.
> >> >
> >> >However I have no real clue how any software vendor's support is. I've
> >> >never run into a problem that I couldn't figure out on my own.
> >> >
> >> Eventually you will - particularly if you use Dymantec products. The
> >> systemhouse we have looking after the servers had the norton
> >> backup-restire product installed for a while and even THEY gave up on
> >> it ans switched to Veam's backup prosuct. Not sure how it's going to
> >> work, - but it would have to work pretty hard to be worse than the
> >> Norton product was.Half the time the backup failed, and the restore
> >> was not to be trusted. If "it usually works" is good enough for you,
> >> gop for it. I won't waste my time .
> >
> >Haven't in 40 years. And System Recovery is not a "Norton" product.
> >The Norton product is "Ghost" and it has always been crap--a good idea
> >poorly developed.
> >
> >Sounds like your "systemhouse" lacks experience. Maybe instead of
> >relying on a "systemhouse" you should learn how to look after your own
> >servers.
> I did for years until we had a problem and "the boss" thought it
> might be better to have more than just me available when something
> goes bas. The guys he brought in to solve the problem changed
> EVERYTHING ( and have not made it any detter than it was before, when
> it all comes down to it)- and coming up towards retirement I was just
> as happy to let them have the problems and take the blame.
> An upcoming merger may change the whole system again - and I'm just
> too happy to not be in charge of THAT.
I know how that goes. The Powers That Be just fired most of our IT
department and hired an outside firm which promptly hired all the firees
back at lower salary on one year contracts (except for the one who got
real jobs somewhere else). You can imagine how that's going.
On 29 Aug 2016 00:05:03 GMT, Puckdropper
<puckdropper(at)yahoo(dot)com> wrote:
>"J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote in
>news:[email protected]:
>
>>
>> Microsoft has stopped issuing Windows 7 licenses--in principle you can
>> use a Windows 10 license with Windows 7 but in practice they've made
>> thr process so complicated that doing it is a major pain in the butt.
>>
>> Whatever you go with, test it thoroughly--that means do a full backup
>> and restore to a _new_ drive and make sure that it actually works.
>> The NEW drive (and I mean brand new not just different) is
>> important--I've found that some backup software can't deal with the
>> geometry changes that occur when restoring from older to newer
>> drives--Windows 7's built- in backup is among them. Symantec System
>> Recovery can deal with it but try to buy it. The time to find out is
>> _not_ when you have an unusable backup.
>>
>
>I wonder if any backup software does an automatic test restore. Doing one
>just before a new backup and just after a new backup would give you
>confidence the whole thing is working properly.
>
>Puckdropper
I would never buy another Symantec problem - or use one if it was
given to me.
[email protected] wrote:
> On 28 Aug 2016 11:43:35 GMT, Puckdropper
> <puckdropper(at)yahoo(dot)com> wrote:
>
>>I'm looking at using Syncbackfree to backup a Windows 7 Home Premium box to
>>a NAS. I was just curious if anyone has used that software or had a
>>favorite alternative?
>>
>>This is for a non-technical family member's PC, so it needs to be as simple
>>as possible. Ideally, if things work properly they wouldn't even know it
>>was there.
>>
>>I'd love to use the built-in backup program, but it won't back up over the
>>network unless you've got Windows 7 Pro or higher. Microsoft has disabled
>>their Anytime Upgrade, so it looks like upgrading isn't an option.
>>
>>Puckdropper
> Macrium Reflect - hands down.
>
+1
--
GW Ross
Facts, though interesting, are irrelevant.
On Mon, 29 Aug 2016 04:06:42 -0400, "J. Clarke"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>In article <[email protected]>,
>[email protected] says...
>>
>> On 29 Aug 2016 00:05:03 GMT, Puckdropper
>> <puckdropper(at)yahoo(dot)com> wrote:
>>
>> >"J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote in
>> >news:[email protected]:
>> >
>> >>
>> >> Microsoft has stopped issuing Windows 7 licenses--in principle you can
>> >> use a Windows 10 license with Windows 7 but in practice they've made
>> >> thr process so complicated that doing it is a major pain in the butt.
>> >>
>> >> Whatever you go with, test it thoroughly--that means do a full backup
>> >> and restore to a _new_ drive and make sure that it actually works.
>> >> The NEW drive (and I mean brand new not just different) is
>> >> important--I've found that some backup software can't deal with the
>> >> geometry changes that occur when restoring from older to newer
>> >> drives--Windows 7's built- in backup is among them. Symantec System
>> >> Recovery can deal with it but try to buy it. The time to find out is
>> >> _not_ when you have an unusable backup.
>> >>
>> >
>> >I wonder if any backup software does an automatic test restore. Doing one
>> >just before a new backup and just after a new backup would give you
>> >confidence the whole thing is working properly.
>> >
>> >Puckdropper
>> I would never buy another Symantec problem - or use one if it was
>> given to me.
>
>OK, tell us your Symantec story.
Which one??? Ghost, Antivirus, Internet security? Hours spent dinking
around with Symantec "support" trying to solve a problem?? In
Symmantec-ese "support" is a 4 letter word.
On 29 Aug 2016 00:00:21 GMT, Puckdropper
<puckdropper(at)yahoo(dot)com> wrote:
>"G. Ross" <[email protected]> wrote in
>news:[email protected]:
>
>> [email protected] wrote:
>
>>> Macrium Reflect - hands down.
>>>
>> +1
>>
>
>How does Macrium Reflect handle backup sizes? I ran in to a problem with
>Windows 7's backup saving all the old backups and costing me about 1TB of
>space. My goal is to prevent data loss from drive failure rather than
>"oops, I deleted it" protection.
>
>Puckdropper
You can image or clone. You can keep as many images as you have
storage space for.
On Mon, 29 Aug 2016 20:41:55 -0400, "J. Clarke"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>In article <[email protected]>,
>[email protected] says...
>>
>> On Mon, 29 Aug 2016 04:06:42 -0400, "J. Clarke"
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> >In article <[email protected]>,
>> >[email protected] says...
>> >>
>> >> On 29 Aug 2016 00:05:03 GMT, Puckdropper
>> >> <puckdropper(at)yahoo(dot)com> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> >"J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote in
>> >> >news:[email protected]:
>> >> >
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Microsoft has stopped issuing Windows 7 licenses--in principle you can
>> >> >> use a Windows 10 license with Windows 7 but in practice they've made
>> >> >> thr process so complicated that doing it is a major pain in the butt.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Whatever you go with, test it thoroughly--that means do a full backup
>> >> >> and restore to a _new_ drive and make sure that it actually works.
>> >> >> The NEW drive (and I mean brand new not just different) is
>> >> >> important--I've found that some backup software can't deal with the
>> >> >> geometry changes that occur when restoring from older to newer
>> >> >> drives--Windows 7's built- in backup is among them. Symantec System
>> >> >> Recovery can deal with it but try to buy it. The time to find out is
>> >> >> _not_ when you have an unusable backup.
>> >> >>
>> >> >
>> >> >I wonder if any backup software does an automatic test restore. Doing one
>> >> >just before a new backup and just after a new backup would give you
>> >> >confidence the whole thing is working properly.
>> >> >
>> >> >Puckdropper
>> >> I would never buy another Symantec problem - or use one if it was
>> >> given to me.
>> >
>> >OK, tell us your Symantec story.
>> Which one??? Ghost, Antivirus, Internet security? Hours spent dinking
>> around with Symantec "support" trying to solve a problem?? In
>> Symmantec-ese "support" is a 4 letter word.
>
>How about System Recovery, since it's relevant to the current topic.
>
>However I have no real clue how any software vendor's support is. I've
>never run into a problem that I couldn't figure out on my own.
>
Eventually you will - particularly if you use Dymantec products. The
systemhouse we have looking after the servers had the norton
backup-restire product installed for a while and even THEY gave up on
it ans switched to Veam's backup prosuct. Not sure how it's going to
work, - but it would have to work pretty hard to be worse than the
Norton product was.Half the time the backup failed, and the restore
was not to be trusted. If "it usually works" is good enough for you,
gop for it. I won't waste my time .
On Sun, 28 Aug 2016 23:18:55 -0500, Leon <[email protected]> wrote:
>Puckdropper <puckdropper(at)yahoo(dot)com> wrote:
>> "J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote in
>> news:[email protected]:
>>
>>>
>>> Microsoft has stopped issuing Windows 7 licenses--in principle you can
>>> use a Windows 10 license with Windows 7 but in practice they've made
>>> thr process so complicated that doing it is a major pain in the butt.
>>>
>>> Whatever you go with, test it thoroughly--that means do a full backup
>>> and restore to a _new_ drive and make sure that it actually works.
>>> The NEW drive (and I mean brand new not just different) is
>>> important--I've found that some backup software can't deal with the
>>> geometry changes that occur when restoring from older to newer
>>> drives--Windows 7's built- in backup is among them. Symantec System
>>> Recovery can deal with it but try to buy it. The time to find out is
>>> _not_ when you have an unusable backup.
>>>
>>
>> I wonder if any backup software does an automatic test restore. Doing one
>> just before a new backup and just after a new backup would give you
>> confidence the whole thing is working properly.
>>
>> Puckdropper
>>
>
>IMHO if you have an issue with a drive failure you are better off
>reinstalling the OS and programs. Back up your data only. I would not
>want to copy a cluttered image back on to a new drive. I did do that for
>years and spent more time making multiple images than simply reinstalling.
>
>And I don't keep backups of my data in the same location. Worse can happen
>to your computer and local backups/ images are not safe either.
I have some apps that take several hours to install and get properly
configured - so I make an image of a CLEAN drive . Keep the data on a
data drive, not the system drive - and back it up.
I clean the system drive and re-image it after major upgrades.
(at least that;s the plan - - - )
On 28 Aug 2016 11:43:35 GMT, Puckdropper
<puckdropper(at)yahoo(dot)com> wrote:
>I'm looking at using Syncbackfree to backup a Windows 7 Home Premium box to
>a NAS. I was just curious if anyone has used that software or had a
>favorite alternative?
>
>This is for a non-technical family member's PC, so it needs to be as simple
>as possible. Ideally, if things work properly they wouldn't even know it
>was there.
>
>I'd love to use the built-in backup program, but it won't back up over the
>network unless you've got Windows 7 Pro or higher. Microsoft has disabled
>their Anytime Upgrade, so it looks like upgrading isn't an option.
>
>Puckdropper
Macrium Reflect - hands down.
On Tue, 30 Aug 2016 05:01:33 -0400, "J. Clarke"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>In article <[email protected]>,
>[email protected] says...
>>
>> On Mon, 29 Aug 2016 20:41:55 -0400, "J. Clarke"
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> >In article <[email protected]>,
>> >[email protected] says...
>> >>
>> >> On Mon, 29 Aug 2016 04:06:42 -0400, "J. Clarke"
>> >> <[email protected]> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> >In article <[email protected]>,
>> >> >[email protected] says...
>> >> >>
>> >> >> On 29 Aug 2016 00:05:03 GMT, Puckdropper
>> >> >> <puckdropper(at)yahoo(dot)com> wrote:
>> >> >>
>> >> >> >"J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote in
>> >> >> >news:[email protected]:
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> Microsoft has stopped issuing Windows 7 licenses--in principle you can
>> >> >> >> use a Windows 10 license with Windows 7 but in practice they've made
>> >> >> >> thr process so complicated that doing it is a major pain in the butt.
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> Whatever you go with, test it thoroughly--that means do a full backup
>> >> >> >> and restore to a _new_ drive and make sure that it actually works.
>> >> >> >> The NEW drive (and I mean brand new not just different) is
>> >> >> >> important--I've found that some backup software can't deal with the
>> >> >> >> geometry changes that occur when restoring from older to newer
>> >> >> >> drives--Windows 7's built- in backup is among them. Symantec System
>> >> >> >> Recovery can deal with it but try to buy it. The time to find out is
>> >> >> >> _not_ when you have an unusable backup.
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >I wonder if any backup software does an automatic test restore. Doing one
>> >> >> >just before a new backup and just after a new backup would give you
>> >> >> >confidence the whole thing is working properly.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >Puckdropper
>> >> >> I would never buy another Symantec problem - or use one if it was
>> >> >> given to me.
>> >> >
>> >> >OK, tell us your Symantec story.
>> >> Which one??? Ghost, Antivirus, Internet security? Hours spent dinking
>> >> around with Symantec "support" trying to solve a problem?? In
>> >> Symmantec-ese "support" is a 4 letter word.
>> >
>> >How about System Recovery, since it's relevant to the current topic.
>> >
>> >However I have no real clue how any software vendor's support is. I've
>> >never run into a problem that I couldn't figure out on my own.
>> >
>> Eventually you will - particularly if you use Dymantec products. The
>> systemhouse we have looking after the servers had the norton
>> backup-restire product installed for a while and even THEY gave up on
>> it ans switched to Veam's backup prosuct. Not sure how it's going to
>> work, - but it would have to work pretty hard to be worse than the
>> Norton product was.Half the time the backup failed, and the restore
>> was not to be trusted. If "it usually works" is good enough for you,
>> gop for it. I won't waste my time .
>
>Haven't in 40 years. And System Recovery is not a "Norton" product.
>The Norton product is "Ghost" and it has always been crap--a good idea
>poorly developed.
>
>Sounds like your "systemhouse" lacks experience. Maybe instead of
>relying on a "systemhouse" you should learn how to look after your own
>servers.
I did for years until we had a problem and "the boss" thought it
might be better to have more than just me available when something
goes bas. The guys he brought in to solve the problem changed
EVERYTHING ( and have not made it any detter than it was before, when
it all comes down to it)- and coming up towards retirement I was just
as happy to let them have the problems and take the blame.
An upcoming merger may change the whole system again - and I'm just
too happy to not be in charge of THAT.
On 08/28/2016 7:43 AM, Puckdropper wrote:
> I'm looking at using Syncbackfree to backup a Windows 7 Home Premium box to
> a NAS. I was just curious if anyone has used that software or had a
> favorite alternative?
>
> This is for a non-technical family member's PC, so it needs to be as simple
> as possible. Ideally, if things work properly they wouldn't even know it
> was there.
>
> I'd love to use the built-in backup program, but it won't back up over the
> network unless you've got Windows 7 Pro or higher. Microsoft has disabled
> their Anytime Upgrade, so it looks like upgrading isn't an option.
>
> Puckdropper
>
I have used Syncbackfree for years, ever since I got my LAN in the early
2000's. I use it to keep my laptop and my desktop files the same. In
all of these years my only complaint is what I would like the program to
do, not what it does.
When I clean out a directory and then sync, I wish I could sort by file
names not the total directory name. As Syncback does it it shows the
files as to be synced as:
c:\x\y\x\file1.
c:\x\y\x\file2.
c:\x\y\x\file3.
c:\a\b\c\file1.
I would like to be able to look at the files to be synced as
c:\a\b\c\file1.
c:\x\y\x\file1.
c:\x\y\x\file2.
c:\x\y\x\file3
In this way I could see where I moved File1 during the cleanup and
delete the old file1.
I use the Windows 10 File History to then back up the desktop to and
external drive.
On Mon, 29 Aug 2016 00:05:03 +0000, Puckdropper wrote:
> I wonder if any backup software does an automatic test restore. Doing
> one just before a new backup and just after a new backup would give you
> confidence the whole thing is working properly.
Well, the tar program will do a verify after a save, as long as the save
was not compressed. But I don't know if there's a Windows version.
But I have mine set up to run at 3AM with compression and no verify and
I've never had a problem.
--
When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and
carrying a cross.
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On 28 Aug 2016 11:43:35 GMT, Puckdropper
> <puckdropper(at)yahoo(dot)com> wrote:
>
>>I'm looking at using Syncbackfree to backup a Windows 7 Home Premium box
>>to
>>a NAS. I was just curious if anyone has used that software or had a
>>favorite alternative?
>>
>>This is for a non-technical family member's PC, so it needs to be as
>>simple
>>as possible. Ideally, if things work properly they wouldn't even know it
>>was there.
>>
>>I'd love to use the built-in backup program, but it won't back up over the
>>network unless you've got Windows 7 Pro or higher. Microsoft has disabled
>>their Anytime Upgrade, so it looks like upgrading isn't an option.
>>
>>Puckdropper
> Macrium Reflect - hands down.
I use Acronis. Mostly with success. I've had it give me troubles getting
started but when it copied it always worked. I haven't asked it to do much -
back up a PC and / or server in anticipation of a drive crash on the
machine. Right now I'm in the process of moving from an Xp desktop to a
Win10 laptop. The laptop is my 1st experience with 10 so the migration is a
little bumpy.
Acronis does have a validate function that basically does a file by file
check for duplicity on a previous backup. It takes nearly as long as the
backup but I've never had an Acronis restore fail. A 300 gig backup takes
about 2 1/2 hours. A validate takes about 1 3/4. There. Now I jinxed myself.
I gotta go now and sacrifice a chicken.
Steve