I've seen several threads over time on this subject but can't find one via a search so have had to start this new one - though if anyone can point me to one here or elsewhere then please do so. I did find some on the supplementary one about security (see later) but any pointers here - even if they are to recent threads - would be appreciated.

A "technically-challenged" family I know with one Windows XP system and two Vista ones (all "Home" editions) need them backing up with as little fuss as possible - ideally to a drive which is connected to each computer as and when a backup (or restore) is required - i.e. shared between them. (They have a wireless router with Ethernet ports for connection to NAS for that and file sharing if need be - my recommended method being with a LaCie 2big Network (2-disk RAID) drive (http://www.lacie.com/uk/products/product.htm?pid=10953) - and I know the initial system backups would take an age.) I'm familiar with Norton Ghost 9.0 and whilst that used to suit me when I used Windows XP Pro (days thankfully long behind me) it's a bit heavy-handed for the likes of them. I see the makers of that have a product called "...Save & Restore 2.0" but at £40 a license - i.e. £120 in all - it's quite a price to pay. Still, better a good application at a price than a bad one for nothing - and backups are the most important thing which most computer users should do.

I think they need their system security beefing up too (i.e. against malware threats et cetera) and so I might even get them to consider Norton 360 - despite the even bigger financial hit and the poor opinions I've seen about it on here. In fact maybe they'd be better off with a specific backup system or strategy and go with Norton Internet Security 2009 or Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 suites as recommended in this (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=411617) thread. Again the financial hit may be high for three systems but I'm not the one who will be forking out and if it were my decision I'd pay for the safest and most hassle-free option - if only I could find out which it is.

I know it appears that I'm too lazy to look around the Internet (or dig deeper in the forum) but as is so often the case specific needs sometimes demand specific answers and, besides, having "gone Mac" (rather than "gone mad" with Windows) I'm out of touch with such these days and don't particularly want to catch up even if it's to help relatives. Still, at least I don't have to worry (much) about malware and I can let Time Machine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_Machine_(Apple_software)) (with "belt & braces" help from SuperDuper (http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/SuperDuperDescription.html) and Carbon Copy Cloner (http://bombich.com/ccc)) look after my backups.

Finally, if upgrading the XP box to Vista is worth doing as a first step then I'll recommend that - probably a good idea anyway since two of the three are so encumbered.

am currently using Symantec backup exec which is running on a windows server this has add-on agents for which I have two of - one installed on another windows server and another on a redhat server, it does a good job.

as for security and all that I would advise against any home user buying software as the free stuff does a good job.. if there porn addicts then Avast, if there simple browsing then Antivir - if they get annoyed with antivir advertising its self then AVG.

+ a monthly scan with some spyware thing if necessary..

I think you are going terribly overboard for what is just some home PCs; get a networkable drive like you said, use Windows Backup on each PC to backup the needed files to it whenever you want to and stick something like AVG on it.

The more complicated you make it, the more likely it is to go wrong.

I used to use SyncBack when I used Windows. It was recommended by a couple of folks here and I'd add my recommendation. It's free too :)

I think you are going terribly overboard for what is just some home PCs; get a networkable drive like you said, use Windows Backup on each PC to backup the needed files to it whenever you want to and stick something like AVG on it.

The more complicated you make it, the more likely it is to go wrong.

These "mere home PCs" contain valuable data such as home video, pictures and music purchased online - the volume of which is growing - hence the data has a mixture of priceless and intrinsic value. (Too many people only realise this and the value of backups when it's too late - a friend of mine being recently quoted £500 to recover his family tree data from a failed drive which he's not backed up.) Given that they're all laptops, which I didn't mention at the outset, they will be taken out from time to time and so central storage of the master data is not suitable - i.e. only the backups will go on there - perhaps also an audio & video library if there's enough space. Mind you the latter takes one into the realms of parental controls - one laptop being a child's - so maybe they should pass on that as simple as it should be.

I'll look at Windows Backup and if it offers initial drive imaging with background incremental saves then great - though "limited area" backups will do so long as background incremental saves can be implemented once the areas have been saved initially. (Unlike some who seek help in this forum the family has all the media supplied with the laptops in order to allow re-initialisation of the systems if need be.) As mentioned in my initial post the XP box will be upgraded to Vista if need be - e.g. if the Windows Backup process differs between systems as I suspect it might.

AVG's products get a bad press here (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showpost.php?p=4453552&postcount=11) and it's clear from the claims and counterclaims in the thread that not everyone is an expert. I think paid-for versions are the best to consider.

Complication is the second last thing I'm looking for - an inadequate option being the last.

Incidentally, before anyone suggests it, the "simple solution" of backing up to optical media is a poor one as it requires each user to do something on a regular basis rather than nothing (or next to) as automated backup processes allow. (At worst with the latter users would need to connect a backup drive - be it physically or via the operating system - such hopefully not being beyond the family I'm trying to help.) By the way... If anyone does (use optical media) then I'd recommend they make two copies - and not one from the other - and verify them immediately after creation. (Optical media is far from perfect.) Using re-writable media is always worthwhile too as it will be cheaper in the long run if you generate such regularly - though in that case never overwrite your last or last but one backups to be on the safe side.

Finally, I am quite aware of the need to prove backups from time to time and mention it in case some readers are not.

This great.. does the job every time

http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/image-for-windows.htm

C

cobian back up? backup execs more for servers. Or you could just take an image of their machines and then every couple of weeks get them to back up their important docs to an ext. hdd

2 things to consider:

1. Approximately how much data is there to back up and at what rate is it growing at (if at all).
2. Just how important is the data? It's all well and good backing up to another drive but if it's 10 feet from the machine that is being backed up and you have a major incident e.g. flood, fire etc. then you've probably lost it anyway. A serious backup solution needs to take in to account geographic diversity but obviously this incurs more cost (time and/or money).

Once you know the answers to the above it makes it easier to suggest a good solution.

I use Acronis True Image for system back up, and Syncback for data.

The HDDs on both my PCs have a least two partitions. C: is the System partition for Windows and applications/programs and with XP I've found that 12-15 GB is large enough but 20GB might be better for Vista. System images are backed to to two external USB HDDs.

Using the Aconis Recovery CD restoring the C: partition on either PC takes about 6 minutes so getting hit by malware isn't a big deal. It would take several hours to reinstall Windows plus SPs plus updates plus programs etc.

If you have a Seagate or Maxtor HDD there is a free but limited version of Acronis True Image available. It's adequate for disk/partition imaging and recovery.

Instructions here (http://www.seagate.com/support/discwizard/dw_ug.en.pdf)

Download here (http://www.seagate.com/ww/v/index.jsp?locale=en-US&name=discwizard-eula&vgnextoid=580a5e3ddbf60110VgnVCM100000f5ee0a0aRCRD )

Can you recover your machine's image from a cd/dvd with acronis?

Can you recover your machine's image from a cd/dvd with acronis?

Yes - but it is obviously a much slower process than from an internal or external hard drive.

I keep the current System image on a partition on the same drive and on an external drive. Recovery from a malware infection etc is just a question of booting from the (Linux) recovery CD and a few clicks of the mouse. Should my internal hard drive die then I just install a new one and restore to that.

Yes - but it is obviously a much slower process than from an internal or external hard drive.

I keep the current System image on a partition on the same drive and on an external drive. Recovery from a malware infection etc is just a question of booting from the (Linux) recovery CD and a few clicks of the mouse. Should my internal hard drive die then I just install a new one and restore to that.

Thanks for that, I needed to give someone an image the other day but they had no imaging software. A bootable self restoring CD was just what I needed!

Thanks for all the advice. I realise this is a bit on the late side but I was abroad a while and the head of the family I'm trying to help hasn't found the time to take up my offer of even remote help - hence I am (or rather they are) no further forward. I gather one of the laptops was recently assigned to one of the family's self-employment affairs and so I'm going to have to give him a nudge.