The best thing to do is to reate a full backup of the selected data and then do incremental backups from there on out. The incrementals will only backup those files which have changed since the last full backup.
I've been backing up to my C: drive and then copying the Backup file to an external hard drive.
My problem is that the full backups are compounded, so now half of my new computer's C: drive is full of older versions of the backup. If I backed up every day, I'd run out of hard drive space in a week.
I got my Dell laptop with XP Pro instead of Home because it had the backup utility integrated into it, so this is kind of frustrating.
If I could find a way to clean out the older backups, that would solve it, but MS doesn't have any documentation to let me know how. Maybe it is so simple that I can't see the forest from the trees; but I don't want to experiment and really mess things up.
If you are just backing up to the same hard drive you have your Windows XP loaded on, you really are not getting a "backup". A backup needs to be on a separate media. If the hard drive fails, the backup you have on there will probably be gone too and you won't have a backup.
Since the built in Windows XP backup will not backup to a CD or DVD, you can backup to the hard drive but you then need to copy that backup data to a CD(s) or DVD(s) so you have a true backup. If you need to do frequent backups you may want to consider some software other than the built in Windows XP backup program and a separate backup device for more flexibility.
Finally, I do not recommend the "incremental" backups. On our network, we initially were doing full server backups (to SCSI tape drives) once a week and incremental backups daily at other times. We found we could not fully recover with the incremental backups. We changed to full backups every day (actually every night a 2 AM) and that eliminated the potential of losing data.
Can you help me scrap the existing backup files so that I can start over? Do I drag the "MS Backup" icon that is on my desktop and drop it into the recycle bin, or will that wipe out the program, too?
The best way, in my opinion, to backup your files is to do so onto a separate partition or drive. That way you can erase the folder and start fresh if you need to or make the folder as deep and complicated as you deem it necessary.
But whatever scheme you choose, ALWAYS keep a copy offsite.
jmwills
2 Intern
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12K Posts
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July 20th, 2004 23:00
Blastman
3 Posts
0
July 21st, 2004 10:00
I've been backing up to my C: drive and then copying the Backup file to an external hard drive.
My problem is that the full backups are compounded, so now half of my new computer's C: drive is full of older versions of the backup. If I backed up every day, I'd run out of hard drive space in a week.
I got my Dell laptop with XP Pro instead of Home because it had the backup utility integrated into it, so this is kind of frustrating.
If I could find a way to clean out the older backups, that would solve it, but MS doesn't have any documentation to let me know how. Maybe it is so simple that I can't see the forest from the trees; but I don't want to experiment and really mess things up.
Thanks for your help --Mark
fireberd
9 Legend
•
33.4K Posts
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July 21st, 2004 10:00
If you are just backing up to the same hard drive you have your Windows XP loaded on, you really are not getting a "backup". A backup needs to be on a separate media. If the hard drive fails, the backup you have on there will probably be gone too and you won't have a backup.
Since the built in Windows XP backup will not backup to a CD or DVD, you can backup to the hard drive but you then need to copy that backup data to a CD(s) or DVD(s) so you have a true backup. If you need to do frequent backups you may want to consider some software other than the built in Windows XP backup program and a separate backup device for more flexibility.
Finally, I do not recommend the "incremental" backups. On our network, we initially were doing full server backups (to SCSI tape drives) once a week and incremental backups daily at other times. We found we could not fully recover with the incremental backups. We changed to full backups every day (actually every night a 2 AM) and that eliminated the potential of losing data.
Blastman
3 Posts
0
July 21st, 2004 10:00
Thanks,
Can you help me scrap the existing backup files so that I can start over? Do I drag the "MS Backup" icon that is on my desktop and drop it into the recycle bin, or will that wipe out the program, too?
I appreciate your help. --Mark
jmwills
2 Intern
•
12K Posts
0
July 21st, 2004 12:00
The best way, in my opinion, to backup your files is to do so onto a separate partition or drive. That way you can erase the folder and start fresh if you need to or make the folder as deep and complicated as you deem it necessary.
But whatever scheme you choose, ALWAYS keep a copy offsite.