Detailed Information

This is a reprint of a one of a kind photo of Janis Joplin and Tina Turner whose negative in a data file on a damaged computer that was saved by DriveSavers. Are your data files safe and backed up? If not, you might need to pay this company to attempt a data recovery...   DriveSavers Sees Return on Data from the Great Beyond  By Matt Hines February 15, 2007  Source NOVATO, Calif. — The lobby at DriveSavers serves as a miniature shrine to the sheer misfortune and pure stupidity suffered by those among us who have attempted to own computers.  In the foyer at DriveSavers headquarters here, you'll find a statue of KFC's Col. Harland Sanders, signed pictures of celebrities including Adam Sandler, Keith Richards, and Ben & Jerry. And along with the other famous faces of the company's customers hanging all over its walls and stairways, you find a collection of crumpled bits of tortured plastic that used to be some of these people's laptop computers and hard drives.  Since its founding in the pre-Cambrian era of information technology that was 1985, DriveSavers has promised to help businesses and individual customers regain information stored on devices that have been infected, burnt or otherwise mangled. All these years later, a visit to the company's offices finds the firm preparing for growth and betting that now, more-than-ever, people are willing to pay to get their data back.  The 80-person operation hasn't ever exploded in size because it remains a "lifestyle company," with employees that work sometimes unorthodox hours on exacting tasks of physical repair or data recovery, explains Scott Moyer, the company's director of business development. While the company has been able to retain a large number of its employees over the years, he said, the set of skills needed to work in one of DriveSavers' clean rooms or customer service centers aren't necessarily easy to come by.  But the company is growing. While the privately-held firm doesn't publicly disclose its revenue, Moyer points to the new floor being added to DriveSavers' three-story headquarters—which will serve as a massive clean room where devices are tested and repaired—as proof that the business is humming along.  Along with a company-wide upgrade to a new, more secure network made up primarily of Cisco Systems equipment, the expanded facilities will give the company ability to hire new staff and handle more customer inquiries faster, the executive said.  "This isn't easy work these guys are doing, most of these jobs have been attempted in some way somewhere else, and sent to us after they can't pull it off," Moyer said. "We already try to handle each customer as quickly as possible, but the additional space should help increase productivity for every area of the business."  And DriveSavers' staff points out that while many of its most colorful data rescue stories revolve around celebrities' water-logged laptops or companies' back-office hardware that got melted in fires, an increasing portion of its business revolves around recovery of important information from infected or corrupted data storage drives. Most of these belong to large businesses, not consumers, they said.    Click on a thumbnail image to see more data recovery successes by Drivesavers company: Burned Apple Burned PC Desktop Burned Laptop Corrupted Storage Device Drivesavers Recovery Lab Drivesavers Techs   "We're seeing a lot of multi-array RAID systems, that's been one of the fastest growing areas of our business over the last five years," said Michael Hall, director of PC engineering and chief security officer at DriveSavers. "We have a lot of banks and financial services companies as customers; our business is historically founded on people who don't know exactly what information is on the affected device they send us, but they know there's a very good chance there's something on there they really need."  DriveSavers services don't come cheaply, starting at $500 to $2700 to inspect and recover a typical PC hard drive, and heading further upwards based on the volume of memory a customer is asking the company to test and remediate.  According to Ed Sit, clean room manager at DriveSavers, the process of helping companies get their information out of complex newer enterprise software and storage systems is only getting harder based on the sophistication and high-degree of customization in those technologies.  "The unique parameters of some of these highly-customized drives are hard to recreate," Sit said. "And we can't swap components in-and-out of some of the newer equipment because the parts aren't readily available."  So while DriveSavers' most famous rescues revolve around mashed or virus-ridden laptops—such as the one it handled belonging to Bill Oakley, executive producer of Fox Networks' "The Simpsons," which held scripts for twelve yet-to-be-produced episodes of the longtime hit, including a season finale—its growth is being fueled largely by corporate mishaps.  Potential customers could easily avoid the need to acquire the company's services if they simply employed remote back-up storage technologies, points out Scott Gaidano, the 62-year-old president and co-founder of DriveSavers, as he highlights some of his more colorful customer stories.  But if it were really that easy, then there would be no company museum, he said, as his workers busily fielded customers' phone calls in the background.

Prevent Data Loss by making regular Backups 

Data Files
If your system gets trashed, will you really be in trouble if you suddenly lose your data files on your hard drives? It can and does happen! At minimum, burn your most important data files to a CD or copy to a USB memory stick/flash card. There are automated backup features and programs available. RECOMMENDED: Genie Backup Manager 6.0

Windows 2000 and XP provide NTBACKUP.EXE (in the Win32 folder) that you can run to back up your data folder automatically per schedule to a specified location at a given time, daily if desired. You can also have it only append any new files that have been added or modified since the previous backup. See details about Genie Backup Manager and the free NTBACKUP.EXE and hardware options in Data Backup Suggestions.

You can configure a new schedule for each user and each account ‘s data can be written to a different subfolder. You could also back up to a second hard drive or other hard drive partition or write to a re-write able CD-RW or even store the backup on a memory flash card. Store a periodical backup in a fire safe or at an entirely different location for redundant backup recovery. 


Windows Registry
For the greatest safety, Symantec recommends that if you edit the registry, you back up the entire registry, first. This is fairly easy in Windows 98 and Me. It is more work with Windows NT/2000/XP and Windows 95. To do a complete back up of your registry, see Registry.

ERD (Emergency Repair Disk). Although it’s highly unlikely you’ll need this, you never know. Customizing the various system settings can be hazardous at times. So before you even start messing with them you should prepare for the worse. To make an ERD see Emergency Repair Disk.


Another good reason to back up your hard drive files!:

Cryzip Trojan Encrypts Files, Demands Ransom 
By Ryan Naraine March 13, 2006 http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1937408,00.asp

Virus hunters have discovered a new Trojan that encrypts files on an infected computer and then demands $300 in ransom for a decryption password. 

The Trojan, identified as Cryzip, uses a commercial zip library to store the victim's documents inside a password-protected zip file and leaves step-by-step instructions on how to pay the ransom to retrieve the files. 

It is not yet clear how the Trojan is being distributed, but security researchers say it was part of a small e-mail spam run that successfully evaded anti-virus scanners by staying below the radar. 

While this type of attack, known as "ransomware," is not entirely new, it points to an increasing level of sophistication among online thieves who use social engineering tactics to trick victims into installing malware, said Shane Coursen, senior technical consultant at Moscow-based anti-virus vendor Kaspersky Lab. 

The LURHQ Threat Intelligence Group, based in Chicago, was able to crack the encryption code used in the Cryzip Trojan and determine how the files are encrypted and the payment mechanism that has been set up to collect the $300 ransom. 

According to a LURHQ advisory, Cryzip searches an infected hard drive for a wide range of widely used file types, including Word, Excel, PDF and JPG images. 

Once commandeered, the files are zipped and overwritten the text: "Erased by Zippo! GO OUT!!!" 

The Trojan then deletes all the files, leaving only the encrypted file with the original file name, followed by the "_CRYPT.ZIP" extension. 

A new directory named "AUTO_ZIP_REPORT.TXT" is created with specific instructions on how to use the E-Gold online currency and payment system to send ransom payments. 

The instructions, which are marked by misspellings and poor grammar, contain the following text: "Your computer catched our software while browsing illigal porn pages, all your documents, text files, databases was archived with long enought password. You can not guess the password for your archived files - password lenght is more then 10 symbols that makes all password recovery programs fail to bruteforce it (guess password by trying all possible combinations)." 

The owner of the infected machine is warned not to search for the program that encrypted the data, claiming that it simply doesn't exist on the hard drive. 

"If you really care about documents and information in encrypted files you can pay using electonic currency $300," the note says. "Reporting to police about a case will not help you, they do not know password. Reporting somewhere about our E-Gold account will not help you to restore files. This is your only way to get yours files back." 

The Trojan author uses scores of E-Gold accounts simultaneously to get around potential shutdowns, according to LURHQ, which published the complete list of E-Gold accounts in the advisory. 

Officials from E-Gold, which operates out of the Caribbean island of Nevis, were not available for comment. 

"Infection reports are not widespread, so it is not believed this is a mass threat by any means," LURHQ said. However, the company said social engineering malware is typically more successful when it is delivered in low volume to get around anti-virus detections. 

"More attention means the likely closing of the accounts used for the anonymous money transfer," LURHQ said. 

Data Backup Recommendations

The iron rule of computing says that all important files must be backed up to an independent medium at least weekly. Many choose to ignore this rule until it is too late. Lightning, static electricity, virus infections, drive failure, theft, fire, file corruption and accidental deletion or overwrites can happen at anytime.

The basic strategy for data backups is:

• Back up regularly

• Make a total, comprehensive back up less often

• Make an incremental, appended backup of new or modified files more often

• Save the data backup on a different device than the original

• Store a comprehensive backup in a fire safe or at an entirely different physical location

• Protect access to data backups for security of confidential information

• Be thorough – yet convenient enough to be followed consistently

• The back up medium must be reliable and perform audit testing to ensure the data is completely there

• The more critical the data – the more time, energy and expense you need to apply to this task!

OK....I get nervous saving my data files to the same physical hard drive that Windows OS is installed onto. Especially since I select NTFS for the drive partition, secure, but making recovery difficult if system crashes. A House fire could wipe out both my computer and the back up copy. Theft of the computer also a concern.

• First option: partition the physical hard drive into two partitions, one for the OS and one for the Data. But I am not confident, in the event the system crashes, that I can get the system booted up to have access to my partition with the data. Plus, if the hard drive crashes, probably both partitions are hosed.

• Second option: Install a second hard disk for data, or even for a redundant location for additional backup. If the OS disk crashes, the data disk is probably ok. Of course, the data disk could also crash at any time. A fire also could destroy both in a disaster. Convenient but still some risk.

• Third option: Make a backup of data to another computer hard drive if I am on a network. Security concern and same location is not wise for disaster recovery concerns.

• Fourth option: Make a periodic data backup by burning a CD or a rewrite able CD-RW. Store CD in another location for disaster recovery; in another home besides mine; or place within a good fire safe, preferably in the basement. Security of data concern; low cost per CD and CD-RW.

• Fifth option: Make a periodic backup to a large capacity, removable memory stick/flash drive. Initial cost then no cost. Card easy to steal; can be encrypted with password security – not sure auto backup routine can save to password protected file folder.

• Sixth option, back up to an external USB 40GB drive, or to an external USB Jazz disk. External drive easy to steal; can be encrypted with password security – not sure auto backup routine can save to password protected file folder. 
  

A Practical Data Backup Policy:

1. Make immediate backups of any valuable working file for your current project every 5 minutes. Example: While working in a Word document, just hit CTRL-S to save the document instantly.

2. Turn on AUTORECOVERY in your applications when available:

• MS Word: Tools/Options/Save - enable AUTORECOVERY option and set to make a copy every 5 minutes. If my system goes down and I reboot, the next time I open Word - the Auto recovery feature will restore my Word document from the last, saved auto recovery copy. In XP, this feature is turned on by default.

• MS Excel – To save files or Workbooks; install the auto save add-in.

• MS PowerPoint - no feature

• MS Access - no feature· MS Outlook - Save a long, working email to an *.rtf file in case I lose the file prior to sending it.

3. When completing the work session on the file or at end of the day, save it to My Documents folder as well as write a second copy of your project file to the alternate backup location.

4. Monthly, make a backup copy of all your My Documents folder data files to a rewrite able CD-RW.

5. Quarterly, place the latest rewrite able CD in the fire safe or alternative home and rotate an earlier backup from the safe or home and reuse for the next backup. This way you keep maybe 3 backup CD-RWs in the fire safe or alternate home at a time.

Modify the above policies to match the level of critical data you create on your computer!

If your data files consume too much drive space, archive off the oldest, least used and largest single files to CD or DVD and remove them out of the frequent backup schedule.

Hardware Devices to assist in data backup:

Make sure to purchase only USB 2.0 devices – they are 40 times faster than the older USB 1.1 devices and backward compatible.

MAXTOR ONETOUCH User Opinions:

The first generation of OneTouch drives lacked a power switch, so there was no easy way to turn the device off. The new design adds a switch, giving you everything you'd want in an external drive, and the OneTouch button for easy backups gives a little extra.

Over a USB 2.0 connection, a 621.9MB backup of 5,192 files took 5 minutes 4 seconds complete with a second pass for verifying the files. However long backing up your system takes the first time, future backups are far faster, because Retrospect Express backs up only new and changed files. We also found we could keep working while backing up with little to no effect on the foreground program.

Another test: OneTouch drive copied and verified 44.3GB of data in 2 hours, 18 minutes

Folks report disappointment with the Dantz Retrospect Express Software that comes with the Maxtor OneTouch drive. It is an "Express" version - not the full version. Although OEM - somehow it is not even configured properly for the Maxtor drive. For example there is no advice in the Retrospect "HELP" for "One Touch." It is ignored. When you go to use the One Touch button it does not allow you any but the simplest backup. The advanced options in the Retrospect software are NOT available through One Touch. For example I cannot find anyway to use that cute (One Touch) button on the drive using the encryption or compression options in the software. In addition, due to the fact the Retrospect software is OEM - it is not the latest version of Retrospect (6.5) and Maxtor has no upgrade that I can find on its website. I made the mistake of buying this hardware believing that Maxtor, being a "respected" company would be using the latest hardware standards and would be using fully configured OEM software.

Incremental backup of only the files that have changed between backups (full or previous incremental backups), or a differential backup of all changed files since your last full backup. The difference between the last two: To restore from incremental backups, you must first copy back the initial full backup, and then restore each subsequent incremental backup. With the differential approach you restore just the full backup and the latest differential backup.

If you start your backup at the end of the day, you can even set Retrospect to shut down your PC automatically when the process is complete.

External hard drives have other conveniences, as well. For example, you can easily detach an external model from your system and store it separately, safe from power surges and viruses.

Maxtor Hard Disks

Maxtor used to have quite a reputation for spotty and poor-performing hard disks. Their CrystalMax line of drives have proven time and time again to be both slow and rather unreliable by contemporary standards. I'm sure those of you who have had the dubious pleasure of using one of those drives can attest to that fact. However, in the recent years, Maxtor seemed to have picked themselves up by their bootstraps and turned out some pretty nice drives. Thanks to their DualWave dual-processor architecture and much better quality control, their latest DiamondMax Plus line of drives have garnered numerous speed records as well as noted for their reliability.

Personally, I have had many bad experiences with Maxtor CrystalMax drives. That's why I never bought another Maxtor for years after that. However, when Maxtor launched their DiamondMax Plus 40 drive, I just couldn't resist buying one. Why? Well, for one thing, it was the speed king then. True, Seagate and IBM had their 7200 rpm drives out as well. But the DiamondMax Plus 40's specs looked better on paper, had a larger capacity and best of all, costs less than competing drives. So, with some trepidation (but to the relief of my emaciated wallet), I bought one. How did it fare? Heheh... somewhat to my surprise and relief, it was everything Maxtor said it would be. It was fast, quiet, spacious and reliable. No sign of the "CrystalMax syndrome" till today. I guess Maxtor finally decided that playing the part of an el cheapo hard disk manufacturer was no longer fun and cleaned their act up. Good for them and good for us, I'd say! :)

Back to the topic... Now, while Maxtor's DualWave technology improves their hard disks' performance and reliability, Maxtor also has incorporated other technologies like ShockBlock and MaxSafe into the DiamondMax Plus hard disks. Recently however, I discovered that Maxtor added a new technological feature to a selected range of their hard disks. This new Silent Store technology, as was revealed to me, enables the PC manufacturers (as well as the end-user) to configure these hard disks to run silently or to improve their seek performance by a rather substantial amount. Before we discuss that, we will have to take a look at what acoustic management is all about. They came up with an active acoustic management technology, simply named, "Acoustic Management". Built into only a few selected drive models, this technology specifically targets the sounds produced by increased seeking.

Acoustic Management - Discussions about noise level and “clicking” reports

As hard disk manufacturers try to rack up the high speed scores, it's inevitable that their noise level would go up. Barring any improvements in acoustic damping, hard disks will become noisier as manufacturers make them run faster. Increasing the spindle speed from the usual 5400 rpm to the faster 7200 rpm spindle speed not only means increased heat production but also a higher noise level from the faster motor used. However, while spinning the platters at a higher speed increases the noise level, this is not as evident as the sound produced by a seeking hard disk head. As seek times are reduced from 10.5 ms to less than 9.0 ms, the hard disk heads have to seek faster. This manifests as clicks and other annoying noises. To reduce these clicking sounds, Maxtor decided to rely on more than just passive acoustic damping measures.

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You can adjust the way the drive runs using "Acoustic Management" software provided by Maxtor.

The disks don't need to be running super fast and the extra speed by being in "fast" or "performance" modes will just result in excess wear on the drive, and very annoying noises (my Maxtor 120GB was clicking very loudly in it's default configuration). At some point (either just before or after dropping the image on the drive is probably convenient), you can use the Acoustic Management software to change the configuration.

Google for "amset.exe", download it, extract it to a bootable floppy. It's a good idea to disconnect any Maxtor disks you usually use in your PC, otherwise they will have their settings changed too (but that's not a bad idea anyway). Boot up the floppy, run "amset /quiet".

This will set the disk into quiet mode, you should not be able to hear it after that.

There is a switch for amset, try running "amset /?" to get a list, that will allow you to query the current state of the disk before you change it.

I found that the 40gb disk I was using was in quiet mode by default (which is why I never had any problems when it was the only disk in my tivo) the 120gb I bought was in "performance" mode, which is why it was clicking away constantly, after setting it "quiet", it has been completely silent.

An 80gb I bought a while ago had the Acoustic Management settings disabled altogether by default.

I would assume that making the disk a bit quieter, assumedly by reducing the amount of head movement, will prolong the life of the drive, at least by a short amount, since the head won't be thrashing around, since it's being used in a fairly disk intensive environment, especially if you record/watch different shows at the same time a lot.

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This is actually false... The acoustic management feature doesn't change how far the heads move or reduce movement at all, it merely reduces the speed of movement. This is why it makes the disk quieter. It shouldn't have an effect on the life of the disk - generally drive failures are not caused by the head pivot mechanism wearing out.

Seagate 300.0GB External FireWire and USB 2.0 Hard Drive – same price as Maxtor 300gb

• Model: ST3300801CB-RK

• This large-capacity hard drive offers push-button backup of all your digital information and can be placed upright using the included stand.

• 300.0GB maximum storage capacity

• Dual FireWire (IEEE 1394) and USB 2.0 interface

Software Backup Solutions to automate your task

 RECOMMENDED: Genie Backup Manager – Home 6.0

http://www.genie-soft.com/products/gbm/default.html?AfID=13778

A Top pick: http://data-backup-software-review.toptenreviews.com/?ttreng=1&ttrkey=genie+backup

also Editor’s Choice by this reviewer: http://www.backup-software-reviews.com/

An impressively fast and full featured program which the capacity to back up the Windows Registry, Favorites, Outlook data and other system files or entire disk mirror image, in addition to normal email and user data. The only negative is the program is so flexible that all the options may initially confuse some raw beginners. The Pro version provides these additional features over the Home version:

• Extra utility provided that permanently deletes files by repeatedly writing over the data contained in the file using special algorithms until the file is virtually irretrievable

• An extra stand alone encryption utility that additionally adds 192-bit AES and 256-bit AES encryption

• Ability to create self-executable backup sets

• Can restore backed up data to any machine regardless whether GBM Pro is installed on it.

• backup jobs can be created and configured using XML based scripting to create scripts that can be shared and customized

• Backup to Tape devices

Buy Genie Backup Manager Home version 6 here, and also get free 3 months of Webroot Spy Sweeper:

http://www.hermanstreet.com/store/smarthtml/genie-backup-radio.html

NTBACKUP.EXE - Free IN Windows 2000 and XP – perform a search to find the location on your hard drive.

• Use this basic program to automatically schedule a backup during non-peak hours!

• The backup location can be to any drive, device or network location

• Full, rewritten or appended incremental backups available.

• It seems possible for the administrator to set up a backup routine for each of the other limited user accounts. Select all the other users My Documents folders found under their account name under the C:\Documents and Settings folder. Leave your computer logged in overnight as administrator to perform these scheduled backups. (Run your other security scanners during the night as well!)

• It would be harder to try to capture all the other user profile customizations and browser favorites – by the administrator. For that more comprehensive level of backup, you need to set it up and run it while logged in as that specific user.

• Each LIMITED User account can use this program to schedule a comprehensive backup of their profile, browser favorite places, desktop settings and Data folders like My Documents and even a total system restore image. But the Limited user account must be logged in during the time the scheduled backup is to occur or the backup will be skipped.

• You need to disable automatic logging off of an account after being idle - to ensure the backup will run when the scheduled time arrives. See Turn Hibernation Off.

• Only the user or the Admin account on that computer are able to restore the user’s backup compressed file. So if a hacker grabbed the backup compressed file of one of your drives or USB memory devices, it has security.

DANTZ RETROSPECT EXPRESS (Mac and PC) comes free with the Maxtor External Drive

• can create restore points for recovery of OS crash

• verifies back up data integrity

• can compress data

• provides progressive backup" technology, backs up only new or changed files

• can write to CD/DVD drives

See http://kb.dantz.com - and reviews: 

Backup Software Definitions:

• Full Backup  - the first backup in a series (both incremental and differential backups must start with a full backup). A full backup allows you to backup the entire hard drive: files, folders, and applications (or just a select portion of your hard drive).  A full backup resets the archive bit.  Everyone who values data stored on a computer should perform a full backup weekly. 

• Incremental Backup - used to backup only files that have changed since the last backup, whether it was a full backup or an incremental backup.  The archive bit is reset with an incremental backup. Incremental backups are fast and require less data storage space.  Restoring data takes longer since you must restore the last full backup and each incremental backup performed since the last full backup.  Incremental backups are ideal for those who require frequent backups yet have minimal backup storage space. 

• Differential Backup  -  used to backup only files that changed since the last full backup, but a differential backup does not reset the archive bit. Differential backups take longer and require more storage space, but restore time is faster because you only need to restore the last full backup and the most recent differential backup.  Differential backups are attractive for those with ample storage space and little patience for lengthy restores. 

• Complete System Backup (Image) - (also called Image Backup, Backup Image, Drive Image and Hard Drive Image) – Backs up the entire hard drive, including the operating system, registry, drivers, software applications and data files—in short, your whole computer system. 

• One-Click Drive Backup - a convenient tool that makes a full system backup with one button click. 

• Address Book Backup - allows you to backup all the names and email addresses stored in your email address books. 

• Registry Backup - backup software allows you to backup all your registry settings and files only, without backing up the rest of your computer system. 

• Favorites Backup - backup software allows you to backup all your Internet favorites, including favorite website addresses and search engine keywords. 

• Backup Scheduling  - backup software allows you to create a backup schedule—perfect for busy people who don’t have time to backup regularly.  Typically, data backup software allows you to schedule backups at various intervals, including: during the boot up or shut down, hourly, daily, weekly, monthly or even yearly. 

• Backup to Removable Media (e.g. DVD, CD, etc.) - (such as a CD, ZIP Drive , DVD, etc.) - The software will allow you to backup a file, folder, or the entire hard drive to removable media.  For example, you can backup your files to a blank CD and backup your hard drive to a ZIP Drive (or another removable storage device). 

• Backup to FTP Locations  - the backup software will allow you to backup a file, folder or the entire hard drive to an FTP location.  With this method, the backup can be accessed online. 

• Backup Password Protection - backup software allows you to add a password to your backup so you can restrict access. 

• Backup Password Encryption - backup software encrypts your password so it can’t be hacked or accessed by force. 

• Data Compression - backup software allows you to compress the backup file so you can store more data in the same location. 

• File Filtering - backup software will allow you to include and exclude certain files or file types from your backup. 

• Backup Verification - after the software performs a data backup, it compares and verifies the backup to the original as a self-error check. 

• Drive Spanning  - backup software allows you to use multiple CD/DVD drives or hard drives for unattended backups. 

• Event Logs/Reports/Catalog Backups - backup software runs an error-check to reveal if the backup and restore were successful.  If there were errors during backup, the software stores them for easy reference (useful for troubleshooting and for avoiding similar hang-ups in the future). 

• Burning Software Included - backup software includes the burning software necessary to create backups to blank CDs or DVDs. 

• CD/DVD Erase Capability - backup software has a feature that allows you to erase rewritable CDs and DVDs. 

• Create Backup Bootable - backup software can make your backup bootable.  Usually this tool is available in backup software that creates drive images and disaster recovery disks (a backup of the system in case of a crash). 

• Restores Hard Drive Images - backup software allows you to restore your entire system using a backed up hard drive image. 

• Restores to a Separate Location - backup software allows you to restore data to a different location; you can backup data from multiple computers and store on a separate computer. 

• Replaces Older Files and Duplicates - gives you the choice to replace or keep older files and duplicate files during restore.

Note: Many Backup Programs have difficulty backing up onto CD-Rs:

“None of the programs, from the small and meek to the well known software giants, was great at backing up to CD-R’s. I can hear the gasps now, but it’s true.

Also disappointing was the poor support for backup to CD-R. 'Poor' is defined as requiring second-party software in order to pre-format the blank CD-R(s) before use or a short list of supported drives.

A number of the contenders required Roxio’s DirectCD, for pre-formatting the CD-R’s and writing.  The documentation of this requirement and/or instructions for obtaining and installing the necessary software was generally poor and the end user always has to figure the added cost of that software into the buying decision, unless they already own it.

Other products came with their own CD-R drivers but these worked with only a limited range of CD drives. Worse still there was often poor documentation of what CD-R drives worked with the software.

The products that we ended up recommending were all relatively easy to use and offered acceptable solutions to the CD-R problem.  I regret to say none of the products were ideal, each had one or more limitations either in ease of use or functionality. However all were capable of doing the job and collectively represent the best options currently available in the marketplace.”  http://www.backup-software-reviews.com/test-procedure.htm  

Laptop Backup Drive Option:

Replace a slower, smaller laptop hard drive with a newer, faster and larger capacity one. This article shows how, using a tool to clone your existing system onto the new drive (external USB) and then swap it in. Then use your older drive as a second, external, backup drive. See Source article.

Or skip the tool, just buy a new hard drive with external usb enclosure and make the swap and install a fresh load of XP.

"I saw a 40GB laptop hard drive and external usb2 laptop HD enclosure on sale for $149 at outpost.com and bought it. The enclosure is made by Kingwin, and is bus powered. The hard drive was a 40GB Hitachi unit. I put the new drive in my Compaq laptop, and put my laptop's old 10Gig Hitachi drive in the enclosure. Now, I walk around with 10Gigs in my pocket, which is great for moving stuff between the office and home, or just sharing stuff between two buddies..." Sept 2003

Emergency Repair Disk

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/office/office2000/tips/exsave.mspx

http://www.backup-software-reviews.com/test-procedure.htm