| Data Backup and Recovery |
| Backup Program in Windows Windows provides a backup program in the operating system (OS). You can find it under Accessories then click SYSTEM. If it is not listed you can install it from the Windows Install disk that loaded the Windows system on your computer. You install it by going to CONTROL PANEL then select NEW SOFTWARE. The option in the windows that is then displayed allows you to install additional software from the windows installation disk. |
| Xcopy.exe and Xcopy32.exe in Windows DOS. (This command runs in DOS) It is located the c:\windows\system file. It is usful for backing up files in batch commands that run in batch files like autoexec.bat. The best way to find these commands on your computer is to use the SEARCH feature in Windows. It will make incremental backups or full backups. You have to give it parameters to backup in incremental mode. You can view the parameter by typing xcopy/? Incremental backups only update the records that have been change in a files. So it is much faster. |
| Norton Ghost This utility sold by Norton will backup the entire drive on a computer at the dos level. You dont have to have Windows running to backup or restore the files to the computer. It copies an entire drive image. You can use it to install new hard disk to your computer by coping the old disk to your computer. It will backup to any device another drive, drives on the network, tapes, and CD ROMs. It backups over several CD ROMs if the files are very large. |
| Backup Scheduler and Media to backup on. You can set the computer to backup at different times automatically using the Windows SCHEDULER. You should backup at least 3 times a week and in a business daily. Do not use the same disk to backup over several days. Alternate the Disk over different media. For instance have a Monday-Tue disk and Wednesday and Friday Disk. this will require three CD roms. If you backup across the network backup to at least two different computer. Alternate the backup between the two computer. A montly back should be performed one a month. Multiple backups at different internvals prevents a virius from contamidating all your backups. |