Originally Posted by
Saab Dastard
bnt has many words of wisdom!
Why, thank you! That's the nicest thing I've heard all day.
PS: I should add that I don't think it's a good idea to back up an entire system as an image, since that still leaves you with two problems:
- you still have the problem of restoring the data afterwards, and that can get awkward: creating bootable DVDs, proprietary software than you need to install, etc.
- you could be backing up the problem that later breaks the system - e.g. a boot virus or damaged system file - so it happens again, after you restore the system;
If you know where your data is, and back it up as files (by simply copying it, burning ISO standard file discs, or using one of those replication programs I mentioned), you'll be able to get to it quickly at all times - which is the point, I think. If it's on DVDs or an external HDD as files (not images or big backup files), you can get to it as soon as you can plug that DVD or HDD in to another computer. If I back something up, I don't want
any hassle when it comes time to restore it from the backup.