Re: FAT32 or NTFS for backup?
The image back file created on your external hard drive will be about 40%
smaller in size (file compression) then the amount of used space on the
drive or partition you are backing up. So for example if your C: partition
currently has 10GB used, then the image backup file will be about 6GB in
size on your external drive. If the external drive is formatted FAT32 the
image backup software is smart enough (knowing the 4GB file size limit when
using FAT32) to break the backup into multiple files, usually the first file
will be 4GB and the remaining part of the backup will be stored in the
second file. When or if you need to restore the image backup the software
knows its stored in two files and will have no problem restoring you PC back
to the date and time you created the last image backup or an earlier backup
if you create (like I do) backups on a frequent basis and save each backup
to it's own folder.
If you reformat the external drive to NTFS then the entire 6GB backup will
end up as a single file.
So in my case I use Ghost (Version 10) and create folder names like: Ghost
091508, Ghost 081408, Ghost 072008, Etc. This is a quick way to identify the
backup creation dates.
Hope that answers your question, sorry I was late in responding but I was
using my test pc to evaluate Norton's NIS 2009 and used one of my earlier
image backup's that restored my test PC back to XP SP2 before I installed
NIS. Got a little side tracked.
JS
http://www.pagestart.com
"Joe Starin" <joespamfreestarin@ameritech.net> wrote in message
news:VzrGk.2816$YU2.2670@nlpi066.nbdc.sbc.com...
> Thanks for both replies. Yes, I want to create an image backup of my
> laptop's hard drive to the external drive. (Had a hard BSOD crash the
> other day, Windows shut itself down. Then the PC checked the file system
> twice, deleted a corrupt attribute record, found some unreadable segments,
> even found that "the volume is dirty.") Was able to do a System Restore,
> but only in Safe mode.
>
> Everything seems stable now, but this was a wake-up call to do regular
> backups. Thanks for the suggestions. I've heard good things about True
> Image; not as many good things about Ghost since Norton took it over.
>
> Big_Al, will I be able to effectively back up my hard hard drive, given
> the 4GB FAT32 limit? I can format the external hard drive as NTFS -- will
> only lose one old backup of my other PC in the process. Or should I just
> forge ahead?
>
> Joe
>
> "JS" <@> wrote in message news:Oc9ExH9JJHA.5904@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>> If you are just using the external drive for file backups then as
>> Big_Al mentioned there is a file size limitation with FAT32.
>>
>> However if you are looking for a comprehensive backup
>> solution that protects you even if you should have a
>> hard disk failure then consider creating an Image Backup
>> of your laptop's drive to the external hard drive.
>>
>> Norton Ghost - has a 30 day trial available
>> (Trial does not allow you to create a Bootable Restore CD AFAK)
>> http://www.symantec.com/norton/products/overview.jsp?pcid=br&pvid=ghost14
>> Product Review "Symantec's 14th Ghost":
>> http://www.softpedia.com/reviews/windows/Norton-Ghost--Review-78775.shtml
>>
>> True Image - has a 15 day trial version available,
>> (Trial version can create a Restore CD, but I have not verified this yet)
>> http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/
>>
>> JS
>> http://www.pagestart.com
>>
>>
>> "Joe Starin" <joespamfreestarin@ameritech.net> wrote in message
>> news:sTqGk.2812$YU2.1004@nlpi066.nbdc.sbc.com...
>>> Fast question: Have a Dell 8600 laptop with an NTFS file system. Want to
>>> back up the laptop to a Western Digital external hard drive that I
>>> believe is formated FAT32. Can I do this? I've heard that if you want to
>>> back up data from one hard drive to another, the formatting of both
>>> drives must be the same. Is this true? Thanks. Joe
>>>
>>
>>
>
>