[mdlug] Windows backup software reccommendations

[David McMillan]

Allen Majorovic wrote:
> Got some friends who run Windows, mostly XP, and I've been hit with a couple of requests for help about backup software. 
> 
> I've got them all running Firefox and/or Thunderbird but nothing pops up on Sourceforge looking especially promising for the typical Windows user when it comes to backup software.
> 
> The less setup the better, for all concerned. Backup to a thumb drive preferred. 
> 
> Allen

	Actually, I've been meaning to look into this issue for other reasons. 
  I've got some headless industrial control-system PCs that run XP and 
have boot-from-USB disabled (as in, I'd have to re-burn the BIOS to get 
it to work, and the BIOS is specialized for these machines).  I've had 
good luck making drive images using Linux liveCDs and dd, or clonezilla, 
but the headless nature of the beasts makes the process painful.  I've 
been meaning to look into creating a Linux boot CD that would either 
bring up a VNC server by default and let me manage the backups that way, 
or a boot CD that would simply automatically perform the backups as part 
of it's boot process.  Ideally, the automatic CD would boot up, copy a 
drive image to a standardized location, then start the standard LiveCD 
"Remove CD from Drive and hit ENTER" shutdown.  It ought to be possible 
to do this, I just haven't found how yet.  So I imagine it should be 
possible to do something similar for your relatives.  Something along 
the lines of "Once a week, stick this CD/USB in the computer and reboot, 
then follow the directions."

	Of course, you'll probably still have to do the restorations yourself, 
but that's what happens when you're your family's Designated Geek.