USB External Hard Drive and available Backup Software

[RAMXG1]

Question: What is the best available program to make the most complete copy of internal hard drive data onto external USB hard drive (data to include peripheral device drivers and as much of Windows ME O.S. as is possible) ?
System: Windows ME OEM Op. System, 600Mhz Celeron CPU, 256MB SDRAM, McAfee VScan 5.16, BUSlink L30 USB Hard Drive.
Situation: User wants to add BUSlink L30 USB Hard Drive to system and backup as much of internal 10GB Hard Drive - including Windows ME and all peripheral device drivers - onto the BUSlink L30[GB] USB Hard Drive.
Problem: BUSlink L30 comes with "AutoSave Version 1.06" by V Communications; AutoSave causes system crashes and shutdowns in Windows ME, neither BUSlink or V Com. are providing technical support for AutoSave 1.06.
Research reveals that Power Quest Drive Image 4.0 does NOT support USB, BUSlink Technical Support further says PQ Partition Magic 6.0 is not supported either.
Apparently Veritas Backup Exec is highly touted and works well with tape and disk drive backups. I'm trying to do further research. If anyone has experience or suggestions I'd be grateful to hear from you. Thank you.
Contact RAMXG1@cs.com

 

[mhughes]

Can't you use Microsoft's backup utility?

 

[RAMXG1]

Dear mhughes,
[Thanks for babysitting us rookies.] I've got an OEM Windows ME Restore CD; my situation is parallel to brandi****, who you also helped. I tryed to follow your suggestion to her, but was unable to browse or find a "Windows ME" or "Add Ons" folder on the Restore CD. I'm not sure if the MS Backup application was eliminated on WinME because of the vaunted "System Restore" feature [maybe System Restore is just a tweaked and renamed version of MS Backup gone semi-automatic].
I never did find a good USB- Hard Drive software application. The excellent [in my experience] BUSlink Tech. Support staff told me they are in the process of changing over to another software vendor for their OEM software. I wish BUSlink good luck and I'm impressed with the contruction of their drive housing compared to the others I've seen. The enclosed aluminum housing works well as both a heat sink and radiator/heat dissapater. Unfortunantely my drive blew out within two weeks and I'm now looking at adding a IEEE-1394 Firewire PCI card to take advantage of Firewire's higher data tranfer rates, which will be more suitable to an additional hard drive.
QUESTION: What is a Fifo serial port ? My "Device Properties" show I've got TWO IDE disk controllers: "Primary IDE (dual fifo)" and "Secondary IDE (dual fifo)". [Top of list is "Intel 82801AA Bus Master IDE controller".] I'm trying to figure it out for myself.
My current impression is that it would probably be easier to mount another internal hard drive; then the various software available (some of which is rumored to be quite good) would work, and I could make a copy or image of my WinME O.S. and drivers onto the new internal hard drive.
My goal is twofold: (1) be able backup as many types of files and data as possible; (2) to store as much of my WinME O.S. and device drivers onto a second drive and be able to use the data from the second drive to reinstall and repair corrupted files and drivers after a system error or crash. If you can help me with any input please let me know. Thanks again for your time and expertize.

 

[mhughes]

When you open your restore cd what is listed?

 

[gunthnp]

its there but if you can't get it to work drive image does a great job of makeing back up images it may be over kill for one back though So long and thanks for all the fish.

 

[ShaithisDanoveur]

try Norton Ghost from Symantec

 

[RAMXG1]

Thanks to all who tried to help. I contacted several software vendors, they ALL indicated that the USB interface created technical problems which made their software inapprpriate for my desired use.
When BUSlink comes out with an IEEE-1394 [iLink/Firewire] interfaced unit I'll get one. Quoting Scott Mueller:
"Another standard recently approved by the T13 committee is an IEEE-1394 (iLink or Firewire) extension to the ATA interface protocol. This specifies a bridge protocol between the iLink/Firewire bus and ATA, allowing ATA drives to be adapted to this newer interface."
Scott Mueller, author of "Upgrading and Repairing PC's, 12th Edition", at page 533, A GREAT COMPUTER REFERENCE BOOK!!!!!
By December I'll bet there are several IEEE-1394 external drives on the market. [That BUSlink case is the BEST ! If it starts warm up just get some airflow around it an it cools right down.]

 

[reiziger]

Try Imagecast IC3 from Storage Soft.

http://www.ics-iq.com/downloads.cfm

That's the demo version. I'd try it out before you buy something.