With some backup software solutions, especially those involving backup sets, it becomes necessary to delete past backup data for continued protection. Although the Windows XP Backup utility can back up the computer to an external hard drive or tape drive daily or weekly, it can be exasperating as it doesn't alert the user when backups begin to fail. Essentially, once the external drive is full, the built-in backup software will silently fail. In order to get the backups running again, the user must intervene, either deleting files or folders from the external drive or just formatting the drive to wipe it clean.
More modern software allows the user to schedule backups and specify the number of backups retained. In some cases, advanced software will simply manage the amount of backup data automatically. As the external storage begins to fill up, older information is removed to make room for new information. But not all backup products will automatically manage this data usage, so read carefully.
When backup software utilizes backup sets, one typically has a rescue disk in combination with ongoing backup sets. The rescue disk contains the Windows operating system files, and can be used to return the computer system hard drive to a previous condition. But, the backup sets typically do not include applications, and neither do the rescue disks. Caution is advisable in assessing what is actually backed up. Full system backup is a term that typically means that data files, the operating system, and also the applications are backed up.
Other common variations applicable to backup solutions may involve disk image backup. These are simply byte specific backups of the hard disk drive. From an image backup, the hard disk drive can be recovered to the same condition that existed when the respective image was created. Normally, image backups require a manual process of restarting the computer with a special CD-ROM, but recent advances have made this more convenient. Once again, though, the external drive may fill up with disk image data and require manual intervention to remove older data and create space for new data. As with all computerized devices, the backup process illustrates that the user is still ultimately responsible for maintaining the system. So users beware - and make sure you backup regularly.
More modern software allows the user to schedule backups and specify the number of backups retained. In some cases, advanced software will simply manage the amount of backup data automatically. As the external storage begins to fill up, older information is removed to make room for new information. But not all backup products will automatically manage this data usage, so read carefully.
When backup software utilizes backup sets, one typically has a rescue disk in combination with ongoing backup sets. The rescue disk contains the Windows operating system files, and can be used to return the computer system hard drive to a previous condition. But, the backup sets typically do not include applications, and neither do the rescue disks. Caution is advisable in assessing what is actually backed up. Full system backup is a term that typically means that data files, the operating system, and also the applications are backed up.
Other common variations applicable to backup solutions may involve disk image backup. These are simply byte specific backups of the hard disk drive. From an image backup, the hard disk drive can be recovered to the same condition that existed when the respective image was created. Normally, image backups require a manual process of restarting the computer with a special CD-ROM, but recent advances have made this more convenient. Once again, though, the external drive may fill up with disk image data and require manual intervention to remove older data and create space for new data. As with all computerized devices, the backup process illustrates that the user is still ultimately responsible for maintaining the system. So users beware - and make sure you backup regularly.