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Number   :  44
Date     :  2001-05-16
Author   :  Joseph Maddison
Subject  :  Re: xxcopy switches, etc.
Size(KB) :  1


At the risk of flames, I would like to point out that
XXCOPY or, indeed, any file-level utility may not be the
best resource for system backups to removable media.

1) since you want to minimize used space, cluster waste (at the end of
each file) is important to minimize.

2) Every complex OS keeps files open-- those files are not backed up.
Boot to DOS and you lose LFN support, which means copying the files
from DOS won't have the long file names associated.

3) compression is very helpful if you have more than 680 MB of stuff
on your HD and want to minimize the number of CD's.

I actually use Drive Image 4.0 from Powerquest to make an entire disk
image in 680 MB chunks onto a spare partition (The one I have my swap
file pointed to, so it doesn't get backed up) works just fine. I then
burn the separe files to CD.

Drive Image 4.0 (the latest version) has support for burning directly to
CD, skipping the intermediate file stage, but I've had mixed results
with it. On the plus side, it makes perfect copies-- all files,
compressed, skipping blank space.

It does cost though. For a low cost solution, it's hard to beat XXCOPY.

Joseph Maddison

P.S. does the /NX0 switch mean that I will get a file overwritten in
the situation I described previously with short filenames ending in ~1?



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