Backing up with ISO image vs. Backing up individual files

[aimeeandbeatles]

I've been considering using ISO images to do backups -- are there any advantages/disadvantages to this vs. backing up the individual files? I do know an ISO file is an archive. (This thread could also be used to debate!)

I can see one disadvantage in that if you do the entire HDD, you could have driver problems. And if the DVD gets scratched, you might end up losing the entire ISO. I don't know the structure, though.

However, I heard that ISO files let you recover files from a dying HDD with CRC errors better.

 

[J-man]

What do you mean precicly? You want to burn your back up in both circumstances?
You would need a lot of DVD's to back an entire HDD.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I'm considering using ISO images to backup my HDD -- instead of burning individual files. Kind of like cloning an HDD.

Not the entire HDD maybe -- just My Documents and a few other places.

 

[Turner]

I don't think that's a good idea. if you're just looking to back up a few files, it would be better to have them in a format that's easily accessible instead of "reimaging" the folders. You'd lose changes to that folder as well.

If you're wanting .isos as a backup tool, it's best to have them as a rebuild point, rather than a backup. Then you have your backups on other media. Rebuild your machine, apply your backups, and you're done.

.isos are only useful, IMO, to have as a rebuild point.

 

[GoodGame]

.ISOs are more portable between different makes of disk drives though, aren't they?

I hate when I burn info to CD and it's becomes unreadable when I upgraded my disk drive.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

.ISOs are more portable between different makes of disk drives though, aren't they?

I hate when I burn info to CD and it's becomes unreadable when I upgraded my disk drive.

Are you talking about the HDD or the optical drive? (Sorry, I'm not too clear.)

ISO files are also useful when you want to distribute a CD/DVD online. Such as OpenDisc or Software for Starving Students. Or DVDs.

Wikipedia article on ISO images.

 

[GoodGame]

I meant optical drives. I typically have problems when burning files, that I'm under the impression that .ISO forms avoid.

 

[mrt144]

Back up individual files if the majority of them are in a few places and use another program to open. The only reason to backup an image of your drive is if you've installed a ton of software and configured it to your liking.

 

[Genocidicbunny]

Making an ISO image of the files and then burning it would be...useless. You'd end up with a data cd/dvd that just has the files.

 

[lndm]

You mentioned ISOs as being archives. This becomes ambiguous for two reasons.

1. Though they are archives, they weren't really meant as archives so why aren't you talking about zips or .tar.gz or similar?

2. If you are planning to apply the ISO to be the actual filesystem on the DVD (in which case I'd agree with stickciv here)....., or will you put them onto the DVD as a file, ie: you could put several ISOs on the drive in which case I'd go along with Turner in that the files would be better (safer) separately stored on the disk.

The CRC issue is a conundrum. There must be a compromise whereby making several small ISOs would increase security depending on the type of scratch and ... (but I'm rambling )

Why not just burn two copies of these disks??

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Well, I said it was an archive because I've opened ISO images with 7-zip, why I did that don't ask.

And the thing I'm talking about -- I've heard about people making clones of HDDs as ISO images. They said it works good with failing HDDs. I can't remember where I saw this, though.