Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!gem.mps.ohio-state.edu!ginosko!aplcen!haven!udel!new
From: new@udel.edu (Darren New)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: HD Backup problems
Message-ID: <2357@nigel.udel.EDU>
Date: 24 Oct 89 03:14:50 GMT
Sender: usenet@udel.EDU
Reply-To: new@udel.edu (Darren New)
Organization: University of Delaware
Lines: 35

Can anybody recommend a hard-disk to floppy backup program
that actually works?  I really don't want to have to write
one myself just so I can change my disk partitions!!!

MRBackup 3.3d has problems backing up files it won't compress
that won't fit on the current disk (I think).  That is, if
xyzzy.zoo won't fit, only the first 32K will be copied and
NO ERROR MESSAGE is given.  Other than this, it seems
like the best of the backup programs I've seen so far.

SDBackup expands some of the files and chokes if the file
that overflows the disk does not overflow it by enough.

DoubleBack (comercial, DiskMechanic package) version 2.5 is
closer to version 0.90.  The backup works fine, as long as
you don't try to use any fancy options, like incremental
backups.  The help gadget brings up a series of 4 blank requestors.
The backup progresses smoothly and quickly, until you try to restore.
You then find out that the backup set just won't restore.
Ooops, you had delete-proof or write-proof files? Sorry,
I have to crash now.  What?  You are almost done?  I'd
better hang now.  Oh, there are already some files from a previous
attempt?  Let's skip to the last disk and not restore anything
else, so the user has to reformat and start over.

I've written a program to back up one syquest cartridge to another
using an incremental diskcopy, but this does not help me when I
want to repartition my disk.

What I'm looking for is a recommendation of a hard-disk-to-floppy
backup/restore utility that works.  Please, recommendations only
from people who have actually backed up AND RESTORED a large hard
disk on a file-by-file (not image) basis.  Commercial OK, PD/FD/ShareWare
obviously preferred.  I will summarize, so EMail me.  Thanks!!
		-- Darren