Missing Data from Backup? (Rescue and Recovery)

[Paranoid_TP_User]

Today I backed up my system using the IBM Rescue and Recovery software to a bunch of DVD's.

My HD at the moment has 32.3 Gigabytes of Data on there however the Backup only used 4 x 4.7 Gigabyte DVD's for the data plus one partially-full disc for the boot disc.

So the DVD's only hold 18.8 GB of data between them and I am wondering what happened to the other 13.5 GB of data?

Does the Rescue and Recovery use some fantastic data compression, or did it not copy my "entire software image, including the operating system, applications, personal settings, device drivers, and user settings."? Or is it something else I am missing?

I want to have confidence that these disks can restore my system to how it is today, applications and all. Can anyone help put my mind at ease?

Cheers...

[Delmarco]

I just did a full recovery last week. It restores to factory settings. However, if you did any IBM updates in the time from when your computer left the factory to now, you will have to visit whats left of www.IBM.com and find your updates.

I spent about 2 hours of updates for my March 2004 T41.

I'm not sure about personal data, all mine got erased...however I just bought a new 100GB 7200rpm bomb proof harddrive and a 25GB WD caviar in Enclosure for back ups...
As you can see I'm not ready to lose y data a second time 'round.

[Paranoid_TP_User]

Well if you launch "IBM Rescue and Recovery" from Access IBM, and go to 'Back Up Now' it says:

"Back up your system, including applications, data, and personal settings."

By data I want to believe that this includes my 10 GB My Documents folder. It says it's an image of the entire C:\ Drive, but now I'm doubting that My Documents, i.e. My Data, is on there. Anyone think it is?

[egibbs]

The backups ARE compressed and are usually somewhat smaller than the original volume. But your numbers are unusual.

Keep in mind that different types of data compress differently. JPEGs, MPEGs, MP3s etc. are already in a compressed format and won't compress well - in fact they often get bigger when compressed. OTOH documents (without embedded JPEGs, of course), spreadsheets, uncompressed image formats like TIFs, etc. can compress very well and a 50% reduction in size is not remarkable.

The other thing to remember is the R&R only works on one volume (crippleware). If your My Documents folder is on another drive or another partition it will not be included in the backup.

I think (not 100% sure) that if you boot to the R&R recovery environment there are utilities that will allow you to browse a backup archive to look for single files to restore. You might want to try that and see if there are any obvious missing folders or files.

Ed Gibbs

[Paranoid_TP_User]

Thanks for that reply.

I have not yet tried booting to the R&R environment, but I will soon. In the meantime I simply made an exact copy of my important documents.

I can only say for sure that 2-3 GB of my documents are uncompressed types, but I will let you know if I am able to find all of my files...

Also the R&R allows you to recover individual files at any time as far as I know, so I will also look at that.

Cheers