Although for some time I've been backing up both my system and my data files using Ghost, following the failure of my PC's processor I am planning the partitioning of a replacement's HDDs.

I've been told that you can't backup software, you mirror it, you only backup data files.


Can someone explain the difference and when I use Ghost does it automatically mirror the s/w and copy the data files?

Regards.....

depends what you mean by the term "back-up".

you *can* "back-up" your copy of Winzip or WinRAR (software) that you purchase, but you would still have to re-install it, after installing your new hard drive (.. assuming a clean installation of Windows with no Ghost backup).

tho this is unnecessary, cuz you could just download a new, updated copy from the manufacturer's web site.

so i think this is what you are referring to when you mention not being able to "backup software".

in its most generic sense, a backup is simply duplicating files .. in case something happens to the originals.

"mirroring" is a specific term that is sometimes used generally, and I'm not sure of the context in which you're using it.

'mirroring' as I understand it, is usually a feature RAID hardware, where you reproduce instantly the contents of one drive on another.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disk_mirroring

[ notice that RAID is Rad with an 'i' added. =) ]

ghost simply takes all the contents of the drive you select, bundles them all into a single compressed file, and writes that file to where you instruct it to.

this might provide some insight or clarification:

http://clone.radified.com/

or maybe this page:

http://ghost.radified.com/ghost_intro.htm

most importantly you need to understand this:

http://ghost.radified.com/ghost_caveat.htm