Backup your computers—it's worth it

[Archangel]

Talking to some people, I discover most people don't know what to backup. Most apps are on the cd's, it's your files that need backing up. I use flash-drives and google. I also keep a folder on my wife's computer and she keeps one on mine.

My company hates it but I'm the one legally accountable for the info. In some cases, it would be to their advantage if it got lost.

Mac users note that iphotos to dvd is not a true backup. Go to the pictures folder and find the actual pictures in it. The iphoto dvd will only play on iphoto.

Somebody already mentioned this but sometimes the drive can be read by another computer. I've done that. Put it in an external closure (tigerdirect has nice prices) and either usb or firewire connections might let you get the files off it. Even used the connection without the enclosure since the drive was the older, bigger one.

Good luck, it is rough.

[sorcererdale]

Try www.oldsoftware.com or search google, you'd be surprised what you can find.

DALE.

I had a scare myself this last weekend. My XP drive caught a virus. I had 1699 infected files. No typo there either. One-thousand six-hundred ninety-nine!! Almost every executable on my system. Luckily it was not a virus that infects the MBR. I was able to save most of my documents through backing up uninfected files to my wife's computer, but I lost programs that are almost impossible to find that I've lost the disks for. On top of that, the stock CPU cooler in my machine quit and I had to replace it to stop my computer from singing the processor overheat aria. The only good thing that came out of it was that the cooler I replaced it with keeps the CPU at the same temp as the motherboard. No fried processor for me!

[Daaaaang]

OK. OK. I've known I needed to do this but just never seemed to get around to it. This thread finally convinced me it was time. Last night I went out and bought an external USB drive (320 GB for $89 at Office Max.)

I don't know a lot about this kind of thing so I have a few questions. First, no software or instructions came with the hard drive so I was poking around on the computer and I was wondering if the Windows backup program on XP would work well for this? Once in the backup program, is it better to chose the option to backup only the My Documents information (pictures, music, etc.) and favorites lists or the option to backup the entire hard drive (and create a boot disk)?

Since your external drive is 320GB, I'd say you might as well back up the whole thing. If you let it become a boot drive, then if the same thing that happened to me happens to you (hard drive dies, computer is otherwise fine), then you can keep using your computer with the external drive.

In fact, you could use ANY windows computer with the hard drive while your computer is being fixed, and they would all act exactly like your computer. So yeah, I don't see any reason why not to back up the whole thing. The only disadvantage is that it takes up more memory, and it appears that that isn't a problem for you.

Also, if the XP software doesn't do what you want, Google found this and these.

[James MacMillan]

I have been using stardock Keepsafe for about a year, and I like it. It took about three hours to set up, to ensure that all the correct files and folders are covered. But once set up, it works with the external usb drive all by itself.

The important choices are just what to backup. If you have your original disks or CD's of your software, then you only need your data. Making sure you have all the right locations, is the hard (time consuming) part.

Once running, it stores lod files, and up to seven version of changed files.

I like it..... Only cost about $20. There are also some pretty good freeware available.

Do a simple google for backup software, and you should quickly find something that will serve your individual needs.

[Weasel Mender]

I live in the world of "I tell you 3 times" save, save to external drive, save to "thumb drive" aftedr my brother in law paid over 2 grand to recover 40 gigs of photos I learned, usualy I am the one who has to learn by peeing on the electric fence myself. this time I will not

weasel

[Mr. Kilt]

I live in the world of "I tell you 3 times" save, save to external drive, save to "thumb drive" aftedr my brother in law paid over 2 grand to recover 40 gigs of photos I learned, usualy I am the one who has to learn by peeing on the electric fence myself. this time I will not

weasel

Hehehe! I'm usually the same way. Do as I say, not as I do.
However, this thread reminded me that I really needed a good way to back up my system. So...I just got back from buying a 300-gig external drive. First order of business will be to back up the entire hard drive on my laptop, including the OS and all programs.

[walkerk]

Sorry to hear of your misadventures, Matt. Well, you're in school to learn. Here's some "extra credit" items to ponder. The solution is left to the student.

• What disaster recovery solutions are available to UM students? What are the costs of using these services? What are the costs of not using these services?
  
• What aspect of data backup is most often overlooked?
  
• What perils could befall colocated backup data?
  
• Analyze the costs associated with different backup methodologies (tape, CD, DVD, network, etc.) Include costs for hardware, media, and manpower over a finite system lifetime.

(Yes, I am the protector of "Your Permanent Record".)

[string]

Well, I know that all the information on my old laptop is intact and safe... now only if the bloody monitor worked. Need to call my favorite geek and borrow all his cables and such. It's nice to know people who will do such things if all I do is sew his buttons back on. It takes me 15 minutes and him 3 hours.