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| Thread ID: 101154 | 2009-07-03 05:46:00 | Backup Discussion | linw (53) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 788446 | 2009-07-03 05:46:00 | What do you reckon is a good solution for the typical (basic) home user to ensure they don't lose their images, docs and email etc? In my view, these are important characteristics:- - must be reliable - automated - cheap! - be able to produce multiple file versions (grandfather, father, son) - be portable so copies can be stored off-site It sounds easy till you really start to think about it . Like, if it was easy, why isn't it being done more often? What media? CD? USB drive? Flash or HDD? Will the USB port keep the same drive letter? Software may not be the main problem . Sync s'ware or something like Karen's Replicator . But a really big problem is that a backup that is not being monitored and checked very regularly is very likely to be useless when it is needed! And, if you don't think this is important, talk to a local here who has just had his computer stolen, complete with four years of text and images for a book he is (was?) writing . Of course, our irreplaceable images are on the HDD, too . So, resident experts, is this still just too hard? Anyone had success with a good solution? (Now I have read this, perhaps it is still too hard!! And too long!) . Sounds like there could be a commercial opening for someone? What say you? |
linw (53) | ||
| 788447 | 2009-07-03 06:02:00 | The USB flash drive here uses Jetflash elite 2.0. Havent tried it yet, but it looks like it'll backup anything in OL / Mail / whatever email client, whatever under documents, favourites from whatever browser. What else do you need? It'll also lock a pc, and you can also password protect it. I suppose just in case you lose it. I wouldnt bother with either cdrw or dvdrw. Or waste money using cdr's or dvdr's. The files on these PC's wouldnt be big enough to fill a cd or dvd. Other than that I just put what I need either on a spare hdd or partition, or copy of whatever on another hdd on another pc. Shouldnt matter if the letter for a USB flash drive changes, it'll still work. It depends if you reformat / or add something extra like a card reader. Which may use the letter (that a flash USB drive used). I can burn MP3's / songs to cd or DVD. Likewise for photos. |
Speedy Gonzales (78) | ||
| 788448 | 2009-07-03 06:04:00 | USB Hardive. XXcopy batch file : use scheduler to run it (or syncback/karens) "Manage Computer" (right click my computor) & force USB drive to be U: ==very important. depending on personal paranoia (or valueable data) -offsite backups; have 2 usb dives, keep one offsite in case of total disaster If pc's get stolen, burnt up, so will a backup HD. Total PC failure could also fry a USB HD if connected at the time **DO NOT USE NORMAL XCOPY, it has a known bug where the copy can sometimes stop without any warning or error message. A rare XP bug may stop the USB drive being assigned a letter in some circumstances (eg. network share using that letter, ie F:) Always force a drive letter that would never otherwise be used. Dont trust USB flash drives for data critical backups. Ive seen too many die (or have an occasional write fail-often from operator error) |
sroby (11519) | ||
| 788449 | 2009-07-03 06:09:00 | Usually what I do is give the customer an 8gb flash drive for $40 then stick portable toucan on it. I've set toucan to run as soon as its plugged in and also weekly. Incremental updates take 20-30 seconds at most. I've only had one customer want backups before, so thats what I've set them up with What I could also set up is to auto emailing the copy logfiles to me, that way I could ring up the customer if the backup was failing etc. But there would be a confedentiality issue I guess. Blam |
Blam (54) | ||
| 788450 | 2009-07-03 06:35:00 | See my thread (pressf1.pcworld.co.nz) from yesterday I have just set up my spare pc running XP home with it's third HDD and am in the process of setting up weekly full backups using true image to it and also daily incremental backups daily, unfortunately offsite backups are not really possible for us as I work in the building trade and SWMBO doesn't work | gary67 (56) | ||
| 788451 | 2009-07-03 10:27:00 | Usually what I do is give the customer an 8gb flash drive for $40 then stick portable toucan on it. I've set toucan to run as soon as its plugged in and also weekly. Incremental updates take 20-30 seconds at most. I've only had one customer want backups before, so thats what I've set them up with What I could also set up is to auto emailing the copy logfiles to me, that way I could ring up the customer if the backup was failing etc. But there would be a confedentiality issue I guess. Blam An 8GB wouldn't take everything on a drive! So one would have to be very selective & highly compressed, Yes? PJ |
Poppa John (284) | ||
| 788452 | 2009-07-03 10:32:00 | This is data only. For any more than 8gb I give them a set of DVD+RW |
Blam (54) | ||
| 788453 | 2009-07-03 10:39:00 | This is data only . For any more than 8gb I give them a set of DVD+RW Blam There is a strong opinion on this forum that DVD+RW are not to be used . PJ |
Poppa John (284) | ||
| 788454 | 2009-07-03 10:43:00 | Blam There is a strong opinion on this forum that DVD+RW are not to be used. PJ Better than nothing! I could give them a 16gb flash drive instead. OR a big external HD |
Blam (54) | ||
| 788455 | 2009-07-03 10:53:00 | Better than nothing! I could give them a 16gb flash drive instead. OR a big external HD I thought they were a good idea as well. Backup a set , & next month backup another. Wipe the first set & all ready for next month. However on my last attempt it all turned to custard & I had no end of trouble which has still not been fully resolved. I am well overdue to backup again as this computer is behaving strangely. But I hav no confidence in my ability to do one. What is your opinion of the inbuilt XP Home one?. PJ |
Poppa John (284) | ||
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