Backing Up Your Computer Data

Hi

This discussion started in:
https://goscf.com/t/22180
and really did not pertain to the original thread topic.



If one has a DVD-RW drive it should not be more than 1 disk, possibly, 2. On a CD-RW drive one would probably have 2-3 disks depending on your file organization. I am assuming, from the quote, that JanS is thinking that one has to back up the entire system. No, only backup your data.

My backups require 4 disks. One disk is my wife's data files, one disk is my data files and two disks are the common files. In addition I have a disk that I create after a programming session. That backup contains only one folder so the disk is pretty empty.
The weekly backups take about an hour and the daily about 10 minutes.
Each Saturday I run a Virus check. After that check I do the backups. That way I am pretty sure that I am not backing up any contaminated files.

Here is a link to a Microsoft site with backup FAQ's:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/...ed-questions
Microsoft does have a backup/restore program but I have never used it.

If you backup only the files that have changed since the last backup one will need many more disks. The reason is that you have to save ALL the previous backups. In Mainframe land we do 2 types of backup, Partial and Full. Partial is only the files that have changed (daily) and Full (weekly)is everything regardless of changes. Therefore, for the general PC user a "Full" backup is recommended.

To do backups one only needs a CD or DVD burner (which most PC's have) and a CD-DVD burner program. A program I have been using for a few years now is really good, and it is free:
Main site: http://www.ashampoo.com/en/usd
Burner site: http://www.ashampoo.com/en/usd/pin/...ing-Studio-6

The most important item for backing up one's data is organization. Organize the data in logical folders. Folders are cheap and use of them does not degrade system operation. It will make backup easier since one does not have to look all over creation for one's files. Also it makes it easier to locate files.

These comments are based on a Windows PC. I hope someone with a MAC system, and/or Linux system, will discuss backups on those systems.

Jerry B

Something more simpler (and possibly cheaper) is to use USB sticks or external hard drives instead of CD/DVD approeach.

Just attach the USB stick / external hard drive to computers USB-port, and you can start moving the files of your choice to portable hard disk. When done, you simply unplug /disconnect the drive and place it someplace secure till next week. Could not be simpler. If using Windows Vista or Windows 7, then you can use inbuilt tools of Windows to automate the whole backup process to specific files and folders.

The good side of external hard drives is their capacity to store large amounts of data. A single CD can hold only 0.7GB of data; a single DVD can store up to 8GB of data; USB stick can hold up to 32GB of data; external hard disks have the capacity up to 2TB (that's about 2050GB). Of course there's a direct price-capacity relation. A single CD costs about $1, a DVD is 5-10$ depending on capacity, USB stick is 5-30$ depending on capacity, and external hard disks are $100-200 range depending on capacity.

If you have lots and lots photographs, videos etc (like me), then buying an external hard disk is somewhat a must, as it's the only reasonable solution to hold large amounts of data in single container.

If you have just some text files and few images, then a small sized USB stick (1 or 2GB) will suffice you well, and cost only about 5-10$.

I agree with Jerry about the importance of organization. A logical folder structure will save you from lot of headache.

-keijo-

Another alternative that I use for all my text/spreadsheet etc docs is Dropbox. Saves having to back those files up as they are stored online. Accessable from any computer anywhere in the world, and automatically update everytime you use them.

Hi scb

I agree about an external hard drive. However, I do not agree about the "usb stick" or flash drive. I am skeptical about the length of data retention. Having worked in a R&D lab designing logic chips I know there is some "charge leakage". I know that the BIOS chip is flash memory but that can be "refreshed". For short term storage it should be more than adequate but I would not use it for long term storage (photo files).

The advantage of using a CD-RW or DVD-RW is that it is not "mechanical" and not prone to failure (unless you use it as a coaster). Not only that, they are portable and can be stored anyplace.

Now that you mention them, it would be a good solution for my "programming" daily backups as that changes daily (actually by minutes).

Jerry B

I never keep important data in one location. Photos/scans are also in Dropbox and Flickr.
Docs in Dropbox and Google docs.
Everything else is on a NAS type box (network attached stoarge) which is a fancy name for a file server.
Mine is Linux based and data is striped over 4 disks for redundancy and should be hardware independent.
Hardware independence is the only downside to the consumer NAS devices from QNAP and Synology if you can overlook the price.

Hi

I may be wrong but, from what I have read, to access a file from any computer the computer used must have a DropBox folder on it.

I also read that if a file is not in the DropBox folder it will not be updated (backed up). That seems, to me, a bit restrictive in regards to organizing one's files.

Jerry B

You can access Dropbox from any PC via a browser. Even Smartphones and tablets so no, you do not need to have the file locally to access it.
I like the way shared folders from other people are also replicated to your 'primary' PC

I do the external hard drive. I purchased a 1.5 Tb drive for $69.00 and it works just fine. For the record, a CD costs around .20 cents and blank DVD's run around .30 cents. Also if you have a Blu-Ray burner, 25 Gb blank recordable DVD's are now under $1.

stallzer,

Where did you get one for that low of a price?
And is it just for PC's. I am a Mac user trying to figur this out with my new Mac. I know it can be done with preinstalled programs, but I have not figured it out yet. An external dive at that price is not too bad.

Hi tomd

If you have a MicroCenter or BestBuy near you try them. In fact I have seen name-brand drives at Wal-Mart (it figures). However, if you have MAC questions, MicroCenter or Best Buy would be your best choice.

Jerry B

Never heard of MicroCenter, but Best Buy and Wal-Mart are a yes. Thanks I will have to look into it.

I am very paranoid about my photos and philatelic data. I backup to a 1tb external drive, also to DVD's, and philatelic stuff also on a USB stick. I always keep some DVD's at another location too.

My Internet service provider, Cox Communications, provides free online backups. You just download Cox's free software and follow the directions. It's available for Windows and the Mac. Cox provides phone support for people who need it.

If your Internet provider doesn't offer a backup, try Carbonite. I used that in the past. It works really well.

I also have a second hard drive in my computer. I back up to that, in addition to Cox. For that, I use the backup program included in Windows. All versions of Windows, going back to 3.1, at least, include a backup program.

I'd certainly recommend more than one backup. I've heard plenty of stories about people who tried to access a backup when they needed it, only to discover it had failed.

NEVER back up to the same hard drive that your files are on. The most common failures in computers are with the hard drive. If your hard drive fails, all of your files will be lost. If your backup is there, it will be gone, too.

Computers are pretty reliable. But failures can and do happen. If you value your data, and you don't back up, you're playing with fire.

I agree, leave thumb drives well alone.

I use external Hard disk drives, 120 Gb breast pocket drives
you can pick these up for around $5 2nd hand or $40 new

Plug in your USB cable
select your root stamp folder
"COPY"
Go and have a cuppa and a sticky bun, or take the wife for a coffee.
My 32Gb of stamps takes about 90 minutes.

I use an External Hard Drive One TB capacity and it backs up every hour automatically. The program is "TIME MACHINE" But I also have a MAC and they never crash or fail. At least mine hasn't yet in four years. I think I paid $69 at Best Buy for my External Drive a couple years ago.

Wow, I am a total neanderthal.

I just have my computer set to back up to the second hard drive -- but it never does it because it always gives me a message that says my second drive is too full. Yet when I go there, I can't see anything much in it.

I do have a lot of photos and videos, which I suppose is why the drive is "full"?

On the bright side, I think my data is pretty logical -- there's a folder called Jan under C: that I believe contains everything. So presumably on a manual level I could just drag and drop that, if only I can find a storage unit/place big enough to take it?