Backups

HB

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
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Mar 26, 2003
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Alberta CANADA
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Just thought I would pass on a way that I do backups that's really worked good for me. I bought a litle external USB hard drive that I put in my (physical) briefcase. Every day before I go home I update the (digital) briefcase folder on it & I always have a complete update of all the directories I want to backup. That way I can also access them on anyones computer simply by hooking up my HD to their USB.

There is only one problem I forsee - I can't figure a way to make it secure - if I loose the HD someone can view all my saved grumble notes - and possibly anything remotely of greater secrecy.

Works for me...
 
Hey HB:
I use a SanDisk 1.0GB "cruzer" usb and it has a password security code on it to protect files. Just don't forget the password - it won't email you the password question!!!
 
Jump drive. 2 gig... what data couldn't you put on that much drive?

then it can be on a lanyard around your neck...

If you've lost your data, you've lost your head.... and then it won't matter anyway.
 
Shame to say I have never managed to crack the back up bit of computers ……truth is that most of what I have had on my computer in the past was not critical…….it would just have been a pain to lose it……hence my lack of drive to get to grips with BACK UP……………………………now with my new business what is on my notebook is much more important and I do need to get to grips with some sort of back up or ghosting method

I have an extra new notebook which I have never used and which more or less has the same operational platform (software) as the notebook I use everyday…..

I was wondering if there is anyway I can use the two notebooks so that they would act as back up for each other……what I’m thinking about is some sort of ghosting or back up method so that when each computer is connected to each other that they would back/ghost each other up……….each notebook would need to operate independently of each other most of the time but when I connect them together they would need to talk to each other.

I’m running on XP Professional……..Main system is a Dell Latitude X300 with all the bells and whistles……the second is a Latitude D400 ….or I have a spare Dell Inspiron 2650 with XP Home on it that I could use…

All and any suggestions welcomed and if what I’m trying to do is for the birds please let me know……

Thanks guys

Dermot

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You should also be able to use Microsoft briefcase which comes with the XP - you just update when you hook them up oncve you've made the folder - its easy to set up
 
My only caution with a usb ram drive/key, or an external hard drive is the danger of having all your eggs in one basket.

It's a good idea to keep multiple generations of backups, when possible. If you only have a single backup and overwrite it before realizing a problem, you're in serious trouble. We use a 14 day rotation in our shop, and can restore files from any of those 14 days. (two sets of zip disks labelled Sunday-Saturday for week A and week B). Once per week, we do a full offsite backup via high speed internet for the MY DOCUMENTS, QUICKEN, and POS PROGRAM folders. (in case of fire or theft)

If your pos is exporting unique files each day, then you can do it with a single device. For example, our POS (LifeSaver) exports monday.zip, tuesday.zip, wednesday,zip etc - with each day's compressed backup. They can co-exist on a single device without it being overwritten for a week until that day comes around again. If overwriting the same folder or name every day, it's probably good to have multiple destinations so you can go back more than just a single day.

That's my opinion, in any case
Mike
 
Nothings beats those USB flash drives (SanDisk, Memorex, etc), as they are getting cheaper these days, expect to pay around $50 for 1 GB drive.

But do yourselves a favor and use more than one drive for backups (whether you're backing up to a flash drive, another hard disk, whatever): Always backup to 2 different drives, in case one goes bad and goes south with your data, you'd have another one ready.
 
<p align="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">I use a program called System ScreenSaver. This program that can execute a file at any given intervals. </p>
<p align="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Every time the screen saver is activated on my Wizard it will backup all saved mats, and any other important information to my D drive (small hard drive installed in the wizard) and it can also be setup to back up to a secure file on my web server.</p>
<p align="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">The screen saver is set to execute a file called backup.bat.</p>
<p align="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">A bat or batch file can be setup to backup or copy almost anything or everything on the drive to any drive on the local network. I find it very useful when backing up the same files every day. My bat file looks like this:</p>
<div align="center">
<center>
<table border="1" width="697" id="table1" height="118" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tr>
<td width="687">
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">This bat file backs up mats and shuts down windows.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="687">
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">xcopy C:\Wizard\Mats D:\Wizard\Mats /c /e /h /r /y /d /s

xcopy C:\Wizard\Mats \\Gallery\d\backup\MATS /c /e /h /r /y /d /s

TYPE NUL | CHOICE.COM /N /CY /TY,5 &gt;NUL

start C:\WINDOWS\RUNDLL32.EXE user,exitwindows

exit

cls</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="687">
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">This bat file backs up mats to two computers and resets the head of the Wizard</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="687">
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">xcopy C:\Wizard\Mats D:\Wizard\Mats /c /e /h /r /y /d /s

xcopy C:\Wizard\Mats \\Gallery\d\backup\MATS /c /e /h /r /y /d /s

START &quot;C:\batch\reset.lnk&quot;

cls

</td>
</tr>
</table>
</center>
</div>
<p align="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Before you try this I would recommend doing a little research on .bat and batch files. </p>
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<p align="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">
<a href="http://www.computerhope.com/batch.htm">
http://www.computerhope.com/batch.htm</p></a>
<p align="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">http://www.ahuka.com/backup/backup3.html</p>
<p align="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">
<a href="http://www.speedguide.net/read_articles.php?id=1547">
http://www.speedguide.net/read_articles.php?id=1547</p></a>
<p align="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">
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</p>
<p align="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></p>
 
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