Make sure you have backups!

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acrompton

MGF, Master Grumble Framer
Joined
Jan 22, 2007
Posts
685
Loc
Louisville, KY
Just had to get a new PC because our old one bombed. I am very thankful that we had an adequate backup system setup so that we did not lose our much needed files.

Please be sure you have a good backup plan!
 
VERY good advice!

I've helped 3 grumblers this year who lost it all because they didn't have backups.

It saddens me to see this happen, when the solution is so quick and inexpensive. (a rotation of several flash drives, etc)

Hard drives WILL fail, it's just a matter of when.

Mike
 
Maybe we should have a thread on what to backup (data files such as LifeSaver, Word, Excel, Photoshop files, also your Internet Favorites / links / bookmarks and profiles) and what not to back up (the programs themselves: Word, Excel, Photoshop, etc).

Backing the latter is a waste of time and space as those applications will not run reliably from a backup.
 
Don't forget to periodically run Accessories/System Tools/Files and Settings Transfer Wizard - you will be amazed at all the crazy things (like favorites, logons, passwords, cookies etc.) that little gem will save for you if you lose a hard drive.
 
We have a flash drive, Cd backup as well as an IOmega Hard drive for both our personal and business computers. We have it all networked so we can back up on the other PC's external Harddrives. The only thing is, we would still be in for it if the house burns down, and I have considered saving some documents in a folder out on the net. (extra file storage from ISP).

Anyone save the info offsite like that? With work and home being in the same location we need to give thought to having it all offsite.
 
just as important as getting backups is knowing HOW to use them to rebuild!!!!!!!!! you dont want to get to that point and not know what to do to restore things!
 
Crash

My hard drive failed 3 yrs ago and I lost a months worth of data. Swore never to let it happen again. I had the computer system build with a dual hard drive (raid system). One drive crashes the other starts up like a spare, no down time. Then I have a one touch external drive which backs up anything new on a drive that I specify. Every piece of data...Email, Database, wordprocess files, pictures all get written to the same hard drive...My hard drive is segmented into sectors (etc c drive = operating system, d=programs & E Drive = data. I then also back up my system on to memory sticks and a once a month onto a flash drive. I use two firewalls and an antivirus to protect my system...Nothing is perfect, but I think I have almost done as much as I can....It was horrible to rebuild a month worth of work orders.
 
As long as you are getting the data OFF that pc, also, on a daily basis. Raid, connected external hard drives, even flash drives that are plugged in - are subject to being wiped by theft, power surges, viri, etc. Rotating the devices daily, and getting the data offline (and preferably off-site) is important - in my opinion.

Mike
 
Offsite

Absolutely Mike,

Couldn't aggree more. I remove info offsite because of the fear of theft or fire. In my experience most people lose data because of a hard drive failure. A tech told me hard drives only have a life of 3 years. Anything after that is a bonus. I have had 3 different computers were the drives failed due to age. Right around the 3 yr mark. Although I know another framer who has a system that is 10 yrs old...Dos program.....386. Lol...They haven't been able to back up in 3 yrs as the floppy drive failed......You want to see and anchor.....They are just in the process of upgrading.

Better Safe then Sorry is what I always say.

Todd
 
This little hard drive found here: http://www.lacie.com/us/products/product.htm?pid=10994

It is an absolute piece of ................ heaven! It's awesome. It plugs into your router, and comes with a little piece of software, that backs up all the files on your system (the needed ones) each night, or however often you need it to. If you lose the file on your computer, you hit restore, and sit back, and it will replace everything you lost on your computer. AMAZING stuff. Really seamless. And because it's hooked up to your router, you can access it from ANYWHERE you have internet access. Good encryption etc. The website to access it is www.homelacie.com. Totally free.

Half a Terabyte of storage for only $190. Not too bad. I remember my first computer had a whopper hard drive of 20 MB. LOL.

It's so convenient too, that you can administer accounts, and people can access it with their own login at the website. It's basically a server for all intents and purposes. I gave my brother a login to use it to store his video and photos.

I design on one computer, and the CMC uses another. It's as simple as save it on the server, and go to the other machine and it's there.

I cannot rave enough about this. Probably one of the BEST technology investments I have ever made, other than my iPhone.

dave.
 
Last edited:
DLB said:
And because it's hooked up to your router, you can access it from ANYWHERE you have internet access....

...It's so convenient too, that you can administer accounts, and people can access it with their own login at the website. It's basically a server for all intents and purposes. I gave my brother a login to use it to store his video and photos.
Click to expand...

So the device doesn't need to be present to be used as a backup device, as in you could set it up at home and have your work computer back up its files to it, automatically, whenever you want to?
 
David N Waldmann said:
So the device doesn't need to be present to be used as a backup device, as in you could set it up at home and have your work computer back up its files to it, automatically, whenever you want to?
Click to expand...

Not quite. Any computers that are going to be backed up to it, have to be on the local network. In other words, they have to be getting their internet connection from the same router (that includes the server itself). The remote access is to just download and upload files (you can manipulate files names and other stuff too). The only thing that doesn't work remotely is the backup tool. There may be a way to do that, but it's beyond the scope of my abilities.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

dave.
 
Ok, that's what I was "afraid" of but thought I'd ask anyways. Thanks!
 
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