Backup Methods
 

OK...Over the years I've tried many different methods of backing up my data...floppies (years ago!)...CDs (slow, limited in size, loses date stamp when you reload)...other computers (expensive, slow over the wireless net)....USB HDD (slow, went fizz last night) :Yikes: :shocked: :disturbd:

SO, what do you think is the best way of backing up my important data on 3 wirelessly networked PCs (and an IPAQ!)? :confused:

Re: Backup Methods
 

SCSI Hard disks on one of them.

Re: Backup Methods
 

I store all my data on one PC and every few hours a program I've got makes a copy of all the user data on the other machine. Simple, and the program's archive format is .ZIP so its really easy to get at the files should you make changes to a file that and want the old version back. Saved my bacon a few times.

The programs called backup genie and I think its freeware.

Re: Backup Methods
 

I have a 35/70 Compaq DLT drive hooked up to one of my machines which backs up all my networked machines (currently 4).

Re: Backup Methods
 

It looks good but I can only find this and it's not free.....If I buy another piece of software off the web my wife is going to kill me.....she just did our receipts for our end of year accounts today and was a little annoyed at what I had spent on software this year :dig:

Re: Backup Methods
 

none of the options u currently have tried -

id go for an online backup solution - either make your own eg get a mate with an ftp or set one up at work? or pay for one..

depends on how much u value your data i personally took out a 10 gig online backup solution and it scans my pc at a set time every day and just uploads the changes (if any) of the files i made so if i add an entery into a 100meg DB it will only upload the change not the whole 100meg - obviously to begin with you will need to upload a lot so it knows what u have - its all encrypted and only can get at it if u lose ur pw they cant tell u as they dont know :) its backed up there end onto 2 more servers.

i also use it at work very usefull when someone says "oh bugger i just deleted that file"

oh there was a write up about them in the months pc pro -

Re: Backup Methods
 

I bought a dvd writer yesterday - I hope to use that for my backing up from now on.

Re: Backup Methods
 

Three computers, A, B, C and I (for ipaq)

I->A->B->C->A

That way if the ipaq goes down, you've got a backup of it on A.
If A goes down you've got a backup on B
B on C, C on A etc
It's free as you've got the equipment already.
Write a batch job to copy the data and schedule it for something like 4am so if it takes a while it won't interfere with using your computer

Re: Backup Methods
 

The version attached is the one I use, its not the latest but its card-ware (or so the license agreement says), feel a bit guilty now, I didn't know so I'll have to go and buy a post card tomorrow :(

Edit - I can't attach it becuse I've already adde it to a post in the past so heres the link: http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/sh...43&postcount=8

HTH

Re: Backup Methods
 

I just got mine last week, I have played around with Ghost & Nerobackup, but only on CDR's for now, I need to get some blank DVD-R's :dunce: - I've only got the one supplied with the burner, so far ;)

Nerobackup looks good and is, obviously, Windows based, Ghost is dos based, so to restore files from CD/DVD you need a boot disk that can load the appropriate driver for your drive, Ghost seems to be more designed for hard disk - hard disk backups.

I'd be interested to know how you get on dilli :)

Re: Backup Methods
 

I'll let you know when I've started backing up data files :)

At the moment I've just been messing about with dvd-shrink;) Which is a VERY good program.

Re: Backup Methods
 

thanks for that ;)

- a semi recent power supply failure, that trashed my mobo & hard disk, brought home to me what you lose when a HD just fails - for example, I backed up the downloaded files, but not the emails with the licence numbers
when I bought off the internet.

- luckily I did print the relevant pages, for 'most' of them. :erm:

So if anyone can bring a suggestion on how to backup just the 'important' stuff, rather than what you can just download again, don't hold back :)

Re: Backup Methods
 

thanks for that but how does one go about opening a .rar file? :confused:

Re: Backup Methods
 

I use winace for that.

http://www.winace.com/

Re: Backup Methods
 

Create several partitions on your hard drive(s). Nominate one to store all your work - and nothing else.

Change the location of your 'My Documents' folder to it. Right click on 'My Documents' and select properties and then move it where you like.

Unfortunately, this doesn't move the location of your address book and email. To do this you need to edit the registry. I can't remember the key off the top of my head but, if you know where your data is held currently, then it's easy to search for it.

Now back up the whole partition every time. I use DVD-RAM which works fine (if a little slow). Also, if Windows gets in a pickle and you have to reformat your drive, simple leave your work alone and it will still be there afterwards :)

Re: Backup Methods
 

Or winrar :) http://www.rarlab.com/rar/wrar330.exe

Trialware but like winzip still works after the 30/40 days :)

edit - This is how I have both my machines set up, I have one partition on my machine that stays on all the time and I back it up several times a day to the other network machine. I even have a DVD+RW in the drive all the time so I can be sure that the once daily external backup works too. Not that I'm paranoid about my files you see :)

Oh and Tweak-XP can make the changes to the registry for you, there's normally a trial version floating around that last for 50 runs or something.

Re: Backup Methods
 

thanks altis - my disk is only 40GB, though, maybe the 160GB one in Aldi, is starting to look more attractive ;) - still a couple left at £70.... ........

Re: Backup Methods
 

well i still have not seen a decent solution to backing up a 200gb drive.

yes i am aware of cloning the drive to another 200gb one, dont fancy spending the money right now.

Re: Backup Methods
 

I think the only way you are going to back up that amount of data is with a tape drive!

Re: Backup Methods
 

Wow...plenty of food for thought.....thanks people

6:00 am and must fly but
I'll think lots about this....and say what I will choose later

Re: Backup Methods
 

You have 200GB of important data you can't do without???

Re: Backup Methods
 

Interesting point is what do people actually backup each time..............

Re: Backup Methods
 

I certainly won't be using the XP backup software again. Having reformatted last Friday, I only managed to get access to the restored data late Wednesday night :( I still can't find the outlook stuff for my user account

Re: Backup Methods
 

REV drive probably cheapest and easiest -
that or get busy burning dvds all depends what the data is if its 1 file thats 200gig then ur screwed - but more than likely its a mix of emails / personal files mp3s etc ..

have alook at the rev drive 90gig (depends on compression) a disk that costs about 30 quid and its very fast

Re: Backup Methods
 

My disk is only 18GB and has 4 partitions on it! (Actually, I have three disks now but I used to have just the one).

I look after a small office network for a company nearby. They have 5 workstations and one fileserver. All their working files are held in one shared partition on the fileserver. They generate lots of documents and also run Sage Line50 accounts, Sage Payroll and Sage P11D off it. And the total size of this partition is....................a mere 2GB! The whole disk is only 18GB. Think carefully about what you actually need to back up and I bet it won't be very much. In this case it's all copied every night to DVD-RAM.

Incidentally, I renamed all the 'My Documents' folders on the workstations to 'Our Documents' and pointed them all to the same location using right-click / properties as described above. On my machine, the registry key to locate the windows address book is:
HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\WAB\WAB4\Wa b File Name
And the folder with the location of the favorites, cookies and history is:
HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Cur rentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders
To move the location where Outlook Express stores your emails select:
Tools / Options / Maintenance / Store Folder

Re: Backup Methods
 

Well I took a look at the Compaq DLT tape drives. I'm afraid they are out purely on cost.
Next I looked at the backup Genie web page recommended above. Sounds good in that it will automate the process. (would I need a licenced copy for each PC....not sure yet)
However I still need a backup medium so let's look at online storage first:

my worries with this are:
1. Is it really secure and private enough to backup financial data? I mean secure in transit as well as in storage!
2. What country would it be in; therefore what protection would I have in law?
3. What if the company goes down the pan?

I'll do a bit of surfing and see..................

Re: Backup Methods
 

This place looks really good but is still too expensive for a home network. It looks like I would need to spend £50 per month to backup all my stuff.

Re: Backup Methods
 

Thanks altis :tu:

- bookmarked, for now, I'll have a play later ;)

Re: Backup Methods
 

I got mine off ebay for £250. :)

Re: Backup Methods
 

That's an OK price Pem

Re: Backup Methods
 

rev drive ....
DLT drives have a bad name sadley but a lot of people use them

Re: Backup Methods
 

Well I finally plumped for a Maxtor One Touch which comes with backup software called Retrospect by Dantz. It seems to be versatile and able to perform progressive backups of my network onto the Maxtor disk or onto any sort of media including removable media.

Seems good to me although it may take a little getting used to what with it's scripting and stuff like that.

I see that they are bringing network disks onto the UK market as we speak and Linksys have a network storage link on the market in the US I think. http://www.linksys.com/HDD/

I guess they will be in the UK soon.

Anyone got experience of these?

Re: Backup Methods
 

In the end I didn't use any proper backp stuff - I just copied what I needed to backup from my fileserver and dumped it onto 5 dvd+rw's

I guess I'll have to find a better soloution next time i do a backup tho.

Re: Backup Methods
 

where ? have a link ?


hint: the word starts with an A stops with L :erm:

Re: Backup Methods
 

Has it got an N and another A in it?

Re: Backup Methods