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Many users often think about backing up their data but never get around to it until it's too late. This month we thought it would be interesting to see if our visitors back up their data and what they back it up to.
I use Norton Ghost 2003 to create images of the system partition to a target on another hard disk. I do that once a month, after the monthly batch of updates to Windows and Office has been installed.
I backup the data partition to a target on another hard disk using a freeware program, Karen's Replicator. I do that when I deem it "good thinking" and I seem to think once a month.
My data partition I manually backup to another internal hard drive and intermittently to a networked machine. The operating system I clone to another drive and maybe twice a year I’ll make an image and send it to the other machine. Gave up on using CD/DVD for backup years ago. I have recently been planning to set up some kind of automated backup for my data.
I have an internal hard drive that I plug into my desktop once a month, and copy the contents of My Documents onto it, using Karen's Replicator. Fairly quick the 2nd and subsequent backups, b/c it only backs up what has changed. For my laptop, I can barely squeeze the contents of my hdd onto a single DVD, which I do also on a supposedly monthly basis. Its a pain to use (the internal drive), but its a heck of a lot cheaper than the external usbs, or even an internal in a case.
Just heard recently that MS has just taken its online file storage out of beta (or is it, just made it available to anyone wants it?)...5 gigs for free, but the showstopper was that you had to upload files individually. There is no way I'm going to upload thousands of files manually. Ultimately, I would like to use the forthcoming Google backup as my backup and just forget using a second hard drive, because it woudl be quicker and I wouldn't have to worry about a fire destroying my computer and my backup files!
I have 3x SATA internal drives split into 17 partitions and use SynchBackSE to back up my data drive hourly and the registry daily (last 7 days registry back ups auto retained) to another internal hard drive,
My image files (3 drives) are automatically backed up to another internal hard drive on a weekly basis. Image files are also burnt to DVD on a monthly basis or as required.
Once a week I run a manual SynchBack profile and backup all of the above to an external hard drive.
I use Acronis to image the OS drive at least once a month to an external hard drive and try to maintain an ASR backup to another external hard drive on a monthly basis too.
Monthly - Manual - (SyncBackSE profiles) - Immediately after month end Images, all internal data drives (includes images) are copied to external drive.
Frequently / whenever - Manual - Web Storage - (3rd redundant copy)
Their was no listing available for this so I used "Other device". Primary used for the real important stuff. Have 2x Google email accounts I manage via Gspace, a Firefox extensions. I store program Keys/Serial numbers, similar program info (text files), and important documents (scan pics) information (uploaded in password locked zips). Digital Family Photo's - Have been using AOL xDrive, which provides 5GB of free storage (do not reccommend - clungee - requires program install). I'm running out of space, so I started using Adrive this week. Provides 50GB of Free online storage with NO program install (Java interface). The only restrictions, can not exceed 1000 files PER batch send, ONE file can not exceed 2GB, so this is a nice resource. The last two evenings while I'm online browsing / posting have approx. 1GB batches (about 750, less than 1000 files) uploading to Adrive. Upload speed is about 3.5MB / 4MB per minute. Site also provides "Share file" which allows access via email link restricted permission to family / friends. Once I have all my family digital pics uploaded, will upload (1) image file for each computer, update maybe 2 or 3 times a year.
Last edited by Dennis L; 23rd February 2008 at 05:35.
Reason: spelling - usage
I use Norton Ghost 12 to make automatic daily incremental images and send them to a second hard drive. It takes less than one minute at boot, works in the background, so I pay no attention to it. The incremental images are normally only 60 megs or thereabouts (depends on drive activity of course). I keep 90 days of those but could easily accommodate a years worth with plenty of room to spare on a 60 gig drive.
Ghost is the fastest imaging tool that I have found.
Last edited by surferdude2; 24th February 2008 at 19:37.
At home I use Syncback and then use a maxtor one touch drive. I have the button the drive programmed to run an instant backup of my important files to the Maxtor drive.
At work I use Syncback as well, but have it set to run 7pm nightly and back everything up to an offsite Network drive.
I backup the desk machine to a laptop. I just backup data files and the email main email file. If I go on a trip then I will sync the desk to the lap and when I get back I go the other way.
I used to use tape on an automatic basis but that turned out to be a PIA, tapes are too slow. syncing two machines over the network goes quite fast at blinding Ethernet speeds.
I have 2 internal SATA drives, one is used for backups only and is only connected during the backup process. I create an image of the operating system and 3 other data partitions onto the backup drive once a month, usually the first day of the month. Going from one SATA disk drive to another SATA disk drive takes less than 30 minutes for 4 partitions.
Individual files are copied to backup media manually as required. Quicken files are backed up after any transaction is added. Photos are copied to CD-R right after they get downloaded from the camera. I have to get those photos backed up real fast before my wife goes in and crops one and saves it, overlaying the original.
I use an external HD and/or a USB external drive for backups.
For software i'm using Acronis and only backing up the "C" drive, takes
about 18-20 minutes.
I use acronis because if the sys won't boot at all, i just power on the
external HD and pop-in the acronis boot cd. It then runs and will restore
the full "C" drive to whatever the date the back was created.
Works pretty good.
I have two networked desktop PCs.
I use NovaBack from NovaStore for my backups.
Having initially performed a full backup of each machine to DVDs, I now do nightly scheduled differential backups of each machine to the hard disk of the other, alternating to two target folders.
One night a week I have scheduled backups to DVD+RW disks which I can store off-sight in case of a major disaster. For these I have two sets of DVDs which are used alternately.
