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Do you backup your (data) files?

Discussion in 'Other PC Software' started by Arie, 2012/10/01.

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Do you backup your (data) files?

Poll closed 2012/12/01.

  1. I backup my data files to a USB (thumb) drive

    14 vote(s)
    20.3%

  2. I use an external hard drive to backup using the software supplied with the drive

    14 vote(s)
    20.3%

  3. I use an external hard drive to backup using Windows backup

    12 vote(s)
    17.4%

  4. I use a 3rd party program to backup/image my hard drive

    27 vote(s)
    39.1%

  5. I burn files to CD/DVD (imaging, backup or just copying)

    11 vote(s)
    15.9%

  6. I backup files to a NAS drive or networked PC

    9 vote(s)
    13.0%

  7. I use an online service for backup

    10 vote(s)
    14.5%

  8. I backup using another solution (please list below)

    10 vote(s)
    14.5%

  9. I have a RAID setup, I don't need anything else

    2 vote(s)
    2.9%

  10. Backup? What's that?

    3 vote(s)
    4.3%
Multiple votes are allowed.
Page 1 of 2
  1. 2012/10/01
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff Thread Starter

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    Do you backup your files? At least, do you backup your personal (data) files? This survey is about all types of backup, be it just copying your personal files to a USB stick, or making a complete image of your hard drive.

    If you use multiple solutions, you can select more then one option.
     
    Arie,
    #1
  2. 2012/10/01
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff Thread Starter

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    So my backup solution is using Windows Home Server which backs up on a daily basis (OS + Data).

    Then once a month I use Acronis to image my drive to an external hard drive which is kept on-site (in a safe).

    Music, Movies & Pictures are multiplied to my WD Live box

    An encrypted image of my (user) data is uploaded to my SkyDrive once a month.
     
    Arie,
    #2


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  4. 2012/10/01
    Steve R Jones

    Steve R Jones SuperGeek Staff

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    I just finished setting everyone in my company to use SyncBack to send copied of their important files to a XP file server.
     
    Steve R Jones,
    #3
  5. 2012/10/01
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    I backup data from various systems using:

    thumb drives
    home servers
    secondary hard drives

    I have a slick backup I wrote for my wife's computer. She does accounting and other tasks for several companies. I wrote a script that copies data to a second hard drive, then the script calls WinZip command line and zips it all up, then command line FTP to a home server. It can be used for any FTP server too by modifying the credentials.
     
    TonyT,
    #4
  6. 2012/10/01
    Steve R Jones

    Steve R Jones SuperGeek Staff

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    Tony, the free version of Syncback will do all of that and do it with a schedular.

    EDIT: And it'll send out emails when its done.
     
    Steve R Jones,
    #5
  7. 2012/10/01
    AlexH

    AlexH Just an Old Timer getting help ...

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    For data files I may need immediately, I use a 32GB Thumb drive.

    For data files I know I won't need right away, I copy/archive them to an HD on another PC; a home server, if you will.

    Then I will back things up to a DVD writer.

    And for safety, I also back up to the Symantec/Norton NOBU; as a beta tester, I usually have more space than comes with the products I also purchase (ones I don't test).

    I may be paranoid, but I've had HDs fail on my too many times to trust only one method of backup.
     
    AlexH,
    #6
  8. 2012/10/01
    MrBill

    MrBill SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    The only thing that I worry about backing up is Favorites and Address book. Rest can go by the way of the world. Don't do anything important and keep it on the PC.
     
    Last edited: 2012/10/01
    MrBill,
    #7
  9. 2012/10/01
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    I backup My Documents, Pictures, Music, and my game data files to USB flash drives and external harddrives every few weeks.

    About once a month or so I also make a disk image of my harddrive using the Windows Backup tool.

    I tell my clients to make sure they backup their data to external harddrives once a month or so but its amazing how many of them don't even backup their data.

    I had one client who I told many times over the course of a year to make sure he backed up his data to an external harddrive. He had a USB flash drive but never used it.

    He ended up getting a phone call from some scammers in India telling him that they were from Microsoft and his computer was full of errors so they needed to fix his computer problems right away. I even warned him previously to not fall for any scams that involve phone calls from so called Microsoft techs.

    But these scammers ended up remotely connecting to his laptop and they deleted all of his data off of his harddrive. He lost everything. By the time he called me to come over and try and recover his data, a week had already passed and I tried my best to recover any documents but it was too late. He learned the hard way of what the consequences are of not creating and keeping backups.

    Long story short, always backup your data because you never know what can happen to it.
     
    Last edited: 2012/10/01
    Evan Omo,
    #8
  10. 2012/10/01
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Data drive backed up every hour to another internal drive using Synchback. (No data on C:\drive)

    Digital images (finished and work in progress) backed up daily to another internal drive using Synchback.

    Digital camera capture files backed up to another internal drive weekly using Synchback.

    Registry backed up daily using ERUNT

    C:\ drive is imaged by Acronis to another internal drive on a weekly schedule

    C:\ drive is imaged weelky to another internal drive with Windows Backup on a weekly schedule.

    All the above with the exception of the Windows Image Backup and with the addition of other drives are backed up using Synchback to an external drive weekly.

    The Acronis image is also duplicated to another external drive, i.e. 3 copies of the current images are maintained.
     
    PeteC,
    #9
  11. 2012/10/01
    fdamp

    fdamp Well-Known Member

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    I posted as using Windows back-up, but actually, I just do a "copy files" command from my C: and D: drives to an external 80GB hard drive in a NexStar case. I do it about once a quarter.

    I only use my computer for personal stuff (retired for the last 13 years), so the total save is manageable. I keep the current and previous saves and delete earlier ones when I do a new one.
     
    fdamp,
    #10
  12. 2012/10/02
    AlexH

    AlexH Just an Old Timer getting help ...

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    Backing up

    I agree. I also give my clients grief if they don't back up regularly. Before read/write CDs and DVDs, I wrote backup command files for them, to pop up after using their data-intensive apps.

    One client got so into doing her backups - a bookkeeper for a large property-management company - that when we finally upgraded to a writable DVD system, I had to work hard to get her to back up only once a day; she was doing it three times a day before that upgrade.

    Because it's quicker for me to get to my DOCs and other files I use daily, I leave them on the HD and then follow the procedures I mentioned above.

    It does scare me, to hear that someone actually fell for the off-shore Microsoft tech scam. My clients know not to let anyone remote into their system, not even someone from my consulting firm, unless I have advised the client in advance. A former employee, disgruntled or not, can do a huge amount of damage, equal to the so-called Microsoft tech.

    So, I advise beforehand, and also let clients know - immediately - if someone leaves the company.
     
    AlexH,
    #11
  13. 2012/10/04
    psaulm119 Lifetime Subscription

    psaulm119 Geek Member

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    I back up with Amazon Cloud Drive ($20/yr for 20 gigs), but these are just my major, "drop dead if I were to lose them" files. I also back up the entire documents partition onto an external drive, using SyncBack. It is an incredibly fast and worry-free backup software that is free. And since the only two drives I've had go kaput on me were Western Digital, my external drive is a Seagate. :D
     
    psaulm119,
    #12
  14. 2012/10/05
    BobbyScot

    BobbyScot Geek Member

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    I use Microsoft Windows 7 Backup weekly, saving files on the C drive to an external hard drive. I fully rely on the backups especially when computer incurs a fault requiring the use of the Restore facility. I tried software by Acronis, a complete disaster, removing this software in my case is not possible as Auto runs still shows a reference to Acronis, untick its box will render all external hard drives as unobtainable under the Computer Shortcut. Reason unknown, a complete factory setting restore, does not remove completely Acronis.
     
    BobbyScot,
    #13
  15. 2012/10/06
    JSS3rd Lifetime Subscription

    JSS3rd Geek Member

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    Like Pete, I keep no data on my C: drive. The four partitions on my primary internal HD are backed up regularly to an external HD with Acronis True Image.
     
    JSS3rd,
    #14
  16. 2012/10/06
    becauz

    becauz Inactive

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    Backups

    I use externals to back up data, but it is scary when I have had several of them just stop working. So how do you keep them from crashing???:confused:
     
    becauz,
    #15
  17. 2012/10/06
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Hi becauz, Welcome to Windowsbbs! :)

    Backup the backups. ;)

    Or just make sure you thoroughly test the external harddrives using the Windows Check Disk tool and the manufacturers disk diagnostic software so you can take action if the drive is about to fail.
     
    Evan Omo,
    #16
  18. 2012/10/06
    BobbyScot

    BobbyScot Geek Member

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    Correct procedure please in setting up SyncBack.
     
    BobbyScot,
    #17
  19. 2012/10/07
    canco030

    canco030 Well-Known Member

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    As a retired Techo I realize the value of having backups-have seen too many HDDs fail!

    I have 2 clubs accounts, my daughter's business accounts and my personal finance accounts, all backed up to 2 external HDDs plus the backup on the computer.
    Backups are done each time any account is used.
    Each 12 months I replace one of the external HDDs.
    Regards, Rennie.
     
    canco030,
    #18
  20. 2012/10/07
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Synchback Tutorials & Guides

    This is outside the original question posed in the Poll - if you need further assistance start your own thread please.
     
    PeteC,
    #19
  21. 2012/10/07
    Tony King

    Tony King Well-Known Member

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    There was a story in the papers a few days ago of an academic who HAD HIS LIFE'S WORK on a handful of USB sticks IN A SUITCASE which got stolen at a railway station. NO BACKUP!!! Can you believe it??
     
    Tony King,
    #20
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