I have mentioned this before... you really do have to back up your computer!

[WillyJ]

LOL Cath!! I was going to say it sounds more like my computer then yours. .

 

[DocRafiki]

Is this pretty much impossible to do if you don't have a CD-writer? I know-- I'm so high-tech over here.

 

[Wagamama]

um...ok! thanks grampa!

 

[CamColt]

Originally posted by WebmasterAlex
Techies will fight over which brand of hard drive they like

You guys are just wild & crazy!

Thanks for the heads up, but I use the same back up system as Donna.

 

[oldkicker]

I try backing it up all the time.

But it's really hard to steer and that beeping noise drives me crazy after a while.

 

[always quiet]

I have XP and I don't see an option for "back up" in my system tools. Is it just a XP business program or would (should??) it be on the home version as well?

 

[ahutton]

Just a suggestion - I just learned how inexpensive it can be to have a safety deposit box... If you are looking for a highly secure place to store back ups that would be a great option. Our office actually has a runner that takes one each morning so we are never more than a day behind if we were to lose everything. And if you wanted to store an extra CD or two with pictures, tax info, you could include things like deeds to property, original birth certificates, titles to your vehicles... The stuff that would be difficult or impossible to replace - like savings bonds. Ideally you want your back up to be more than 5 miles from your originating location in the event of a natural disaster it is less likely both locations would be effected.

 

[WebmasterAlex]

OOPS I didn't realize it wasn't installed by default in XP home, I hardly ever deal with the home version. Here is a microsoft page that explains how to install it
Install backup on XP home

 

[Loubon]

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Seriously, if you are concerned about space only back up your user files not the programs. So for example it would be the .doc files for Word, .xls for Excel etc.

No need to back up the program file. If it crashes just reinstall the program.

Just don't back it up to the same drive it was on in the first place.....

 

[WebmasterAlex]

Found this microsoft article too!

backup made easy

easy is good right?

 

[Towncrier]

I struggled with how to backup my 80Gb drive at home. The solution that I finally decided on was to purchase an inexpensive RAID controller and an second identical 80Gb hard drive. I setup the 2nd drive to "mirror" the 1st one. As long as both drives don't fail at the same time, I have an instant realtime backup of all my data. And an added benefit is that when my computer reads data off the hard drive, it can retrieve the data twice as fast. I would try to explain how that works, but I would have to use too many technical terms and I don't think that CC could take two technical posts in the same day. Sorry CC.

 

[KaterBell]

Alex,

GREAT advice... I also see lots of people whose harddrives fail and they have no backup whatsoever, and this is for a company where the people should know better!! (IBM!)

(Although - hint - taking a bad drive out of a machine and sticking it in the fridge for a few hours sometimes lets us get to critical data! - it's weird, but it works!)

I hope people take your advice !! Esp. digital photos and other priceless files that can not be recreated....

You can always rebuild your OS, but those pictures can't ever be taken again.

 

[jfulcer]

Originally posted by Towncrier
I struggled with how to backup my 80Gb drive at home. The solution that I finally decided on was to purchase an inexpensive RAID controller and an second identical 80Gb hard drive. I setup the 2nd drive to "mirror" the 1st one. As long as both drives don't fail at the same time, I have an instant realtime backup of all my data. And an added benefit is that when my computer reads data off the hard drive, it can retrieve the data twice as fast. I would try to explain how that works, but I would have to use too many technical terms and I don't think that CC could take two technical posts in the same day. Sorry CC.

But what happens if (God forbid) someone breaks into your home and steals your computer? You should still backup your important things.

Thanks for the PSA Alex, I'll back my stuff up (again) tonight to my DVD Burner.

 

[WebmasterAlex]

Well Jfulcer raises a good point...also what about a virus? It would wipe out both drives... or a file corruption...
what your method does do is guard against physical disk failure which is certainly a very common failure but not the only way to lose data...

 

[jfulcer]

Hey Alex, did I ever tell you the story of a friend of mine that fixed a 5 meg drive (yes, 5 meg, not gig) of mine back in like 1988? It wouldn't spin up, and it had all my class stuff on it. Brought it over to his house and he smacked it a couple times with a broom handle. Stiction - gotta love it. Don't hear alot about that now.

 

[WebmasterAlex]

LOL well the freezer trick someone mentioned earlier DOES work.. the other thing you can do if someone has an identical hard drive is swap the electronics package, that does it occaisionally.

 

[Zurg]

Originally posted by CathyCanada
Did Alex say something??

Something about having the spins and loosing his "data" (first time I ever heard that expression for barfing but he is a techie so....)

Sounds like Alex had a few too many.

 

[Towncrier]

Argh. I do backup photos and important files on CD-R, but not nearly often enough. I also have a habit of replacing my hard drive every 3 years (and giving my kids' computer the older drive) in an effort to protect myself from catastrophic data loss.

If someone breaks into my house and steals my computer, they deserve what they get.

 

[mom2boys]

Funny you should post this. Yesterday I had my first experince with a Geek on Wheels. My computer froze up - not the first time. It wouldn't even respond to ctrl alt del. I turned off the switch & it wouldn't come back on. THis is my office computer. You know the one with all the data for my tax practice. I have been worried about my computer for a while now. Turned out it was the power supply & my Geek didn't really do anything. He merely unhooked the power supply & replugged it & voila! I was thankful but he warned me that my time is limited. There is no CD or DVD drive so I ran out last night and bought a zip drive. Tonight I did a full backup. I have been thinking about the safe deposit box for off-site storage.

 

[Lanshark]

I was an IT professional for many years. It is really a sickening feeling to realize your disk is fried and you don't have a backup. It happened to me once in 20 years and I've never let it happen again.

When I first started programming we didn't even have hard drives. Just two floppy drives that we swapped diskettes in and out of. Anyone remember a TRS-80? A backup meant backing one floppy up to another. Oh for the days.....