How often do you back up?

Chippy_Minton

garcia wrote:

On the subject of backups, since reading this thread I've been backing up every week using Nero Backitup.

I've specified 6 key directories which I keep my data on and the backup comes up to about 3.8 gig, ideal for a DVD-RW.

Only problem is it seems to be backing up *files* rather than directories. What I mean is that it will say fileXXX missing from directory - even though I asked it to perform a full backup every time (i.e. not incremental). So its keeping track of files for some reason, and it knows when I have deleted a file. I don't want it to keep track of files - just to backup the specified directories each time.

It's probably just a warning. Which version are you using? I've tried to reproduce this with BackupItUp 1.2.0.61 (bundled with Nero 6.6) and no such message is displayed. Try downloading the latest updates from Nero (may not be available for Nero 6 now that they're trying to get everyone to buy 7).

Because you're creating a backup based on an existing backup it can tell which files should be there and displays the file missing message if an expected file isn't there. If you explore the backup folder that Nero creates (date_time_backupName) you'll see that it _has_ backed up the specified directories and any files and subdirectories within. Try doing a test restore (not to the original location) to prove this.

garcia

Chippy,
I have Backitup 2.0.0.6 which comes with nero 7.0

OK thanks I think you are right - I'll do a restore test later on to check. But its annoying that it gives that warning. I suspect it ignores the fact that I'm chosing to do a *full* backup each time and instead assumes I'm doing something incremental and spits out the warning.

BTW what are your thoughts on the type of backup? I'm new to this backup lark and chose full backup just so I have 1 disk will all my (frequently changing) data files on. But if there are reasons to use incremental backup I may be persuaded.

Many thanks.
P.S. Nice to know I'm not the only backitup usesr out there!

Chippy_Minton

garcia wrote:

BTW what are your thoughts on the type of backup? I'm new to this backup lark and chose full backup just so I have 1 disk will all my (frequently changing) data files on. But if there are reasons to use incremental backup I may be persuaded.

Hi Garcia, doing a full backup is fine if you have many frequently changing files or not many files to backup. Even more so if the full backup can fit nicely on a DVD-RW. An incremental is usually quicker but slower and less convenient when it comes to restoring files. Don't use just 1 DVD-RW though. Have 3 which you can cycle in a grandfather-father-son backup strategy. Article here - http://www.practicalpc.co.uk/computing/how/backup.htm - has more info, including a full and incremental backup strategy, but as I say just doing full backups is OK.

garcia wrote:

P.S. Nice to know I'm not the only backitup usesr out there!

I actually use Stompsoft PC Backup, but may look again at Nero since it seems easier to browse the backup set.

GaryS

I think that I may have already posted this on here somewhere, but here is my backup solution using 2 X 160gb drives.

All applications are set up to save to the same master folder location:

C:\data\docs, C:\data\excel, etc etc.

All photos are saved to C:\camera\240706, 150606, etc.

Outlook backs up to another folder within C:\data

Using SYNCBACK this is mirrored on the D drive as folders called \copydata\docs, etc.

EVERYDAY, if the PC is switched on at 2200 this will update to ensure that I always have 2 copies of all valuable data and photos.

In addition to this, photos are archived out to DVD-R when there is enough to fill a 4.7gb DVD.

Restores have been attempted and work well.

I do not back up the OS or any applications, as I feel that in the event of a major system failure a rebuild would be a good way to have a cleanup.

WestieFan

Cheers for that info Chippy, not as bad as I thought then!

I will run with this just now, hard drive I am backing up is 140 gb and new one 300 gb so plenty room with more to spare.

I will have a look at stompsoft or nero whenever the bank balance is a bit more healthy!

garcia

Chippy_Minton wrote:

Don't use just 1 DVD-RW though. Have 3 which you can cycle in a grandfather-father-son backup strategy. Article here - http://www.practicalpc.co.uk/computing/how/backup.htm - has more info, including a full and incremental backup strategy, but as I say just doing full backups is OK.

I actually use Stompsoft PC Backup, but may look again at Nero since it seems easier to browse the backup set.

Thanks Chippy - that was a good common sense article. Much of it I'd intuitively already done (e.g. putting data to be backed up into common folders). The grandfather, father, son thing I had actually been thinking about, but will now do.

I'm just going to do weekly full backups though (rather than daily incrementals).

Thanks again.

T4i

Never, system restore turned off, no backups, no anti-virus. Just software firewall, NAT, SPI and XP updates.

It's taken me a good 3 years to really understand what to watch out for and what to trust over the internet.

Radagast_2

This all seems a bit long winded.

My backup procedure is as follows:

don't.

You will need:

An external hard drive big enough to store all your documents. Easy to come by, you can get one even cheaper at a computer fair by buying a regular IDE hard drive and getting a little case with a USB converter on it. I paid £50 for 300GB.

A Linux start up disk with USB driver support.

If your PC dies (which most PCs do), simply start it up with the Linux disk and you can forget about Windows being dead, you can get access to all your files and stick them on your external hard drive.

Voila!

A problem when it comes to programs, but just be sensible and keep your disks.

r-ingram

I use an external HDD (bought a HDD and a Caddy from ebuyer). I save a disc image (i.e. entire HDD) to this and do incremental backups weekly, with Acronis True Image software (which will do the same to CD-RW or DVD-RW). This took about 4 hours first time, but incremental backups are less than 30 minutes. The advantage is the laptop can be restored as it was with all programs and settings, and the software lets you make an Acronis boot CD so works even if Windows died. There are several other alternative programs that will do this, but I find Acronis is the simplest, safest and fastest.

As I am totally neurotic I also use Easy2Sync for Outlook to back up my emails/diary daily. My work would fall apart if I lost this stuff, and the weekly disc backup is not quite frequent enough. This is freeware (though I paid for a licence for the bells and whistles). Works a treat.

r-ingram

Radagast wrote:

This all seems a bit long winded.

My backup procedure is as follows:

don't.

You will need:

An external hard drive big enough to store all your documents. Easy to come by, you can get one even cheaper at a computer fair by buying a regular IDE hard drive and getting a little case with a USB converter on it. I paid £50 for 300GB.

A Linux start up disk with USB driver support.

If your PC dies (which most PCs do), simply start it up with the Linux disk and you can forget about Windows being dead, you can get access to all your files and stick them on your external hard drive.

Voila!

A problem when it comes to programs, but just be sensible and keep your disks.

what happens when the either the internal or external HDD dies, or are you saying you have the relevant files duplicate on each?