how to back up computer??

[irish]

okay guys, don't go ballistic on me, but i have never backed anything up on my desktop computer(7 years old)because I SIMPLY DON'T KNOW HOW!! really, all i need is my pictures, so if someone can explain how to do this IN REALLY REALLY SIMPLE TERMS, i would love to give it a try. HELP HELP HELP,PLEASE

 

[VictorB]

okay guys, don't go ballistic on me, but i have never backed anything up on my desktop computer(7 years old)because I SIMPLY DON'T KNOW HOW!! really, all i need is my pictures, so if someone can explain how to do this IN REALLY REALLY SIMPLE TERMS, i would love to give it a try. HELP HELP HELP,PLEASE

Well you have several options but first a few questions?

1. You don't care about any other documents?
2. How much data is it in gigabytes?
3. Is it more than 4.7 Gigabytes? If yes, skip Q4
4. Do you have a DVD writer on your computer? It will say DVD RW on your DVD drive.
5. Given the answer to Q2, 3 and4, you can then choose back it up to
   1. A "flash drive" - I just bought a 16GB for $30 delivered. Using one of these you will need back up software like StorageSync. It took about 2 hours to back up 10 gb. Then you backup DAILY (which takes only seconds)
   2. A portable hard drive (like Western Digital) that can hold 160 gb to 300 gb in a space a little larger than a deck of cards. These drives will include back up software.
   3. Online (internet sites) like Carbonite or MozyPro (typically they charge $0.50 per GB per month and you can access your data from anywhere in the world.

That's my two cents on this topic

 

[pjrose]

The "how-to" is basically to move or drag the files from point A (your hard drive) to point B (see VictorB's list).

The actual method for moving or dragging depends on whether you're using a Mac or PC, and which operating system.

Let us know the details, and then we'll tell you how.

 

[kpitch]

Would the drag and drop method be used if backing up the entire computer before reformatting it? Mine has been acting strange lately, possibly a virus, and instead of trying to find and remove the virus, I thought about starting over, but am afraid that I won't be able to properly backup all the contents of the hard drive, then reload it including the software. Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks,

Kathy

 

[GetawaysRus]

Hard drives do fail - I will attest to that. If you use your PC heavily, and have gone 7 years without a crash, then you've been fortunate.

Rebuilding a PC after a crash is a pain. If it's a hardware crash, the hard drive needs to be replaced (and that has happened to me) and then everything reloaded. If it is a software crash, sometimes the entire hard drive needs to be reformatted and everything reloaded (and that has also happened to me). It usually takes me nearly a full day to reload all of my software and get things functioning again the way I like.

You'll get a lot of different opinions about the best system for backing up. With each hard drive crash that I've had, I find myself adding more and more layers of protection. So after painfully learning my lesson several times, I now use 3 backup systems. (And there are still other possibilities than these.)
1. For files (documents and photos) only, I have a Western Digital Passport drive that I purchased at Costco. This is a pocket-sized external hard drive that comes with its own synchronization software. It is lightning fast at synchronizing document files from my hard drive to the Passport drive, keeping an up-to-date image of all my document files and photos. Although it is not difficult to use, it does require some setup, and could prove a bit confusing if you're not real computer-savvy. The Passport drive also allows me to keep an image of my work PC document files. That is useful because I can open one of the files from my work PC at home if I need to.
2. I also do a periodic backup to an external USB hard drive. External drives have gotten very cheap and they hold large amounts of information. With a full backup, you are backing up the entire hard drive rather than just your document files. I should be able restore everything from the backup the next time I crash this darn computer. I also purchased backup software for this task. After some research, I chose Acronis True Image. I bought it at: http://www.ugr.com/
I have no relationship to this website/seller other than I'm a customer because his price was pretty good. When I bought the software, it came with a "getting started" file from the seller. I just followed his simplified instructions and his recommended backup strategy to backup the entire hard drive. When not in use, I disconnect the external hard drive and keep it offsite in case of fire. I have Acronis set to do the backup and then verify that the backup is correct.
3. I own both a desktop and a laptop computer. I use software to synchronize these 2 computers. This keeps all of of the folders holding my documents and photos identical on both PCs. This is nice when I travel, since I can take along the laptop and I have all my files. And the last time I crashed my desktop's hard drive, I was able to restore all of my documents and photos from the laptop right back to the desktop PC.

What would I do if I could only use one of these approaches? Easy - I'd choose the full backup approach to an external hard drive using third party software such as Acronis and I would then place the external hard drive in a fire safe or keep it offsite when not in use.

One caveat: external hard drives currently run on USB 2. If your PC is 7 years old, do you even have a USB 2 port? I can't remember when the standard changed from USB 1 to USB 2.

 

[pjrose]

Would the drag and drop method be used if backing up the entire computer before reformatting it? Mine has been acting strange lately, possibly a virus, and instead of trying to find and remove the virus, I thought about starting over, but am afraid that I won't be able to properly backup all the contents of the hard drive, then reload it including the software.

Yes you can do it this way, BUT if you think there may be a virus, you won't want to copy the virus by mistake.

You really should run some anti-virus software. I'm not sure which ones are the latest and best, but check Symantec and check what OfficeMax, Staples, PCConnection.com or MacConnection.com recommend. If you get a "suite" of utilities, you will also get programs that will help speed up or optimize your hard drive, doing magical things like defragmenting your files - running all this stuff may make your computer seem like new!

When you back up, you could do everything at once - but it'll take forever, and do you really need stuff that you haven't accessed for years? Instead, carefully choose what you drag and drop (or copy with other methods).

• Do copy your own documents, photos, and so forth.
• Do check your mail software's instructions for backup - sometimes it's as easy as copying folders with names like inbox or outbox, sometimes you have to export your messages.
• Don't bother to copy the system and applications IF you have the original disks (as then you can reinstall clean versions). You may lose any special settings (e.g. your default fonts or margins), but you won't carry over the virus.

 

[Icarus]

Here's the thing about backups. If you have to do them manually, it won't happen and you won't have your data backed up when you really need it.

There are basically two methods I use together.

I use an online automatic backup service to save all my data files (no system files, no system image), and media files that I can't just easily download again from the source. I use sugarsync.com, and it's a paid service, and it works for me. You select the folders it should automatically backup, and the client just does it all the time, uploading files to the server as they appear, disappear, get moved or get created or get changed on your hard drive. It even keeps several versions of files if you want it to. I can access any of those files from anywhere in the world on any computer using a standard web browser. Typically, you would backup files on your desktop, anything under My Documents, etc, and things like quicken data files, etc, that might not live under My Documents. I also include My Pictures, itunes music libraries, etc, but no video. So I end up with all my critical data backed up on the web this way. If I lose the source computer, I still have all my critical data.

The second method is to get an external hard drive, a large one is preferable (where large is much larger than your c drive). and run a software program like Acronis True Image Home or even Norton Ghost (I'm sure there are others) or on a Mac, use the built in Time Machine software. Acronis and Norton Ghost let you make a boot CD that you can use for recovery. All of these programs let you create automatic unattended backup schedules, and they allow you to manage the amount of space dedicated to the backups. I do a monthly full backup and a weekly incremental backup. I exclude all media files from the backups, since they are all being backed up by sugarsync.com already, so the backups are relatively small compared to the size of the source disk and don't take that much time to create. Once you set it up, it all works unattended, but you should test the boot CD. You can restore a file, a folder or the entire disk using this method. The first time, you should do a manual full backup of everything (exclude nothing), so in case you miss a file, or other partitions on the disk, you can always restore those from the original full disk backup. Make sure you keep that backup separate from the regular monthly and weekly incremental backups.

Anyway, that's what works for me. Find something that works for you, and make sure you do it, automated if possible, and test it to make sure it works.

Of course, this is what works for me. I don't expect it to be the method that works for everybody. You have to develop a method that works for you and stick to it.

-David

 

[FLYNZ4]

Here's the thing about backups. If you have to do them manually, it won't happen and you won't have your data backed up when you really need it.

There are basically two methods I use together.

I use an online automatic backup service to save all my data files (no system files, no system image), and media files that I can't just easily download again from the source. I use sugarsync.com, and it's a paid service, and it works for me. You select the folders it should automatically backup, and the client just does it all the time, uploading files to the server as they appear, disappear, get moved or get created or get changed on your hard drive. It even keeps several versions of files if you want it to. I can access any of those files from anywhere in the world on any computer using a standard web browser. Typically, you would backup files on your desktop, anything under My Documents, etc, and things like quicken data files, etc, that might not live under My Documents. I also include My Pictures, itunes music libraries, etc, but no video. So I end up with all my critical data backed up on the web this way. If I lose the source computer, I still have all my critical data.

The second method is to get an external hard drive, a large one is preferable (where large is much larger than your c drive). and run a software program like Acronis True Image Home or even Norton Ghost (I'm sure there are others) or on a Mac, use the built in Time Machine software. Acronis and Norton Ghost let you make a boot CD that you can use for recovery. All of these programs let you create automatic unattended backup schedules, and they allow you to manage the amount of space dedicated to the backups. I do a monthly full backup and a weekly incremental backup. I exclude all media files from the backups, since they are all being backed up by sugarsync.com already, so the backups are relatively small compared to the size of the source disk and don't take that much time to create. Once you set it up, it all works unattended, but you should test the boot CD. You can restore a file, a folder or the entire disk using this method. The first time, you should do a manual full backup of everything (exclude nothing), so in case you miss a file, or other partitions on the disk, you can always restore those from the original full disk backup. Make sure you keep that backup separate from the regular monthly and weekly incremental backups.

Anyway, that's what works for me. Find something that works for you, and make sure you do it, automated if possible, and test it to make sure it works.

Of course, this is what works for me. I don't expect it to be the method that works for everybody. You have to develop a method that works for you and stick to it.

-David

I was using techniques very similar to David. My similar dual approach was:

1) Online backup using Mozy.com
2) Local full backup to a 2 TerraByte NAS RAID-5 storage array using EMC Retrospect Professional

I am so thrilled with Mozy that I stopped doing the local backup. I really do not think it is necessary. Mozy is $4.95/month for unlimted storage. It is cheaper if you pay by yearly. It is absolutely foolproof. It is EXTEMELY secure. It takes all of a couple of minutes to set up. Once set up, it works in the background and your online backup happens 1 - 12 times daily (your choice). This is a total no-brainer for me.

/Jim

 

[pjrose]

Here's the thing about backups. If you have to do them manually, it won't happen and you won't have your data backed up when you really need it.

Unfortunately for those of who very rarely bother with manual backups (regular or otherwise), you are correct, and I, for one, have done more than one time-consuming (and incomplete) manual file retrieval instead

So.... manual is ok if you want to make a duplicate of your photo collection, or all your stuff in a folder or two - but go with Icarus if you want to be sure that everything you use is backed up regularly! It'll also make it much easier to retrieve your files if(when) your hard drive(s) get fried.

 

[Jbart74]

...but go with Icarus if you want to be sure that everything you use is backed up regularly! It'll also make it much easier to retrieve your files if(when) your hard drive(s) get fried.

I agree with pjrose, and therein Icarus, that you should have an auto backup at all times. I just recently lost most of 15 years worth of work (design) related files because I knew I had an external hard drive. Funny, I'd be okay if I had actually manually USED it from time to time

I don't blame my computer I blame me for being so ridiculously :zzz:

JMHO as I try to recoup 1.5 decades worth (okay, that translates to ALL) of my career.... slowly.... thank God for Gmail and friends whom I've shared files with in the past!

You do NOT want to be where I am... (BTW... Thousands of family pictures, vacation pictures, Great Wall of China, etc... Gone forever :-(

Oh, my edit: YOUR HARD DRIVE WILL GET FRIED EVENTUALLY, I PROMISE!!!

 

[Icarus]

mozy looks similar to sugarsync, in that it only backs up your data files. Nothing wrong with that, but it isn't a full backup.

I was wondering how you would do a full restore over the network. That's why I looked at their website.

There's another one that's also similar .. carbonite.

sugarsync has some extra features that the others lack that may or not be of use to people, including using a single account with multiple computers, keeping certain files in sync between multiple computers, iphone integration, etc. The comparable plan to carbonite and mozy is $4.99/month or $49.99/year for 30GB, but it's good for use on multiple computers.

mozy and carbonite have the unlimited data plans for a single computer for about the same price.

They all pretty much work the same way. They backup data files only, and do it automatically. Some have better features than the others. One of them doesn't handle large files automatically. Look into each of them before you choose one. They all offer a free trial.

-David

 

[Htoo0]

But if, (like me) you only use your computer for internet access, storing digital photos, and perhaps making cards or write the occasional letter, then perhaps all you need is a flash drive or external hard drive and copy your photos and or cards you wish to save to it. I have an external hard drive and a 16GB flash drive. I copy new photos onto the flash drive right after loading them on the computer and eventually copy them onto the external hard drive. It would be better to do it all (and automatically) of course but I simply don't have anything on mine which would be devastating to lose.

 

[pjrose]

I don't blame my computer I blame me for being so ridiculously :zzz:

YOUR HARD DRIVE WILL GET FRIED EVENTUALLY, I PROMISE!!!

For years as a tecchie I advised people to back up....and I did it religiously myself when all it involved was a few floppy disks. I DO frequently make duplicates of important folders and files - but it's been haphazard.

Methinks it's about time to take my own advice Happily that'll involve upgrading my Mac so I can use Time Machine - yay

And irish - not to worry, you obviously aren't the only one who hasn't backed up!

 

[GetawaysRus]

About flash drives....

I used to use a flash drive for document storage. One day, my wife was sitting at my computer. I have a desk chair that swivels. She was talking on the phone, and swiveling back and forth in the desk chair. CRUNCH - she swiveled the back of the desk chair right into the flash drive and broke it.

Needless to say, I don't like to use flash drives any more. When I do pop one in, I am careful to remove it and not leave it in place where it might get muched.

 

[Icarus]

There's another online service I just heard about with an interesting pricing model:

http://www.jungledisk.com/index.aspx

They use Amazon S3 servers for the backups, which is pretty good.

Pricing is 15 cents per GB per month. They charge for bandwidth also, but it could be cheaper than the others. (It would be cheaper for me, with my usage patterns, I believe. Not sure about the bandwidth.)

-David

 

[pwrshift]

I just use an external hard drive (1TB for $165) and downloaded Second Copy to set it up and it does all the backups automatically - never have to worry about it. I gives a mirror image of your main drive or you can select the areas you want to backup. There's a free trial you can try first and if you like it $30 is the price.

http://www.secondcopy.com/

Brian

 

[FLYNZ4]

mozy looks similar to sugarsync, in that it only backs up your data files. Nothing wrong with that, but it isn't a full backup.

I was wondering how you would do a full restore over the network. That's why I looked at their website.

There's another one that's also similar .. carbonite.

sugarsync has some extra features that the others lack that may or not be of use to people, including using a single account with multiple computers, keeping certain files in sync between multiple computers, iphone integration, etc. The comparable plan to carbonite and mozy is $4.99/month or $49.99/year for 30GB, but it's good for use on multiple computers.

mozy and carbonite have the unlimited data plans for a single computer for about the same price.

They all pretty much work the same way. They backup data files only, and do it automatically. Some have better features than the others. One of them doesn't handle large files automatically. Look into each of them before you choose one. They all offer a free trial.

-David

Carbonite is indeed another good company. I personally chose Mozy because it is a subsidiary of EMC which probably has the best reputation in the storage industry. Both are probably good... I went with the brand name.

I also have a 2TB RAID5 NAS array in the house and I have EMC retrospect professional. This gives full bare metal restore. It is very complex and cumbersome to use... but probably the most industrial strength backup solution available. In the end... I decided that bare metal restore has essentially zero value for me... so I shut off Retrospect and rely 100% on Mozy. I decided that if my hard drive crashes... or if a virus wipes it out... then I really do not need bare metal restore. Rebuilding (or replacing an older machine) is not difficult. Replacing the data is what is hard. I sleep better at night knowing that my backup data it is automatically stored safely offsite.

/Jim

 

[FLYNZ4]

I just use an external hard drive (1TB for $165) and downloaded Second Copy to set it up and it does all the backups automatically - never have to worry about it. I gives a mirror image of your main drive or you can select the areas you want to backup. There's a free trial you can try first and if you like it $30 is the price.

http://www.secondcopy.com/

Brian

This was my very first backup attempt. The problem is that if the house burns... or if the neighborhood junkie does a smash and grab... the external drive probably disapears with the computer.

/Jim

 

[FLYNZ4]

But if, (like me) you only use your computer for internet access, storing digital photos, and perhaps making cards or write the occasional letter, then perhaps all you need is a flash drive or external hard drive and copy your photos and or cards you wish to save to it. I have an external hard drive and a 16GB flash drive. I copy new photos onto the flash drive right after loading them on the computer and eventually copy them onto the external hard drive. It would be better to do it all (and automatically) of course but I simply don't have anything on mine which would be devastating to lose.

The digital photos are the single piece of data on my computer that simply cannot be replaced. Some might be hard... like my music collection... but ultimately, the photos are unique to me. Having an automated backup for my photos is worth the price of Mozy all by itself.

Prior to Mozy... I manually backed them up to a second hard drive, and wrote new DVDs each year that I stored off-site. It was a pain in the neck... and I never did it as often as I thought I would.

/Jim

 

[Jan]

ClickFree--any good?

I too don't know any of the technical stuff but I saw on QVC an item called ClickFree which is about the size of a small digital camera and it does an automatic back-up. It holds 250GB and you can use it with multiple computers. Just need to plug it into the back of your computer and it automatically backs it up. It sells for about $122. Anyone use one of those? It sounds so simple. Jan

 

[FLYNZ4]

I too don't know any of the technical stuff but I saw on QVC an item called ClickFree which is about the size of a small digital camera and it does an automatic back-up. It holds 250GB and you can use it with multiple computers. Just need to plug it into the back of your computer and it automatically backs it up. It sells for about $122. Anyone use one of those? It sounds so simple. Jan

1) You have to hook it up in order to backup and if you use it for multiple computers, then by definition it is not automatic
2) If your house burns, your backup data goes up in flames
3) If your neighborhood tweeker does a smash and grab... your backup leaves with your computer.

/Jim

 

[caribbeansun]

+1 using:

1) Carbonite
2) External drive with automatic backups run nightly

I made the conscience decision to only backup data as well as the downloaded program install files for the sake of speed. I can easily run using my laptop for a week or so as long as I have the data which would be very difficult to replace.

I'd considered doing the NAS so that I could backup my media PC as well but opted for the USB as a quick solution when my previous drive imploded - I will likely switch over to a NAS in the new year.

I was using techniques very similar to David. My similar dual approach was:

1) Online backup using Mozy.com
2) Local full backup to a 2 TerraByte NAS RAID-5 storage array using EMC Retrospect Professional

I am so thrilled with Mozy that I stopped doing the local backup. I really do not think it is necessary. Mozy is $4.95/month for unlimted storage. It is cheaper if you pay by yearly. It is absolutely foolproof. It is EXTEMELY secure. It takes all of a couple of minutes to set up. Once set up, it works in the background and your online backup happens 1 - 12 times daily (your choice). This is a total no-brainer for me.

/Jim

 

[FLYNZ4]

I made the conscience decision to only backup data as well as the downloaded program install files for the sake of speed.

When I have a program that I downloaded... I put it in a "download" folder which resides in "my documents". Hence... all of that gets backed up by Mozy (or in your case, carbonite).

I have heard reasonably good reports on Carbonite as well, but I have not researched it in detail. I bought Mozy mostly because they are owned by EMC. I do know that if I lost my data, that Mozy will fed-ex me DVD of my data if I requested it. I thought that was pretty slick.

/Jim