Battle of the Backups: Guide to backing up your data and software review

[Lincoln]

Read profdlp's guide to backing up your data and review of two backup software products (http://www.short-media.com/review.php?r=309), just published on Short-Media.
Everyone should have a backup plan for their data. We outline a good backup strategy for most home users and compare two programs that could simplify and automate the task.
Human nature being what it is, the easier it is for you to regularly do a comprehensive backup of your data the more likely it will be that you’ll do it. The next part of this article will explore two different programs which can automate the task to a large extent, increasing the odds that should misfortune strike it will be merely a nuisance – and not an unrecoverable calamity.
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[gtghm]

Excellent article :thumbsup:

[lemonlime]

Awesome article prof! I'm going to be rethinking my strategies! :cheers:

[IndigoRed]

Mate! Do I need this info! I've just been put in charge of IT for my workplace. There is no plan. There is no back up... nothing.
Friday a piece of equipment had a power outage that knocked out the hdd holding all the data for that machine. Guess what?...

The company's server? 2x 30gb hdd in a raid, completely full and totally fragmented (red from side to side!!!) It gets a daily backup to a 4gb tape. No full back-up to be seen...
This crash and guess where they're looking...?
:eek:

#1. You rock! :headbange

#2. I'm in da sh*t (for a while anyway...)

Oh, and their response to the urgent need for a server upgrade? (even after this crash...)? Let's see if we can wait til the new financial year...

Go figger...

[Esso]

The problem with backup and Mr Murphy, is that he knows exactly when and were he is going to attack.
And if you know it before hand, that you are without backup !
It makes it even more temping for Murphy to hit you hard.

Well done, prof.

[UCCOFFEE]

I have got "invalid RAID set" for my RAID 1 drive set after power failure...
this is how I fixed it...

-> unplug one SATA HDD
-> delete mirror set
-> buy a new HDD and plug it in
-> run WINDOWS XP
-> create partition / format the new HDD
-> use FINALDATA 2.0 -> recover data to new HDD
-> **** check the recovered data ****
-> Shut down WINDOWS XP
-> plug 2nd SATA HDD back
-> delete mirror set
-> create mirror set
-> run WINDOWS XP **** last chance to check the covered data ****
-> create partition / format on the mirror set
-> cut and paste data from new HDD to mirror set
-> low level format new HDD
-> Shut down WINDOWS XP
-> unplug new HDD and sell it on ebay .

Some people said, delete the mirror set and recreate it might work.
But it looks too risky for me...
And when the 300G RAID set dies, need to invest another 300G HDD to recover the data ...
So, I m thinking should I just use schedule backup software to backup the 300G drive weekly and not using the mirror RAID ... both seems unreliable, and need to spend $ to buy new HDD when there's a failure...

[QCH]

I just went back and looked at this article, Prof. Very good info there. I need to recommend a backup solution for two separate customers and I think Cobian Backup is the answer. Thanks!!!! :thumbsup:

Off to recommend an external HD and a DVD Burner!!!! :D