Backup Software - Comments Page 1

I use an external hd to store all of my documents, photos, music, videos. I access these files by shortcuts to My Pictures, My Documents, My Music. This way I keep these files away from the OS should it become corrupt and unrepairable.

So far I haven't had any problem with viruses getting to them. Is it still possible for a virus to penetrate my external hard drive? Can a firewall be used to protect them from unauthorized infiltration?

I use Karen's replicator: http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptreplicator.asp. Basically, you pick the host dir, and the remote dir, set a time, and it keeps both dirs in sync. I only backup my personal files. I'm not worried about all the system files as I can always insert the original windows disks and start over fresh if I need to.

I use Seagate Free Agent. But since it doesn't copy all file (with odd extensions that are system generated) it always shows a red flag saying the back up failed. When I look at the log, it copied the files I needed it to copy but not these system generated files. I don't like that about this FreeAgent product.

Well...I think M$ finally got it right. Windows 7 has a nifty backup program that images, backsup, and restores fairly quick. Lets you create a start up boot disk also. It sees all partitions and can back up every thing on a schedule or when you want.

Your backup information is very wise. One problem with Seagate and Linksys. You can not use it for a Network Router backup. First for Linksys WRT610N you have to reformat it to FATS and then you can only drag and drop to it. Windows or any other B/U software can not find it. I have had many conversations with Seagate and Linksys about this but no solutions.

Thanks

Genie has now released TimeLine which backs up on a continuous basis, BUT it really slows down email so I just turn it on when I leave the computer. It backs up what has changed since the last backup. I'm using it with a 500 GB WD BOOK external drive.

A free, one-way back-up program I use is Yadis from http://www.codessentials.com/products/yadisbackup.html. It works away in the background in real-time. Any document changes are instantly carried out to the back-up (there is an option to monitor deletions as well) or if a designated destination is temporarily unavailable (on a network for instance) it carries on when it's back up. Can't argue with the price!
Of course, an off-site back-up should also be considered for important files in case of a major disaster such as a fire, or has happened recently of course, earthquake or similar.

For the last few years, I've used robocopy to back up multiple machines across the network to an external hdd shared off one of the machines. The batch file that runs it keeps the last 10 log files by rotating them. Here are the parameters I use in case anyone is interested... /NP /E /PURGE /XF c:\pagefile.sys /XD C:\RECYCLER /XD C:\System Volume Information /R:0 /LOG:c:\mirror.log

Online backup works well also. I use Mozy and have had a few occasions to use it to retrieve lost data. A couple of months ago I tried to open a file with Word, which (for no apparent reason) opened the file, crashed, and destroyed the file. Within about 5 minutes I was able to retrieve the previous day's copy from Mozy and get back to work.

You can never be too young, handsome or have too many backups! (heh!). A good strategy is to combine file based, (windows backup) , with image (Ghost or True image) and supplement it with off-site backup in case there is some catastrophe at the computer location