How do you back up your computer and how often do you do it?

[Genesis]

I was just wondering. What does any one else do here to back up their computer files? Do you use the backup feature that is provided with your computer? How many of us do it to Cloud or external hard disks or CD's? And how often do you make the backups? Are you on a scheduled backup routine?

Although I'm very good with backing up my Websites and scanning my computer for threats on a regular maintenance schedule, tonight is the first time I backed up my computer since last year in May when it was new. I've been meaning to do it for a very long while, but procrastination became a permanent habit. So this morning I was really resolved to do it when I get home tonight. I had 1 terrabyte external hard disk waiting for me. And then something interesting happened. When I turned on my computer, Windows didn't want to load. For the first time since I've had the computer. Are we on the same wavelength or what?

Anyway, Windows 7 seems to be good at correcting errors. And I just followed what it suggested when I retried a second time. It gave me a choice to search for a previous version that worked OK, took a few minutes and what a relief when it was up and running again. During those few minutes I was really hitting myself over the head, has to be one of the silliest things NOT to make regular backups - particularly when new Websites are being developed. My last real backup of files was last May just before I changed from one computer to another and of the old computer files. So first thing I did when I was up and running again was to get out my brand-new 1 Terabyte external Seagate hard disk and did a complete backup of my computer. I first did it with the Windows backup system. And I'm now making my own separate backup of individual folders. In effect doubling up on the backup. I probably should have got two external hard disks of lesser size instead, but will do so during the next week so I have the same backup on two external hard disks that I will store in two separate locations.

I thought I had a lot of stuff on my computer, but turned out I only have 25GB including software. Must say however if I would have lost the last year's work on my new computer I'd have been crying buckets tonight.

 

[strokerace]

Never, not worth it. Its more of a hassle then what its worth. You could use ghost to clone your complete hard, but that gets to be a pain if you even do it monthly. Yes, even if you use USB drives to do it. They seem to have a higher fail rate then scratched DVD's. I have lost 3 in the last 2 years. I also loose a HD once a year.

But some will say otherwise.

 

[Genesis]

Never, not worth it. Its more of a hassle then what its worth. You could use ghost to clone your complete hard, but that gets to be a pain if you even do it monthly. Yes, even if you use USB drives to do it. They seem to have a higher fail rate then scratched DVD's. I have lost 3 in the last 2 years. I also loose a HD once a year.

But some will say otherwise.

Ahhh thanks. That makes me feel better! I'm not the only one.

 

[neotrip]

I religiously use Acronis for bare metal backups. Also they offer a universal restore feature which is AMAZING!

Basically you setup an easy backup routine daily, weekly, monthly, etc. it creates the first backup and then adds to it each time. This stops you from having tons of HD space eaten up with backups. Now the real genius is the universal restore feature. This will take the backup you made, strip out all the windows drivers, and let you restore it to ANY computer. So you are easily covered also if the house burns down, or if you have full system failure.

 

[Genesis]

Sounded awesome until I checked it out. Quite a hefty price tag attached to it though.

 

[neotrip]

When I purchased my copy it was on sale at the "EGG" for $49.95 and came with universal restore free. If you aren't running a server, the price isn't too painful.

 

[agentsky]

For me, just use google drive to save my files. I don't back up my computer anayway since it would take hard disk space and a lot of it for sure. After the backup you aren't even sure if its really working.

 

[rockforlife]

I never back up my laptop, BUT I save all my files on a PowerEdge server that is running Raid... so there's that

 

[amh]

i backup my important data by syncing to cloud , for complete drive clone/image, i use windows default tool..

 

[Tytoowns]

i dont back up my computer, just importand files. i use Google drive and a USB drive and only back them up when i update the.

 

[Barnum4000]

Nowadays a lot of what you buy or do online is usually stored on a server for you to download again in case you need to. Like downloading apps from Google play or iTunes and games from steam. If you have anything that is very serious and private then that should be backed up. Any photos and documents you create are often stored on the cloud or drive for free so your data nowadays is quite easy to recover now.

 

[mar6]

For movies and pictures and important stuff i use external hdd. And for system cloning i use clonezilla. Its free. If virus or something messes up pc, then it is much easier just restore image.

Sorry for bad english.

 

[drxgrey]

Weww, talking about backing up the whole hardisk when it comes to getting a new ones. For most importants part like movies and stuff I usually stored em in my portable hardisk.

 

[Genesis]

One thing I learned in a BIG WAY over the last few days is about automatic backups. Don't assume they're OK, even when they have happened and they're on cron. Particularly if you think you've made them to a remote server that is not part of the server where you made the backups from. The backups have to be generated on the original server, so if there is something wrong with the disk where the original material is being copied from, and the system has a hiccup in it, and you don't actually check the end product, you will NEVER know that your backups are not really coming through on the remote end.

I'm back to old fashioned backups. Quick and easy to make in my cpanel, download to the hard disk of my computer. And backup to an external disk again. And CHECK the backup is really there. I don't only use the Windows backup tool, but in addition I go for my most important drives and make copies of the directories.

 

[drxgrey]

One thing I learned in a BIG WAY over the last few days is about automatic backups. Don't assume they're OK, even when they have happened and they're on cron. Particularly if you think you've made them to a remote server that is not part of the server where you made the backups from. The backups have to be generated on the original server, so if there is something wrong with the disk where the original material is being copied from, and the system has a hiccup in it, and you don't actually check the end product, you will NEVER know that your backups are not really coming through on the remote end.

I'm back to old fashioned backups. Quick and easy to make in my cpanel, download to the hard disk of my computer. And backup to an external disk again. And CHECK the backup is really there. I don't only use the Windows backup tool, but in addition I go for my most important drives and make copies of the directories.

Absolutely! Always backup all the importants data and keep the disks well. I remembered back when one of my backup disk was broken and I couldnt boot it anymore

 

[bertje]

Hello all,
I make a difference in the data I back up.
Our house got robbed and they took everything, from everything with a plug to even clothes.
Lucky me they did not take my HD with personal family videos and pictures of our family. But from now own I do the following.

I have three 3 TB HD's, two are at home at different locations in the house and one is at my parents house. All are connected to raspberry pi servers. I sync them once a week automatically. They all contain personal media, because the data is more then normal I do not upload to clouds because of recurring expenses. The one at my parents is to separate risk of loosing the media again during unwanted visitors or fire.
My non media data is stored in two online clouds (google drive and onedrive) (and also on my three drives).
Happy to share.

 

[Genesis]

@"bertje"

Looks as though your priorities and the robbers' priorities are different. One of the most entertaining robber stories I've read! :heartylaugh:

 

[tornado]

Backups are a headache. I try to backup my Laptop whenever I have the time for it but nowadays I have tired. I just backup my important files on Amazon Cloud Drive.

 

[Genesis]

Ha! Reminds me I've got some backing up to do on my home computer. I've been very busy with creating things and making backups of all of my Websites. Will make a date this weekend. I do both. Do the big backup the Dell way, as well as copy the directories I use the most to external hard disks. Two of them.

 

[ValueError]

Never, not worth it. Its more of a hassle then what its worth.

Wow, this made my day. No worth it? My HDD crashed two days AFTER (thankfully) I finished my master degree. If it was two days BEFORE I would have studied a year longer... I did not have any backup, because - guess what - I thought it wasn`t worth it...
Possibility of losing couple of months of your work totally justifies making a backup every week! And when you actually lose something - and I`m not talking about mp3s or movies you download from torrent - you would apprieciate a couple of minutes (cause that`s what it takes to start copying files) "wasted".
I have two (!) external HHDs and cloud service to store documents and notes as well as git a repository for code. If I lost my PhD materials now I would probably have to run to another country (scholarship and grant money had to be returned). So, yeah. It`s not worth it.