I run an extra internal HD for just such occassions. Fried my main HD two weeks ago - was VERY luck to get most of the files I wanted onto the new one. Now I make sure to keep all of my file in the "My Documents" folder and then I run a briefcase on the extra drive. At least once a week I sync the briefcase - If I lose the OS, no big deal - I have the disk. I can always reload the OS and programs, but re-collecting my 2000+ song music collection would be a P-I-T-A. A used HD can be bought on Ebay pretty cheap.

 

That is true. It will find the hardware, but you still NEVER want to do this. There is always a possiblility that some drivers are still in use with no device. Wierd things happen when you do something like this. It works ok, and if your lucky it won't screw up. It is just bad practice. This would be like taking a 2nd gen 24v motor and putting it in a 3rd gen while using the new ECM and cp3 pump. They both are relatively the same but not enough to work correctly. (and other stuff as you guys well know).

 

USB drives fail way to often to depend on as backup.

Norton Ghost and another harddrive stored in a fire safe is the only way for me.

 

Everything fails eventually. The trick is to have enough redundancy that the inevitable failures are recoverable.

My server has 5 hard disks. The system drive is 2 8GB SCSI drives in Raid 1 mirror. My data drives are 3x250 GB SATA in Raid 5.

I could add a hot spare to the Raid 5 array without much trouble.

I use a 250 GB USB drive for backup incase the system has a meltdown which isn't very likely.

For the avarage system, it's very easy nowadays to build a Raid 1 or Raid 5 array with SATA drives which is VERY solid but you still need a backup in case you get a virus or some other unforseen disaster.

Raid 5 is faster also because of striping and the ability to elevator seek... read/write to one drive while the others are seeking. Raid 1 can do the same thing just not as well.

You can also do things like clustering and virtualizing. It all depends on how much money you got to spend.

Edwin

 

I bought a 250 gig, USB external hard drive to do my backups. I didn't like their software, so I decided to use NTBACKUP until I found out you had to have a floppy drive. Of course, the first store-bought PC I've had in 15 years does not have a floppy. Niether does my new laptop, so I guess I'll buy an external floppy.

I have used Norton Ghost in the past, but when it's loaded on the hard drive it seems to slow the system down. I may try to run it from the cd and see how that works.

 

First thing I do is to move My Documents out of the {C:\Documents & Settings\Jim\My Documents} folder and into the C drive as {C:\ My Documents}
Because if you have to reinstall your OS for any reason, first thing it does is overwrite the My Documents folder and you will lose all of your data.
I have 4,270 files invoices in one folder and would be sick if I lost them.

For general backup I installed a 400 Gb Seagate HD in an external USB / Firewire case. Then it is easy to use Windows Explorer in a double pane window and simply copy and paste files, folders even drives onto the external drive.
I also just put together a 2.5" 100Gb Seagate laptop drive for a smaller backup I can put on my briefcase. These are nice because they are powered by the USB, only bad thing with this is there is not much cooling for the drive but it is portable.
Norton Ghost is also a must.
Jim

 

Doesn't anyone else just back up to their print server?

 

Thanks guys for the answers so far. The picture I am getting is that Norton Ghost is a must but where to go from there is apparantly a bit fuzzy due to too many options available. Perhaps I should add one more thing to the problem; I am not a computer geek. I know my way around the technical side of a computer in a general sort of way, but an expert I am not, so therefore need a system that even I can figure out how to install and operate, which is why a USB connection sounded nice.
I have another computer in the same room with about 50 Ghz of free space on the HD. Why can't I move all my info on to that HD and use that as a backup? That computer is presently conected to the same router as this computer. Would this be safe to do? If I can do that, then the question is, how? Presume that I will still need Norton Ghost.

 

you can network the two and move files across the network at whatever the network speed is, likely 100 meg or less, USB2 is much faster. If you run software that copies everything once and then only copies what changes it will be alot less back and forth. There are plenty of 3rd party sftware products to go this, do to ZDnet.com and do some reading. If you arent a computer geek, then fooling aroiund with the registry isnt smart, try to find a simple solution. I went to office depot and got the drive and the software and was backing up in less thatn 1/2 hour for under 100$
Whats right for some who tinker isnt right for all who just want to git-r-done....

 

Think outside the box. Backups arent ONLY to protect you against your harddrive failing or logical damage. Thats only ONE of the many ways to lose your data.

Do you think if someone breaks into your house, they will leave both your PC's there? Probably not. Do you think they would leave behind that external harddrive sitting on top of your PC? Nope.

Fire in the house? It doesnt know which computer has all your data on it, it doesnt care...

Electrical surge? Yep, all your hardware is fried now.

Whatever you backup to, store elsewhere in a fire safe.. HD, CD's, or DVD's.. have a fire safe somewhere that you can toss it in, thats not easy to be stolen/burnt/etc.

Like Edwin said, "It all depends on how much money you got to spend."