How do you backup your PC's?

[Razorguns]

Like a FULL backup?

I have so much important shit on my PC that a hardware failure would be sooo time consuming to rebuilding it all backup, install apps, copy files, blah blah blah.

Right now I just do weekly backups to a DVDRW using Windows Backup of important file locations.

I want to buy a external usb 750gig HD, and then use Vista to do a complete backup of the o/s and files.

Is that what you geeks suggest? And I assume if the computer takes a dive. You reinstall Vista, and then 'restore' from that external HD.

I might have to go to Best Buy and talk to the Geek Squad guys. How embarassing.

r

 

[AAP]

I dump all my porn into the IOMEGA external HD>

 

[puddlemonkey]

Backing up your comp is for the y2k basement dwellers. Live a little. Pussies.

 

[Razorguns]

That Seagate 500GB freeagent pro thing looks interesting. It's real fast it says, vista compatible - and you hook it up, and it backs up your entire system overnight. I also want to use it to backup my laptop.

I'm not sure what would happen if say the computer crapped or hd crashed or whatever. If it would be real easy and fast to restore.

I want to setup a weekly full backup thing or maybe incremental where it only copies over changed files or something. I know during my 9-5 IT days they all used a myriad of automated softwares and hardware, since shit changes almost every year - so not sure what's the best now.

r

 

[canadianhitman]

I have a terrabyte external HD that I use for backup.

 

[Razorguns]

I have a terrabyte external HD that I use for backup.

you just do everything manually, or it came w/software? is it firewire and fast?

r

 

[canadianhitman]

I do the stuff I really need manual, which isn't too bad if you're good with organizing your folders. It's firewire, and pretty quick.

 

[hanselthecaretaker]

Like a FULL backup?

I have so much important shit on my PC that a hardware failure would be sooo time consuming to rebuilding it all backup, install apps, copy files, blah blah blah.

Right now I just do weekly backups to a DVDRW using Windows Backup of important file locations.

I want to buy a external usb 750gig HD, and then use Vista to do a complete backup of the o/s and files.

Is that what you geeks suggest? And I assume if the computer takes a dive. You reinstall Vista, and then 'restore' from that external HD.

I might have to go to Best Buy and talk to the Geek Squad guys. How embarassing.

r

I'm assuming you at least use a smaller drive for the OS and a larger capacity drive exclusively for storage (RAID or not). That way when your OS takes a dump all you'll have to do is reinstall it/programs, with all your personal valuables still intact in its own little corner of your case. Lot less expensive and more efficient than an external solution too.

 

[mrplunkey]

I have a 1TB Raid array downstairs in the basement. It's wired directly to the network so the disk is a resource shared by various computers in the house.

 

[Cutiebaby]

Backing up your comp is for the y2k basement dwellers. Live a little. Pussies.

LMFAO

Good answer

 

[rsnoble-im-back]

With a new one every 2 years.

 

[Raptorex]

get an external USB hard drive bro, problem solved.

 

[mrplunkey]

Holy hell! This thread got me thinking about doing systematic backups. Have you seen Apple's "Time Machine" utility? This thing is amazing. Pick a network drive, click. done. Each computer on the network gets hourly backups for each 24 hours, daily backups for the past month and weekly backups until the disk is full.

Mac wins again!

 

[hanselthecaretaker]

Holy hell! This thread got me thinking about doing systematic backups. Have you seen Apple's "Time Machine" utility? This thing is amazing. Pick a network drive, click. done. Each computer on the network gets hourly backups for each 24 hours, daily backups for the past month and weekly backups until the disk is full.

Mac wins again!

Is it just for networks though........and is the backup space recycled or does it store each backup on top of the previous ones, using up unnecessary space?

Windows still pwns for sheer variety of solutions available.

 

[mrplunkey]

Is it just for networks though........and is the backup space recycled or does it store each backup on top of the previous ones, using up unnecessary space?

Windows still pwns for sheer variety of solutions available.

It fills the disk with backups and starts deleting weekly backups as it needs space for fresh ones.

 

[Razorguns]

Yeah I'm probably gonna just buy a huge firewire drive, and then use the software it comes up with to auto-backup files (incremental) every few days overnight.

I may do a complete o/s backup. Only cuz if my hd took a dive, i got sooo many applications, customized, configured, links, shortcuts, it would take me weeks to do a new install and get it up 100% back up to what it is (i do music, visual fx, 3d, sound mastering, graphics, small business stuff, business letters, blah blah blah all on one machine).

But in reality - i'm gonna make a huge document explaining everything on my system, how it's configured, where everything goes, where all the utils I need to dl are located, etc. So it'll be much easier to do a complete rebuild if i have to. I just have to ensure my critical data gets backed up every couple of days. I just now have to find a good low-cost and fast and best external storage device now!

r

 

[mrplunkey]

I wish I could show you guys the "Time Machine" screen. When you click on it, it pushes your screen down and slides a new screen in place. It shows your hard drive directories in a Mac folder (i.e. desktop, documents, users, etc. etc.) -- but they are stacked on top of each other. So you see: "Today at 7:05". Scroll to the next one and it says: "Today at 6:05", etc. etc. Its like freeze-frames of your computer stacked on top of each other. I could see myself accidentally overwriting a file and wanting to scroll an hour or so back to get the original.

I'm impressed!