[hi-de-hi]

After reading PetNanny's post about losing 8yrs of work, it has made me want to get my backups sorted.

At the moment I'm using the facility in Windows XP to back up my C drive to an external hard drive, but because I've not managed to successfully set the scheduler, I have been relying on memory to do it (wrong I know).

I would like to schedule daily back ups of my C drive so I don't have to remember to do it, and also make a direct copy of some program data that I use daily and would like to be able to access quickly if I accidentally mess up the version on my C drive...the trouble is that I don't know what type of back up to choose - the options I have are normal, copy, incremental, differential and daily. From the one line description of each type, there doesn't appear to be much different between incremental and differential, so which one is the best one for me to choose?

Would be grateful for help pleeeeeease...

[Indizine]

I use Carbonite $50 a year (£25 approx)

Ive got a loink if you want me to add your name and they will email you the details.

[Fuzzy]

I use an external HD, bought from Simon......easy peasy

[Martin-Subbynet]

It sounds to me like many of you are not truly backing up properly. Remember the point of the exercise is not "backing up", but "Disaster Recovery".

Here's a test for you to follow - First off, assume your PC has just crashed, completely died, and the only option is to reinstall.

Now - from this, time yourself on how long it takes to:

1) Reinstall the operating system (Even finding the disk, making sure no scratches, serial number to hand... And that you have all the drivers required)
2) Setup the network (VPN's for example)
3) Install all your required Applications. (Again knowing where the disk/serial numbers are located, and that the disks work fine)
4) To then restore all your backed up files. (If they're held "on-line", how quickly can you get them back?)

Basically to get yourself back to where you are now, whatever your set-up.

Ideally this shouldn't take you longer than 1 1/2hour max, because if a customer is waiting on you, you cannot afford for that machine to be off-line an entire afternoon.

You should really be "Slipstreaming" all the Windows Updates, Drivers, and Applications into a single Windows Image, so that when you install, everything is reinstalled at the same time. (And much quicker!)

Never forget, one backup is no backup. You should have 3 or more! Keeping a recent (quickly accessible) back-up but also archived versions, hopefully with one also kept off-site in case of fire.

If you want even greater piece of mind, its also worth investing in a RAID set-up in case one of your hard drives meets a premature end.

[Kent Tiger]

Originally Posted by hi-de-hi

From the one line description of each type, there doesn't appear to be much different between incremental and differential, so which one is the best one for me to choose?

Incremental records changes since the last backup, differential records changes since the last *full* backup. Differential is probably your best bet if your full backups are intermittent.

Do think about online backup, it removes the risks of fire and theft and also provides redundancy - ie more than one backup copy. Fuller info on backup methods and risks here.

[impression_internet]

Hi Indizine. Thanks for the tip about Carbonite, looks really good. I like the idea of it running in the background. No excuses if I forget to back up that way!

Just starting my free trial of it to test it out!

Cheers

[CPLTD]

always research before you buy though Carbonite Problems and Carbonite Review

but nobody is perfect

[Beneddie1112]

How about saving onto several flash drives and keeping them in seperate places? It's what I do for all my important info and documents,

Cheers,
Ben

[hi-de-hi]

Thanks for all the replies...

[MSC]

Would it be a good idea to have something like carbonite and an external hd?? I just use an external hd but I always forget to do it, and I only backup files.