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It's past time for people (if your computer is important to you) to get religion about backups, and more precisely, disk images. Having spent much of my career running desktop support programs at a major university and other businesses, I can't possibly count on my fingers and toes the number of times equipment dies, and it's often senior management who are most dependent on it. Most of us don't have the luxury of owning hot spares for everything, so there are some key strategies to use.
External hard drives -- USB or Firewire, with a gig of space and actually try to restore something to ensure your backups are good. Rotating hardware for backups is also good as that gives you multiple choices of what to go back to if needed. BTW, the drives are cheap, and as they suffer failures, the multiples being rotated give you the best chance for a full recovery.
Disk Imaging/Backup software -- we use SuperDuper for our Mac, but there are many.
Good work habits -- USE the above items regularly.
Windows machines -- AV (anti-virus), malware, and such, and do the system updates regularly, but a few days after release. System Restore points are a life-saver.
If you've the luxury of a backup computer, keep it up to date and functioning! Use it and don't expect it to work if its been stuffed on a shelf untouched for a year.
Cool local company for Mac support: Tropic Mac!
Purchase extended support for your computers -- NO company uses anything but cheap components. I wouldn't walk out of the Apple Store without Applecare. Didn't used to be that way, but quality of components has gone down everywhere. $199 is cheap for an extra 2 years!
Jane
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quote:
Originally posted by janeadams
...NO company uses anything but cheap components...
You sure are right about that, and that is why I have not bought a new computer since 1995! My computer guy built one for me back than, and he upgrades it every year!
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On the backup topic. I backup my desktop that I use for business using an additional brand new 500GB internal drive. I backup The computer's internal 250GB drive that has the Operating System on it making an image using Acronis. Also, I copy my documents folder to the additional internal drive. I do this just in case I don't need to restore the entire drive. After backing up my entire computer drive to the additional internal drive I backup my business and important websites to the additional internal drive. The company that manages my server for me also keeps backups of my websites. Then I copy the entire contents of the additional internal drive to my 500GB external drive. Redundancy is key to be able to restore what you lost.
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and always wear a condom while surfing the net - grin
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Dave,
You pointed out my error... our backup externals are 500 GB each, not what I said in my original post. Sounds like you've got a good strategy going as well! We keep a local copy of our website on our laptop, so it's all part of the backup strategy. Never ever want to have to re-do that work!
Jane
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I don't even leave my office without copying what I worked on that day to an external HD and also TAKING IT WITH ME on a flash drive. Then, do periodical backups on CD. I don't back up software as I have the orig. disks. I had terrible troubles with anti-virus software years ago and rely on gmail to catch what's bad in any attachment - they are terrific at it. Then again, I don't have THAT much work to back up!
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quote:
Originally posted by konadave
On the backup topic.
Dave, my computer guy of 15 years set up a very similar system for me, so that proves you and him both know what you are doing! [  ][ ][ ] My whole computer is backed up every day of the week without overriding the previous day backup for one week, and my most important files are backed up into a SanDisk every day and travel home with me!
Aloha,
John S. Rabi, GM,PB,ABR,CRB,CM,FHS
888.819.9669
johnrabi@johnrabi.com
http://www.JohnRabi.com
Typically Tropical Properties
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(This is what I think of the Kona Board of Realtors http://KonaBoardOfRealtors.info)
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To take it one step further. there are fire resistant and waterproof safes that hold external hard drives and connect via a built in fire rated USB wire so your backup hard drive can be protected from fire and water damage while still connected to your computer. You wont believe how many people go to great lengths by backing up their data only for it to be destroyed in a fire.
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quote:
Originally posted by Royall
Well the HDD is DEAD..... RIP. Now I have to get my old Desktop up to speed to take it's place for a while. The one program I need is an old version of Microsoft Money. If anyone has a copy I could borrow/buy I'd really appreciate it. I know MS Money is no longer supported but I still use it because I know it well and don't feel like having to learn another program.
Thanks,
Royall
Money is not only no longer supported, it's no longer sold. Microsoft does, however, provide a 'Sunset' version of Money Plus which is free, requires no activation, does not expire and will open your current Money data file. The only drawback is the fact that there are no longer any online services available - online banking, stock quotes, etc. You can download it here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=60302e1e-207e-4710-ac80-d19c22e47488&displaylang=en
aloha,
Gene
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Thanks Gene! I did find my "lost" copy of MMplus that I was using. I don't use any of the extras just the the check register. As long as I can keep this copy going, it will serve me just fine!
Hope you make it over with mella next time Gene!
Merry Christmas to you both
Royall
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