Posted on 01/18/2010 3:51:38 AM PST by SWAMPSNIPER
Just a few months ago my old computer reached the point where duct tape wouldn't help. My plan of having multiple drives didn't work, 2 out of 3 blew out with the rest of the package.
My new computer came with Vista which started showing signs of instability almost right away.
I heard Rush talking about Carbonite backup and signed up for the plan.
Last Thursday my OS really started going bonkers, nothing I tried would help. System restore would not work at all. Late Saturday I ran a reformat and recovery and got back on line. I only reinstalled the basics and turned on the Carbonite restore function. It's slow, the download is still running, but I have a lot of Tiff and large jpg files, a lot more than most folks have. All my stuff is coming back. My documents folder came in early this morning, lots of stuff I don't want to lose.
I don't usually do testamonials but Carbonite does exactly what they promise.
It's working, not gonna rock the boat for a while.
Excellent....on both counts.
the great thing about America is we have choices. so we don’t have to all fit in the same solution.
I work out of a small bedroom in my daughters home, it is already loaded with photo gear, guns and ammo and computer stuff.
I got it too, it’s well worth it. It comes on by itself and backs up the new files. I know the original backup took a long time, so I imagine the restore will take a lot of time too.
Sorry to offend you. Was only trying to give you more information. I have no idea why being a leader is relevant - all services care not a wit which OS you use.
Aye but if the problem and solution are mismatched it’s no longer a ‘choice.’
I was pulling your leg. We need smileys here, LOL
Only when the air pump is working well and all the vacuum lines are attached to your pneumatic USB 0.5 ports, but that's a much older technology. Today's virus' have far less mass and evade these anti virus systems in a most uncanny fashion. 8^P
I also have a whole house surge protector. We call it a transformer. ;^)
Find a Windows 7 beta online(try a torrent, don’t worry using a beta is not illegal) and try your programs on it.
I installed it and ended up with the blue screen of death and I couldn’t restore my files. Piece of crap from my perspective
Most anti-virii software has automatic updates. Where do these automatic updates come from? Over the internet from the website supplier of anti-virii software.
Now if you wanted to know what the latest updates of the anti-virii/ anti maleware were, where might one find this software to be freely pirated every time an update takes place?
i use mozy.com
Carbonite is a good idea, but the main thing is just backing up important stuff on your hard drive someplace. There are some online photo sites that give you 2 GB of photo back ups for free and Photoshop Elements does an automatic online back up of albums. I lost two hard drives on my computer within months, both times I had backed up my hard drive on an external hard drive.
I use Photoshop 7, no need for Elements, although it has some great features.
That is a workable solution, but DVDs have been shown to degrade over time and using secondary USB devices in the manner you suggest requires interaction.
A service allows automation as well as redundancy.
I actually have backups between my house and the brother-in-law’s house for general backups. But I also have the skills to use this at no monthly costs.
But for pictures and videos of the family, I use JungleDisk. I never want to lose those.
I’m surprised that not more people are concerned about placing all their data in the hands of strangers. Even if it is encrypted, it is encrypted by their proprietary software. It’s a huge leap of trust, IMHO, that they will handle your data according to their privacy policy AND that they won’t disappear tomorrow.
However, off-site backups are a MUST if you are serious about your data. This is my back-up plan and it works well:
Buy two identical external hard drives, the largest you can afford. Portable ones are the easiest, as you just plug them into a USB port and you’re ready to go. Use Truecrypt (http://truecrypt.org) to encrypt the entire drives.
Download and install a $15 program called CopyTo Synchronizer (http://www.kish-d.com). (An alternative freeware would be Karen’s Replicator - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptreplicator.asp)
Set up CopyTo projects to run synchronizing backups. Make sure you include all the files you want to be able to retrieve should disaster strike. If you save your files to Window’s default locations, backing up the Users folder and all its subfolders should pretty well have you covered.
Back up your data to both hard drives. Store the one off site at your office, a friend or family member’s house, a safe deposit box, etc. — somewhere that you deem is safe and with someone you trust. The next door neighbor might not be the best idea. The same tornado, hurricane, earthquake or even fire that wipes out your house could take his out as well.
At the end of each day, run the CopyTo backup to the hard drive you keep with you. It will only back up the files that are new or that have changed since the previous time you ran the backup. It’s quick and you maintain complete control of the process.
Periodically switch the two hard drives. This way you maintain a current backup with you at all times, that you can use to quickly restore one file or all of your files. AND, you have an off-site backup as well.
The final step of my backup plan is to create a drive image backup to restore my OS, programs, and all their settings in one step, so I can be back up and running in an hour or so after a hard drive failure, or when Windows simply refuses to start. I use freeware program for this called Macrium Reflect (http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.asp). Just be sure to create a rescue CD from the Macrium Reflect program so that you can boot to it and restore your drive image when disaster strikes.
This is the most fool-proof plan I’ve been able to come up with, without putting all my data in the hands of strangers.
Chances are excellent that the computer you just bought has an offer from that upgrade free of charge.
What happens if I upgrade and don’t like it, or vital programs won’t work?
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