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✔ New Year Resolution: Improve Backups
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<blockquote data-quote="WayneF" data-source="post: 335343" data-attributes="member: 12496"><p>The folks doing nothing about backup will surely seriously regret it someday. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> Things happen.</p><p></p><p>Isolation of OS and data is sort of an esthetic argument, we have to back it all up anyway. Lots of folks are more comfortable with only one disk partition. The important factor is that we should have a current restoreable backup copy.</p><p></p><p>There are complex ways, and simple ways. Costly ways and simpler ways.</p><p></p><p>Backup could be on a disk in your desk drawer, or it could be in some mysterious online cloud we hope remains there, or a disk copy could be in the bank safe deposit box in case the house burns down. The important thing is to have a good backup copy. We probably have computer problems more often than the house burns down. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> I have never seen any reason to trust and investigate any cloud, but it seems cloud storage is only about data, not about OS. I doubt there is any way to restore an OS partition from cloud.</p><p></p><p></p><p>The least that can be done is this (and it should be extremely adequate in almost all cases):</p><p></p><p>Buy one external hard drive. Backup data sizes are large, so it should be a USB 3.0. drive for speed, and probably should be 2TB for size. A Western Digital 2TB USB 3.0 drive is only about $100. Smaller and slower may work, but you want USB 3.0 and 2TB.</p><p></p><p>Buy good disk image backup software, for example, Acronis True Image, about $30. (for Windows, but there is a new Mac version now, and of course other brands too)</p><p></p><p>This is all that is needed, other than you should actually back it all up now and then. Often, like maybe every week or two or four, but this is up to you, and depends on how fast the data changes, and how important the data is. If some data occurs that you cannot lose, then back it up! Backup takes only a couple of clicks, and is only a few minutes (depending on size), and it runs in background unnoticed while you do your other things. The easiest of little deals to do.</p><p></p><p>So now, when your internal hard drive crashes suddenly (it happens), or when you get some mysterious virus, or when your video driver goes crazy and nothing works - for any unknown reason the system just does not run right... </p><p>you simply restore the backup onto your disk, and a few minutes later, it is back exactly like it was the day you backed it up (which hopefully wasn't too long ago). All you have lost is the new data since your last backup (which is your own choice when doing backups). If the internal disk crashes, you do have to bolt in a new one, but otherwise, you simply restore your data. It takes only a few minutes, and you are up and running normally again.</p><p></p><p>if you have multiple disk partitions, consider backing them all up (if you don't want to lose them).</p><p></p><p>Retain at least the last two or three backup versions. If you have a problem, you may have recorded the problem on your last backup (unaware yet), so have a choice of a couple of older ones, just in case.</p><p></p><p>You do need to know your procedures are correct and know restore will work. True Image offers a Validation step which verifies your copy is good. IMO, True Image just always works. It has saved my system several times. Some means of backup is absolutely essential, data AND OS.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="WayneF, post: 335343, member: 12496"] The folks doing nothing about backup will surely seriously regret it someday. :) Things happen. Isolation of OS and data is sort of an esthetic argument, we have to back it all up anyway. Lots of folks are more comfortable with only one disk partition. The important factor is that we should have a current restoreable backup copy. There are complex ways, and simple ways. Costly ways and simpler ways. Backup could be on a disk in your desk drawer, or it could be in some mysterious online cloud we hope remains there, or a disk copy could be in the bank safe deposit box in case the house burns down. The important thing is to have a good backup copy. We probably have computer problems more often than the house burns down. :) I have never seen any reason to trust and investigate any cloud, but it seems cloud storage is only about data, not about OS. I doubt there is any way to restore an OS partition from cloud. The least that can be done is this (and it should be extremely adequate in almost all cases): Buy one external hard drive. Backup data sizes are large, so it should be a USB 3.0. drive for speed, and probably should be 2TB for size. A Western Digital 2TB USB 3.0 drive is only about $100. Smaller and slower may work, but you want USB 3.0 and 2TB. Buy good disk image backup software, for example, Acronis True Image, about $30. (for Windows, but there is a new Mac version now, and of course other brands too) This is all that is needed, other than you should actually back it all up now and then. Often, like maybe every week or two or four, but this is up to you, and depends on how fast the data changes, and how important the data is. If some data occurs that you cannot lose, then back it up! Backup takes only a couple of clicks, and is only a few minutes (depending on size), and it runs in background unnoticed while you do your other things. The easiest of little deals to do. So now, when your internal hard drive crashes suddenly (it happens), or when you get some mysterious virus, or when your video driver goes crazy and nothing works - for any unknown reason the system just does not run right... you simply restore the backup onto your disk, and a few minutes later, it is back exactly like it was the day you backed it up (which hopefully wasn't too long ago). All you have lost is the new data since your last backup (which is your own choice when doing backups). If the internal disk crashes, you do have to bolt in a new one, but otherwise, you simply restore your data. It takes only a few minutes, and you are up and running normally again. if you have multiple disk partitions, consider backing them all up (if you don't want to lose them). Retain at least the last two or three backup versions. If you have a problem, you may have recorded the problem on your last backup (unaware yet), so have a choice of a couple of older ones, just in case. You do need to know your procedures are correct and know restore will work. True Image offers a Validation step which verifies your copy is good. IMO, True Image just always works. It has saved my system several times. Some means of backup is absolutely essential, data AND OS. [/QUOTE]
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✔ New Year Resolution: Improve Backups
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