I've looked at those settings many times before posting this problem. If
you see an option that allows purging old backup files, please let me know.
Something you might want to consider along the backup methods.
Some [probably most] backup software will advertise they have better
compression than brand xxx.
Think about that.. And remember all the software you lost when upgrading to
Vista..
To restore any of those specialty compressed backups will require the useof
THAT SPECIFIC program for as long as you have the data backed up.
Backing up data should back it up in the SAME format as it is already on your
drive. Uncompressed, and un modified. So that you can simply drag & drop to
restore the data.
I use a 300 gig external Maxtor HD. That I COPY specific folders on a regular
basis from F: to N:. That's what RAID is all about. 2 identical drives onyour
machine, raid modifies drive 1, whenever drive 0 makes a change.
Every few months, I backup the Maxtor to DVD's. Your mileage may vary depending
on how often your data changes and how important it is.
I also use Total Commander [2005] to do the 1 to 1 backups. It's also useful
for other drive data manipulation. Comparing, renaming, batch processes,
searching, folder sizes, print, DOS, etc.. Much better than anything thatcomes
with the OS.
I still have my favorites from 9 years ago because of this method. Plus other
things like banking stuff.
Data has survived 3 different machines, and OS'.
Then you have the bad part if you use M$ programs to create your data.. ie:
Using word 2007, is NOT backward compatible. ruling out storing data in it's
original form. for Word data you'd want to use the OLDEST version it's capable
of saving in, or a generic TEXT format. MS Access, ditto, or save in CSV
format.
Myself, I worry about the fact that Quicken & Money have upgraded their
software. I have had to CONVERT previous saved records to the newer format. At
any time everything could go south. Like a computer crash, and backups from a
version incapable of being converted to the newer formats. All bank records
lost because of an out of date backup.. CSV or TXT format could prevent this
from happening. But they all need to add their own proprietary compression that
is too Greek for any simple restoration.
Any time you get a new upgraded program that creates data, if it isn't saved in
a generic format, you take the chance of losing that data.
In the case of Vista, none of the programs to restore the data would even
install to Vista. I had to buy the NEW Quicken, and go back to square onewith
data. Took several days, and still wasn't correct.
Also had to buy other NEW programs that wouldn't install to Vista.
ie: My printer software from HP. Printer less than 3 months old. Software
obsolete[d] by Vista. HP still hasn't re-created the interface to work with
Vista [1 year later]. Now everything the interface did with a menu, has to be
done manually. And some things can't be done at all.
But I do have to applaud Divx for finally getting divx 6.6 working with Vista.
Took 7 months, but finally working.
Vista pulled the rug out on many small software companies. Even some LARGE
ones. My ATI [$400.00] video card. Obsoleted by Vista. ATI now owned by another
company. Adobe has made claims they won't be bullied, but the truth is they
didn't write the OS, so they are as much hostage as the rest of the computer
world.
Vista was released for no other purpose than to make money for M$. Side effect
it bankrupted many, and made others, who's software was irreplaceable richer.
Requiring purchase of NEW Vista compatible versions.
