My PC back Up Routine

J

JP

I back up my PC in full every day, using Acronis TrueImage 8.

In addition I also have a file back up utility (SmartSync Pro) that backs up
the My Documents folder, as well as those related to Firefox, Internet
Explorer, Outlook Express and Outlook.

For FF, I have the file back up set to save only these three files:
bookmarks.htm, signons.txt and cookies.txt. I always save all installed
extension XPI files and theme JAR too automatically. For Internet Explorer,
the only ones saved are the favorites and cookie folders.

In case of a crash (which mercifully hasn't happened yet) I can always
restore my machine to the last Acronis full disk-image (never more than 24
hours old). And all files backed up with the SmartSync Pro utility (never
older than an hour-of-use at most) only need be copied back to their
original folders. The back ups are done in uncompressed form so each
backed-up file is individually accessible.

I also do an Acronis back up everytime I install software for the first time
for a try-out. Then I can restore the original image and carry on as if the
try-out never happened, in case I decide not to continue. In case I do then
I simply carry on without the restore.

The full-drive back up takes less than 2 minutes and is done from within
Windows. The restore process takes about 6 minutes - including two reboots.
The SmartSync Pro process, once having been set, takes just a few seconds
and I run it at the end of every computer-use session.

As a matter of course, I do a complete reinstall of Windows (XP Pro, by the
way) every 8 - 10 months or so. I have used just those three files mentioned
above coupled with the saved extension XPI files (whose versions I regularly
update) to a complete fresh Firefox reinstall back the way it was earlier in
less than 12 minutes. The corresponding files for the other applications can
similarly be easily handled.

These back-up practices have come in useful and I am posting them here in
the hope they will help someone formulate their own back up routine.

I do acknowledge that this computer (as well as others that I use) have
multiple hard drives that make the back up process infinitely easier and
more dependable. That also will work even if my system hard drive totally
fails, because all drive and file back ups are on another drive. I always
keep a spare system drive on hand for this eventuality that, again
mercifully, hasn't happened as yet.

Besides, I have set the working folders for other applications that I use -
Adobe Premiere Pro, Sony DVD Architect... - on hard drives other than the
system drive. The parts of these folders that need back up as well as the
drive image and file back up mentioned earlier are themselves backed up, and
updated, to an external (USB 2.0) hard drive about once a week.

The Acronis and SmartSync Pro utilities cost me less than a hundred bucks
combined IIRC and I reckon I have already recovered the cost in their very
utility value that generates a certain peace of mind.

A somewhat pretty warm Sunday here in So Cal and I felt like sharing these
thoughts in these forums.

Regards and thanks for reading this somewhat long missive.

Mobius
--------
 
D

Dan Greenberg

Thank you!
JP said:
I back up my PC in full every day, using Acronis TrueImage 8.

In addition I also have a file back up utility (SmartSync Pro) that backs
up
the My Documents folder, as well as those related to Firefox, Internet
Explorer, Outlook Express and Outlook.

For FF, I have the file back up set to save only these three files:
bookmarks.htm, signons.txt and cookies.txt. I always save all installed
extension XPI files and theme JAR too automatically. For Internet
Explorer,
the only ones saved are the favorites and cookie folders.

In case of a crash (which mercifully hasn't happened yet) I can always
restore my machine to the last Acronis full disk-image (never more than 24
hours old). And all files backed up with the SmartSync Pro utility (never
older than an hour-of-use at most) only need be copied back to their
original folders. The back ups are done in uncompressed form so each
backed-up file is individually accessible.

I also do an Acronis back up everytime I install software for the first
time
for a try-out. Then I can restore the original image and carry on as if
the
try-out never happened, in case I decide not to continue. In case I do
then
I simply carry on without the restore.

The full-drive back up takes less than 2 minutes and is done from within
Windows. The restore process takes about 6 minutes - including two
reboots.
The SmartSync Pro process, once having been set, takes just a few seconds
and I run it at the end of every computer-use session.

As a matter of course, I do a complete reinstall of Windows (XP Pro, by
the
way) every 8 - 10 months or so. I have used just those three files
mentioned
above coupled with the saved extension XPI files (whose versions I
regularly
update) to a complete fresh Firefox reinstall back the way it was earlier
in
less than 12 minutes. The corresponding files for the other applications
can
similarly be easily handled.

These back-up practices have come in useful and I am posting them here in
the hope they will help someone formulate their own back up routine.

I do acknowledge that this computer (as well as others that I use) have
multiple hard drives that make the back up process infinitely easier and
more dependable. That also will work even if my system hard drive totally
fails, because all drive and file back ups are on another drive. I always
keep a spare system drive on hand for this eventuality that, again
mercifully, hasn't happened as yet.

Besides, I have set the working folders for other applications that I
use -
Adobe Premiere Pro, Sony DVD Architect... - on hard drives other than the
system drive. The parts of these folders that need back up as well as the
drive image and file back up mentioned earlier are themselves backed up,
and
updated, to an external (USB 2.0) hard drive about once a week.

The Acronis and SmartSync Pro utilities cost me less than a hundred bucks
combined IIRC and I reckon I have already recovered the cost in their very
utility value that generates a certain peace of mind.

A somewhat pretty warm Sunday here in So Cal and I felt like sharing these
thoughts in these forums.

Regards and thanks for reading this somewhat long missive.

Mobius
Click to expand...
 
J

Jonny

Just few differences here, but very similar. I backup the XP partition on a
weekly basis in image format. 4 or 5 weeks total keeping it rotated.
Oldest is written over. Email is backed up every day or two, and IE
favorites in export bookmark file weekly. All on a separate hard drive of
course.
Financial related software and data is on a different OS that has no
internet access.
 
G

Guest

Thanks JP for writing about an important topic. I'm somewhat paranoid myself
,being in IT for a while, now in my own business, and my considerations for
backup includes:

- I use off site backup thru the internet as I had a friend who lost 2 years
of work, developing a commercial program, and having the PC stolen from his
house in a burglary. I read of people with years of data destroyed after
hurricane Katrina.
- Business requirments may dictate immediate switch-over with no luxury of
buying a backup HD, reinstalling OS, software etc,. and even assuming
everythings goes right, at least half a day of downtime.

What I did was set up a home network where:

- I've got Computer A, used as a data server, computer B, and Laptop used
for entering data, with data saved to "A".

- Computer A has Full Norton Ghost 9.0 backup done weekly, and incremental
daily to a USB drive. In additon, a copy is made of "My Documents", and also
Daily internet backup to a service marketed thru Quickbooks. Computer B has
Norton running weekly and daily, to another USB drive though no critical data
is stored there.

- Identical software installed on A, B, and Laptop, and in some cases such
as Quickbooks, bought an additonal license. This way, in a computer crash,
work can be shifted to any other. And if PC A, the server crashes, data can
be recreated on PC B immediately, and work can proceed without missing a beat.

- At one time, we sync data between "PC A" and "PC B", but the wife being a
bit of a klutz, has trouble distingushing between the GOOD file, and a
duplicate, so we keep everything on the data server (PC A) directly, and and
the system make images (Norton), internet copies, plus a third copy done by
Xcopy.

We had an unfortunate situation where a HD did crash two years ago, and the
one and only copy was kept on the internet backup. Between going to the store
to buy a new PC (decided the other was a bit dated) , reinstall all the
software, restore data from the online service took about 2 to 3 days, far
too long for business requirements. I ordered the PC in the early PM, and
they told me to pick it up the following day lunchtime. One day gone already??

And that new PC was replaced the following week because of a bad
motherboard, after I installed all the software.

With the setup right now, if "PC B" crashed, all I need to do is turn on the
laptop and get to work. If the laptop crashed, I'll use "PC B" to enter data.
"PC A" can also be placed into service immediately. Only if "PC A" crashed
do I need to restore data.

In fact, I sinced fixed the PC that crashed, my daughter uses it to play
video games, and I networked the PC, its also set up with MOST software
installed, and can swing into service immediately if any of the others
crashed. Yes, "Daddy" is set up as a user on the "Game PC", as backup, ready
to roll if needed.

Any comments or suggestions?? Am I paranoid or not??
 
J

JP

Pretty impressive your set up there.

I would not classify this as being paranoid at all. It is just playing it
safe. Always helpful to have a recovery and rebuilding solution handy.

Regards and thanks for the input.

Cheers.

:)

Mobius
 
I

Ivor Jones

I use Norton Ghost 10.0 which despite many people's opinion of Symantec
products, I have found to be excellent.

I back up the entire HDD's of both my desktop and laptop to an external
Network Storage Device, which is an external 300GB HDD with an Ethernet
interface rather than the more usual USB. This makes it network-aware and
any machine on the system can see it.

Ivor
 
K

Kerry Brown

What happens if your pc gets stolen, or there's a fire, or your PSU fries
all your hard drives? It sounds like all your eggs are in one basket i.e.
stored on your computer. It's a great backup scheme but you also need a
backup stored somewhere other than on or near your computer.
 
D

Darrell S

I use a similar back up regimen, using DriveImage 7.0 to my USB 200GB
external hard drive about once a week. I have GoBack as my first line of
defense with DI 7.0 as my emergency repair. I back up my Quicken banking
info on my other USB drive on a daily basis.
 
J

JP

Excellent point. I did mention in that post (towards the end) that all back
ups as well as contents of application working folders that need to be saved
are backed up and updated to an external drive once a week!

:)

Regards and thanks for the post.

Mobius
 
J

JoAnn Paules [MVP]

Bottom posting annoys me. It's like having to watch last weeks's show before
I get to see this week's show.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]
 
I

Ivor Jones

JoAnn Paules said:
Bottom posting annoys me. It's like having to watch last
weeks's show before I get to see this week's show.
Click to expand...

Top posting annoys me. If I come in partway through a thread I have to
scroll down then up again to read things in order. Top posters rarely snip
and trim posts, they just add their one-liner at the top and forward the
entire thread all over again.

If people snipped and trimmed properly it wouldn't be so much of a problem
but it's annoying to get 15 copies of the same thing with one line added
each time.

Oh, I don't want to start an argument, but be aware I will not respond
with advice to top posters, so hopefully for you I will never know the
answer to a question you ask.

Ivor
 
J

JoAnn Paules [MVP]

I'd respond to one of your questions if I could help you. Whether they top
post or bottom post doesn't make a difference to me. What matters more is
the "tone of voice".

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]
 
I

Ivor Jones

JoAnn Paules said:
I'd respond to one of your questions if I could help you.
Whether they top post or bottom post doesn't make a
difference to me. What matters more is the "tone of
voice".
Click to expand...

It makes a difference to me. Top posting without snipping and trimming is
nothing more than laziness/bad manners and I want nothing to do with
anyone who persists, even after being asked not to do it.

I hope my tone of voice conveys my meaning.

Ivor
 
I

Ivor Jones

Tom Willett said:
Another net-nanny with too much time on its hands.
Foxtrot Oscar.
Click to expand...

Stop top posting then. At least in response to my posts.

I may be forthright and outspoken, but I am not rude or offensive.


Ivor
 

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