Backing up data

[BobY777]

I'm going to be getting a new computer. I'm trying to decide on whether I want to get an expensive tape backup, removeable hard drives, or a dvd drive for my data backup device.

Since I'm not a big business, I'm shying away from the expensive tape backups that big businesses use. And the removeable hard drives are easily damaged if I drop one. Plus they are fairly expensive if I rotate 2 or 3 of them for my backups. I know not to use usb hard drives since I hear that they give problems.

A dvd drive isn't all that expensive and it can hold a lot of data. And it can take a lot of punishment. And it's not magnetic. So I'm leaning towards the dvd to back up things.

Question 1: Does a dvd sound ok to use?

Question 2: I'm looking at backing up mainly just my data. I assume I don't need to back up the programs. Is that right?

I know where the folders are for 99% of my data. That will be easy to locate for backup.

However...

There is other data that most users produce that they may not think about...that is: 1. The IE favorites 2. My pst files for Outlook. I'm not even sure where to look to find them, in order to back them up.

Question 3: Are there other files that a Windows or Office user might produce that isn't all that apparent...that I would want to back up, if I only knew about them?

I don't want to miss backing up any other important data. I'm worried that I may not know enough to know that the data is being produced and needs to be backed up...LOL.

Thank you all for any input in this area.

[M/Q]

First what is your business and how valuable is your data? What if any governmental standards or controls are you required to follow?

First DVD/CD's are not archival quality and research is beginning to wonder if they will even last two years without any degradation. Not a good idea for backup.

I agree with everything else you have said, other than if this is indeed a business there is no substitute for a good tape backup. Sorry, it is the way to go.

As for what to backup that depends on what applications you are running. You have mentioned all very important things to backup, but until we know all the other applications if any it will be hard to say if you have missed anything.

[BobY777]

Hi M/Q:

Thank you very much for your reply.

I want to back up the data on my personal computer. I don't have any special requirements that I must follow...just my own idea of what is the best way to go. I do have work related files on my home computer, that I also want to back up.

I use to use a tape backup, but not it takes the tape about 14 hours. And then on the last tape, it has been failing...and I have to start the 14 hours all over again. That is a total hard drive backup.

I use to back up the whole hard drive, and then someone told me that I should only be backing up just my data. I know where most of the data I generate is located. But then I got to thinking that I also have pst files and IE favorites. I want those too. And then I got to thinking that there may even be other data files I generate, that I don't even know about. That is why I asked...so I don't forget to back them up too.

But...

I wasn't sure of the best way to back things up. I know a good take backup is veeery expensive. I thought of removeable hard drives. They sure would be much less expensive then a good tape backup. And they are faster too. I would just have to be real careful with them. I just won't get the USB type, since I hear the USB hard drives are pretty problematic.

Then yesterday someone told me that I should consider dvds. That sure seemed to be a good suggestion. But now you said that dvds don't last very long. So now I'm kind of back to square one.

So now I'm back to reconsidering using removeable hard drives. SCSI type. If I'm real careful with them, won't they work and last pretty long?

[M/Q]

SCSI drives are expensive and are not required for what you mentioned. IDE drives are sufficient and loads cheaper. I refuse to use SCSI unless absolutely needed for a special RAID or high speed application. There is just no need for it.

As for backup, I guess the most important thing is to have the data in more than one place, no matter what the media. I am not adverse at all to using USB drives or memory as I have little issue with either of them. I guess the bottom line is to use something no matter what and make sure you are comfortable with your decision and that you use it.