More to the point. Human error is usually more of a problem than either windows or the hardware failing. people deleting things by mistake or just wanting older versions of files they just messed up. Another issue for me at work is, we use pro-desktop 3d cad which is VERY prone to bugs and several times now we have upgraded to new versions of the software only to find its more buggy than the original, but the real killer is that the software wont be backwardly compatible.... ----- Original Message ----- From: "Harold Hallikainen" To: Sent: Saturday, April 10, 2004 10:52 PM Subject: Re: [OT:] Backup Software - Your favorites? > I agree about RAID making perfect copies of trashed disks. Since Windoze > crashes a lot more than hard drives, what we need is redundancy for the OS > instead of the hard drives (or run linux). Here at work, we have a pair of > drives mirrored through hardware RAID, and Windoze has messed them both up > nicely several times. I've been able to get back to where I was from the > USB hard drive backup (images from Norton Ghost). For off site storage, I > haul the extra backup drive from work to home and the backup from home to > work. Both then have off site backup. > > > > Harold > > > > And if you have a software glitch, you have two > > identically trashed hard drives. Been there, been burned. > > > > A "BACKUP" is just that. You make a copy and then you > > tuck it away somewhere safe using removable media (HD case) > > or a separate computer and network mount the drive for use > > only when backup is being done. At least you then have > > something from which you CAN backup. > > > > Any disk trashing virus will just toast your > > hard drives faster if you have raid. > > > > What you should consider today is a removable SATA or > > USB2 or Firewire drive since the newer controllers > > support hot swap, > > so you can mount and remove the drive without rebooting. > > > > It is also a question of how valuable your data may be. > > If your house/office burns it is likely that the > > hard drives will not work too well for recovery. > > A removable dive (or two) that you rotate back and > > forth between two safe locations is the only really > > GOOD backup. And with big drives being as cheap as > > they are, there is no reason not to have a few (like > > I do). > > > > Robert > > > > Jason S wrote: > >> > >> Most motherboards these days have a version with an integrated Promise > >> Raid > >> IDE controller for about $10 more, or PCI card with the controller is > >> about > >> $30. > >> > >> If you're going with 2 hard drives anyway, get the RAID controller; it's > >> even cheaper than Total Commander. Configure the 2 drives for Raid 1 > >> (mirroring). The 2 drives will be bitwise duplicated of each other > >> (done in > >> hardware, so there is no system overhead like a software solution). The > >> Raid controller can also read from both drives concurrently since > >> they're > >> identical on a bit level anyway, so your read rate will double. If one > >> drive fails, you still have a perfect copy on the other. > >> > >> ----- Original Message ----- > >> From: "Dennis Crawley" > >> To: > >> Sent: Saturday, April 10, 2004 6:08 AM > >> Subject: Re: [OT:] Backup Software - Your favorites? > >> > >> > ----- Original Message ----- > >> > From: "Bob Blick" > >> > Sent: Saturday, April 10, 2004 3:04 AM > >> > Subject: Re: [OT:] Backup Software - Your favorites? > >> > > rsync? > >> > > >> > 1.- Buy the same HDD. > >> > 2.- Install it removable. > >> > 3.- Download Total Commander (~35U$) > >> > 4.- Use Synchronize Directories Module > >> > > >> > Synchronize after a week or so. > >> > Synchronize after a mayor (and well done) soft installation. > >> > Save important and frequently modified data on a CD-RW. > >> > Don't leave connected the removable HDD during a normal session. > >> > Put the HDD in a save(*) and dry place > >> > (*) Mechanically and electrically > >> > The restoring process is a simple plug on! > >> > > >> > Try Taskzip. But I don't like background processes. I do prefer leave > >> a > >> > unique task and go to read something... or use my wife's computer. :) > >> > > >> > Dennis Crawley > >> > > >> > PS: Backup processes are about strict discipline. That's all! > > > > -- > > http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList > > mailto:piclist-unsubscribe-request@mitvma.mit.edu > > > > > -- > FCC Rules Online at http://www.hallikainen.com > > -- > http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList > mailto:piclist-unsubscribe-request@mitvma.mit.edu > -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList mailto:piclist-unsubscribe-request@mitvma.mit.edu