backup questions

  • Thread starter Thread starter dansheen
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dansheen

I am using an external hd to back up my computer files. It is currently
holding 80G data. I need to back-up my external drive .
I have 2 questions.
First, have any of you tried both syncback and cobain backup and if so
which do you prefer.
Second, are there any storage options other then buying a third harddrive?
Thanks
 
I am using an external hd to back up my computer files. It is
currently
holding 80G data. I need to back-up my external drive .
I have 2 questions.
First, have any of you tried both syncback and cobain backup and if so
which do you prefer.
Second, are there any storage options other then buying a third
harddrive? Thanks
Click to expand...

So you wanna back up the back-up ??

Google for Double_Backup
 
dansheen said:
I am using an external hd to back up my computer files. It is currently
holding 80G data. I need to back-up my external drive .
I have 2 questions.
First, have any of you tried both syncback and cobain backup and if so
which do you prefer.
Click to expand...

I use syncback to transfer data between my home machine, pen drive, and
office machine. I've used cobian in the past, but now only use syncback
(almost daily). However, this is only for transferring a relatively
small amounts of data; and is probably not applicable for what you are
trying to do.
Second, are there any storage options other then buying a third harddrive?
Click to expand...

Everybody's mileage does of course vary, but I've found that the best
solution for me, personally, so far is to get a second hard drive, and
fit it internally. I used to house it in an external casing, but found
the solution finnicky, with too many wires all over the place, plus it
wasn't connected to my UPS. Nowadays, at the end of every day I use
XXCOPY (free for personal use) to clone my XP partition on my first hard
drive to my second hard drive. It doesn't take long, because it's a hard
drive to hard drive copy, and it doesn't copy over stuff that hasn't
changed.

Then, every week, I cut a CD of my personal data.

I've found this setup to be a very workable system; combining
ease-of-use with reliability and speed.

So, I offer this for your consideration: get yourself a third hard
drive, fit it internally, and ditch the external one. Then adopt the
backup strategy that I did. Hard disks are not expensive, unless you're
an impoverished student or suchlike. A useful statistic to consider in a
HD is cost per Gb. Try to give yourself plenty of room to manoeuver, so
that you can do stuff like take multiple snapshots of the system should
the desire to do so arise.

Just my 2c.
 
Mark Carter said:
I use syncback to transfer data between my home machine, pen drive, and
office machine. I've used cobian in the past, but now only use syncback
(almost daily). However, this is only for transferring a relatively small
amounts of data; and is probably not applicable for what you are trying to
do.


Everybody's mileage does of course vary, but I've found that the best
solution for me, personally, so far is to get a second hard drive, and fit
it internally. I used to house it in an external casing, but found the
solution finnicky, with too many wires all over the place, plus it wasn't
connected to my UPS. Nowadays, at the end of every day I use XXCOPY (free
for personal use) to clone my XP partition on my first hard drive to my
second hard drive. It doesn't take long, because it's a hard drive to hard
drive copy, and it doesn't copy over stuff that hasn't changed.

Then, every week, I cut a CD of my personal data.

I've found this setup to be a very workable system; combining ease-of-use
with reliability and speed.

So, I offer this for your consideration: get yourself a third hard drive,
fit it internally, and ditch the external one. Then adopt the backup
strategy that I did. Hard disks are not expensive, unless you're an
impoverished student or suchlike. A useful statistic to consider in a HD
is cost per Gb. Try to give yourself plenty of room to manoeuver, so that
you can do stuff like take multiple snapshots of the system should the
desire to do so arise.

Just my 2c.
Click to expand...

Mark, with all due respect, I beg to differ. With your scheme, what happens
if:
1. A fire burns down your building
2. A thief nabs your computer
3. A virus is hits late in the day and trashes your bios, MBR, system
files,...

An external hard drive that can be taken off premises is a very good policy.
With the 2.5" laptop external drives, the only wire you have to deal with is
the usb cable. Power comes from the usb port. They are small and
relatively sturdy(sturdier than 3.5" hd's). Speed is good with the USB 2.0
port. Cost is moderate, approx. $200.00US for one 80GB unit.

The only other option is one of the backup sites on the internet.

With regards to the OP, I find Cobian to be a very reliable, comprehensive
and easy to use backup program. I use it and have not found any problems.

HIH,

Dave H.
 
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