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Guitar Discussions -> Reminder: Back up your data
There are 18 messages in this thread.
You are currently looking at messages 1 to 10.
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Reminder: Back up your data - Robert Machado - 6-:14 -0-09-20
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The old laptop I use for recording in the dungeon I call a basement bit the
dust on Thursday night.
On Tuesday night, two days earlier, I backed up all my data files onto my
thumb drive that I have set aside ONLY for my guitar related projects. It
was the first time I had done this in about 6 months, and I averted a
mini-disaster. So, this is just your friendly reminder to back up whatever
you have as soon as you can. It didn't take that long, and it really saved
a major headache.
Rob
----------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.myspace.com/montereyguitarist
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Re: Reminder: Back up your data - Patrick Keenan - 6-:14 -0-09-20
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"Robert Machado" <robmachado@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:NCiZl.18948$jZ1.14751@flpi144.ffdc.sbc.com...
> The old laptop I use for recording in the dungeon I call a basement bit
> the dust on Thursday night.
>
> On Tuesday night, two days earlier, I backed up all my data files onto my
> thumb drive that I have set aside ONLY for my guitar related projects. It
> was the first time I had done this in about 6 months, and I averted a
> mini-disaster. So, this is just your friendly reminder to back up
> whatever you have as soon as you can. It didn't take that long, and it
> really saved a major headache.
>
> Rob
Excellent point.
In such cases, often (but certainly not always) the data on the drive is
recoverable. So, having the tools to connect the drive to another system
is a very good idea - these can cost you about $30 or less.
However, USB thumb drives have a tendency to suddenly, permanently, and
irretrievably fail, with absolutely no warning. They aren't appropriate
for backup, and should only be used for convenient transfer of files that
you have elsewhere.
Do *not* rely on these drives for backups or storage! If that's your
backup, make another copy right away on another media type, and do not rely
on one copy.
Hard disks and cases are cheap and easily available; 80 gig drives, if you
can find drives that small, are in the $50 range, and half-terabyte drives
are under $100. Cases start around $20. This is a vastly better solution
than a thumb drive. Again, don't rely on one single backup.
HTH
-pk
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Re: Reminder: Back up your data -
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On Sun, 14 Jun 2009 19:47:08 -0700, "Robert Machado"
<robmachado@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>The old laptop I use for recording in the dungeon I call a basement bit the
>dust on Thursday night.
>
>On Tuesday night, two days earlier, I backed up all my data files onto my
>thumb drive that I have set aside ONLY for my guitar related projects. It
>was the first time I had done this in about 6 months, and I averted a
>mini-disaster. So, this is just your friendly reminder to back up whatever
>you have as soon as you can. It didn't take that long, and it really saved
>a major headache.
>
>Rob
>
>
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------
>http://www.myspace.com/montereyguitarist
>
Thumb drives aren't exactly bullet proof. As you found out, however,
they are better than nothing!
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Re: Reminder: Back up your data - Meat Plow - 6-:15 -0-09-20
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On Sun, 14 Jun 2009 23:19:43 -0400, "Patrick Keenan"
<test@dev.null>wrote:
>"Robert Machado" <robmachado@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
>news:NCiZl.18948$jZ1.14751@flpi144.ffdc.sbc.com...
>> The old laptop I use for recording in the dungeon I call a basement bit
>> the dust on Thursday night.
>>
>> On Tuesday night, two days earlier, I backed up all my data files onto my
>> thumb drive that I have set aside ONLY for my guitar related projects. It
>> was the first time I had done this in about 6 months, and I averted a
>> mini-disaster. So, this is just your friendly reminder to back up
>> whatever you have as soon as you can. It didn't take that long, and it
>> really saved a major headache.
>>
>> Rob
>
>Excellent point.
>
>In such cases, often (but certainly not always) the data on the drive is
>recoverable. So, having the tools to connect the drive to another system
>is a very good idea - these can cost you about $30 or less.
>
>However, USB thumb drives have a tendency to suddenly, permanently, and
>irretrievably fail, with absolutely no warning. They aren't appropriate
>for backup, and should only be used for convenient transfer of files that
>you have elsewhere.
>
>Do *not* rely on these drives for backups or storage! If that's your
>backup, make another copy right away on another media type, and do not rely
>on one copy.
>
>Hard disks and cases are cheap and easily available; 80 gig drives, if you
>can find drives that small, are in the $50 range, and half-terabyte drives
>are under $100. Cases start around $20. This is a vastly better solution
>than a thumb drive. Again, don't rely on one single backup.
>
>HTH
>-pk
>
The thumb drives of today are much more reliable than those of not too
distant past. Only problem is that the device writes to itself in a
radically different way than data is written to a hard drive. Since
flash memory has a finite life (can be written/read to a certain
number of times) the designers have come up with a read and write
strategy in the form of an algorithm that writes/reads to the entire
memory spreading the data out. This way insures that no one part of
the memory will be used more than the other for obvious reasons.
If you interrupt the process while in use you can corrupt the file
system and render the device useless. This is only because these
devices are hotplug and user accessable. I use them all the time for
work and play. In my BlackBerry, cameras USB thumb drives etc...
I can only remember one I've ever had go bad and that was back when
they were not available any larger than 256 megs IIRC. I have two 8
gig Sandisk Cruizers that I use to move stuff, backup stuff, install
etc... I like the Cruizer because the USB plug retracts. However I
still don't trust them 100% and all the critical stuff gets to a file
server with two 300 gig driver that backs itself up nightly from one
drive to the other. This is the best way or a hardware RAID. But
RAIDS aren't perfect either, Screw up the container and gone is your
data.
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Re: Reminder: Back up your data - Claude V. Lucas - 6-:15 -0-09-20
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In article <2t2kp3.9rp.19.11@news.alt.net>,
Meat Plow <meat@petitmorte.net> wrote:
>On Sun, 14 Jun 2009 23:19:43 -0400, "Patrick Keenan"
><test@dev.null>wrote:
>
>>"Robert Machado" <robmachado@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
>>news:NCiZl.18948$jZ1.14751@flpi144.ffdc.sbc.com...
>>> The old laptop I use for recording in the dungeon I call a basement bit
>>> the dust on Thursday night.
>>>
>>> On Tuesday night, two days earlier, I backed up all my data files onto my
>>> thumb drive that I have set aside ONLY for my guitar related projects. It
>>> was the first time I had done this in about 6 months, and I averted a
>>> mini-disaster. So, this is just your friendly reminder to back up
>>> whatever you have as soon as you can. It didn't take that long, and it
>>> really saved a major headache.
>>>
>>> Rob
>>
>>Excellent point.
>>
>>In such cases, often (but certainly not always) the data on the drive is
>>recoverable. So, having the tools to connect the drive to another system
>>is a very good idea - these can cost you about $30 or less.
>>
>>However, USB thumb drives have a tendency to suddenly, permanently, and
>>irretrievably fail, with absolutely no warning. They aren't appropriate
>>for backup, and should only be used for convenient transfer of files that
>>you have elsewhere.
>>
>>Do *not* rely on these drives for backups or storage! If that's your
>>backup, make another copy right away on another media type, and do not rely
>>on one copy.
>>
>>Hard disks and cases are cheap and easily available; 80 gig drives, if you
>>can find drives that small, are in the $50 range, and half-terabyte drives
>>are under $100. Cases start around $20. This is a vastly better solution
>>than a thumb drive. Again, don't rely on one single backup.
>>
>>HTH
>>-pk
>>
>
>The thumb drives of today are much more reliable than those of not too
>distant past. Only problem is that the device writes to itself in a
>radically different way than data is written to a hard drive. Since
>flash memory has a finite life (can be written/read to a certain
>number of times) the designers have come up with a read and write
>strategy in the form of an algorithm that writes/reads to the entire
>memory spreading the data out. This way insures that no one part of
>the memory will be used more than the other for obvious reasons.
>
>If you interrupt the process while in use you can corrupt the file
>system and render the device useless. This is only because these
>devices are hotplug and user accessable. I use them all the time for
>work and play. In my BlackBerry, cameras USB thumb drives etc...
>I can only remember one I've ever had go bad and that was back when
>they were not available any larger than 256 megs IIRC. I have two 8
>gig Sandisk Cruizers that I use to move stuff, backup stuff, install
>etc... I like the Cruizer because the USB plug retracts. However I
>still don't trust them 100% and all the critical stuff gets to a file
>server with two 300 gig driver that backs itself up nightly from one
>drive to the other. This is the best way or a hardware RAID. But
>RAIDS aren't perfect either, Screw up the container and gone is your
>data.
Not to whip the OSX horse too much more, but it's incredibly easy
to clone hard drives with a ~$30 utility program. The clones are
even bootable. When the drive in my iMac shat the bed a few months
ago I replaced it, booted on my backup and cloned back to the internal
with a couple of clicks. The backups are in the same filesystem type
as the original so it's quite easy to recover individual files as well.
There's utilities to clone drives under Windows too but I don't know
of any that will make a viable clone of a booted system disc. That
doesn't mean that there aren't any...
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Re: Reminder: Back up your data - Patrick Keenan - 6-:15 -0-09-20
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"Meat Plow" <meat@petitmorte.net> wrote in message
news:2t2kp3.9rp.19.11@news.alt.net...
> On Sun, 14 Jun 2009 23:19:43 -0400, "Patrick Keenan"
> <test@dev.null>wrote:
>
>>"Robert Machado" <robmachado@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
>>news:NCiZl.18948$jZ1.14751@flpi144.ffdc.sbc.com...
>>> The old laptop I use for recording in the dungeon I call a basement bit
>>> the dust on Thursday night.
>>>
>>> On Tuesday night, two days earlier, I backed up all my data files onto
>>> my
>>> thumb drive that I have set aside ONLY for my guitar related projects.
>>> It
>>> was the first time I had done this in about 6 months, and I averted a
>>> mini-disaster. So, this is just your friendly reminder to back up
>>> whatever you have as soon as you can. It didn't take that long, and it
>>> really saved a major headache.
>>>
>>> Rob
>>
>>Excellent point.
>>
>>In such cases, often (but certainly not always) the data on the drive is
>>recoverable. So, having the tools to connect the drive to another system
>>is a very good idea - these can cost you about $30 or less.
>>
>>However, USB thumb drives have a tendency to suddenly, permanently, and
>>irretrievably fail, with absolutely no warning. They aren't appropriate
>>for backup, and should only be used for convenient transfer of files that
>>you have elsewhere.
>>
>>Do *not* rely on these drives for backups or storage! If that's your
>>backup, make another copy right away on another media type, and do not
>>rely
>>on one copy.
>>
>>Hard disks and cases are cheap and easily available; 80 gig drives, if you
>>can find drives that small, are in the $50 range, and half-terabyte drives
>>are under $100. Cases start around $20. This is a vastly better
>>solution
>>than a thumb drive. Again, don't rely on one single backup.
>>
>>HTH
>>-pk
>>
>
> The thumb drives of today are much more reliable than those of not too
> distant past. Only problem is that the device writes to itself in a
> radically different way than data is written to a hard drive. Since
> flash memory has a finite life (can be written/read to a certain
> number of times) the designers have come up with a read and write
> strategy in the form of an algorithm that writes/reads to the entire
> memory spreading the data out. This way insures that no one part of
> the memory will be used more than the other for obvious reasons.
>
> If you interrupt the process while in use you can corrupt the file
> system and render the device useless. This is only because these
> devices are hotplug and user accessable. I use them all the time for
> work and play. In my BlackBerry, cameras USB thumb drives etc...
> I can only remember one I've ever had go bad and that was back when
> they were not available any larger than 256 megs IIRC. I have two 8
> gig Sandisk Cruizers that I use to move stuff, backup stuff, install
> etc... I like the Cruizer because the USB plug retracts. However I
> still don't trust them 100% and all the critical stuff gets to a file
> server with two 300 gig driver that backs itself up nightly from one
> drive to the other. This is the best way or a hardware RAID. But
> RAIDS aren't perfect either, Screw up the container and gone is your
> data.
I have a section of a drawer that contains dead thumb drives. I've
personally had about half a dozen fail, to the point where I stopped using
them, the most recent I had fail was a 2 gig one about a year and a half
ago.
These days, I use an iPod Classic instead, and external hard disks and DVDs
for backups. We also use SD cards for file transfer.
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Re: Reminder: Back up your data - Patrick Keenan - 6-:15 -0-09-20
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"Claude V. Lucas" <claudel@sonic.net> wrote in message
news:4a3684ba$0$1648$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net...
> In article <2t2kp3.9rp.19.11@news.alt.net>,
> Meat Plow <meat@petitmorte.net> wrote:
>>On Sun, 14 Jun 2009 23:19:43 -0400, "Patrick Keenan"
>><test@dev.null>wrote:
>>
>>>"Robert Machado" <robmachado@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
>>>news:NCiZl.18948$jZ1.14751@flpi144.ffdc.sbc.com...
>>>> The old laptop I use for recording in the dungeon I call a basement bit
>>>> the dust on Thursday night.
>>>>
>>>> On Tuesday night, two days earlier, I backed up all my data files onto
>>>> my
>>>> thumb drive that I have set aside ONLY for my guitar related projects.
>>>> It
>>>> was the first time I had done this in about 6 months, and I averted a
>>>> mini-disaster. So, this is just your friendly reminder to back up
>>>> whatever you have as soon as you can. It didn't take that long, and it
>>>> really saved a major headache.
>>>>
>>>> Rob
>>>
>>>Excellent point.
>>>
>>>In such cases, often (but certainly not always) the data on the drive is
>>>recoverable. So, having the tools to connect the drive to another
>>>system
>>>is a very good idea - these can cost you about $30 or less.
>>>
>>>However, USB thumb drives have a tendency to suddenly, permanently, and
>>>irretrievably fail, with absolutely no warning. They aren't appropriate
>>>for backup, and should only be used for convenient transfer of files that
>>>you have elsewhere.
>>>
>>>Do *not* rely on these drives for backups or storage! If that's your
>>>backup, make another copy right away on another media type, and do not
>>>rely
>>>on one copy.
>>>
>>>Hard disks and cases are cheap and easily available; 80 gig drives, if
>>>you
>>>can find drives that small, are in the $50 range, and half-terabyte
>>>drives
>>>are under $100. Cases start around $20. This is a vastly better
>>>solution
>>>than a thumb drive. Again, don't rely on one single backup.
>>>
>>>HTH
>>>-pk
>>>
>>
>>The thumb drives of today are much more reliable than those of not too
>>distant past. Only problem is that the device writes to itself in a
>>radically different way than data is written to a hard drive. Since
>>flash memory has a finite life (can be written/read to a certain
>>number of times) the designers have come up with a read and write
>>strategy in the form of an algorithm that writes/reads to the entire
>>memory spreading the data out. This way insures that no one part of
>>the memory will be used more than the other for obvious reasons.
>>
>>If you interrupt the process while in use you can corrupt the file
>>system and render the device useless. This is only because these
>>devices are hotplug and user accessable. I use them all the time for
>>work and play. In my BlackBerry, cameras USB thumb drives etc...
>>I can only remember one I've ever had go bad and that was back when
>>they were not available any larger than 256 megs IIRC. I have two 8
>>gig Sandisk Cruizers that I use to move stuff, backup stuff, install
>>etc... I like the Cruizer because the USB plug retracts. However I
>>still don't trust them 100% and all the critical stuff gets to a file
>>server with two 300 gig driver that backs itself up nightly from one
>>drive to the other. This is the best way or a hardware RAID. But
>>RAIDS aren't perfect either, Screw up the container and gone is your
>>data.
>
> Not to whip the OSX horse too much more, but it's incredibly easy
> to clone hard drives with a ~$30 utility program. The clones are
> even bootable. When the drive in my iMac shat the bed a few months
> ago I replaced it, booted on my backup and cloned back to the internal
> with a couple of clicks. The backups are in the same filesystem type
> as the original so it's quite easy to recover individual files as well.
>
> There's utilities to clone drives under Windows too but I don't know
> of any that will make a viable clone of a booted system disc. That
> doesn't mean that there aren't any...
I regularly make viable clones of running Windows installs using Acronis
TrueImage, which is in the $50 range. It's really easy and quick, and
very reliable. The same mechanisms also create backups of selected files
and groups of files, and they are very easy to recover or check. It does
differential backups too, and it's easy to set up so that you get versions
from different days.
Since you mention OSX, a quick comment about running scheduled backups on
Windows: The Windows task scheduler needs a non-blank password on the user
account, or it will silently fail. If the password is there, no problem.
You can change this behaviour, but it's a security feature; the problem is
actually that it's poorly documented.
TI has worked extremely well for me for some years now, and I've made a
reasonable amount off its use. Making an image is usually my first step if
I'm remotely unsure about the system I'm servicing. Generally the whole
process takes me well under an hour, and I can work away in a much more
relaxed manner, knowing that I've got a good copy of all the files; the
client knows this too, and that relaxes them. If it blows up, I'll just
take out a spare drive and we'll start over.
I'm looking forward to a drop in the price of Blu-Ray writers and media, as
DVDs often aren't quite big enough to contain a complete OS-and-application
install.
Anyway, the OP is on the right track; backups are often neglected, and are
necessary. Things like TI make it very easy to make reliable backups in
just a few minutes, with just a couple of clicks.
-pk
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Re: Reminder: Back up your data - Claude V. Lucas - 6-:15 -0-09-20
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In article <wq2dneGmoJJiA6vXnZ2dnUVZ_j-dnZ2d@supernews.com>,
Patrick Keenan <test@dev.null> wrote:
>"Claude V. Lucas" <claudel@sonic.net> wrote in message
>news:4a3684ba$0$1648$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net...
>> In article <2t2kp3.9rp.19.11@news.alt.net>,
>> Meat Plow <meat@petitmorte.net> wrote:
>>>On Sun, 14 Jun 2009 23:19:43 -0400, "Patrick Keenan"
>>><test@dev.null>wrote:
>>>
>>>>"Robert Machado" <robmachado@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
>>>>news:NCiZl.18948$jZ1.14751@flpi144.ffdc.sbc.com...
>>>>> The old laptop I use for recording in the dungeon I call a basement bit
>>>>> the dust on Thursday night.
>>>>>
>>>>> On Tuesday night, two days earlier, I backed up all my data files onto
>>>>> my
>>>>> thumb drive that I have set aside ONLY for my guitar related projects.
>>>>> It
>>>>> was the first time I had done this in about 6 months, and I averted a
>>>>> mini-disaster. So, this is just your friendly reminder to back up
>>>>> whatever you have as soon as you can. It didn't take that long, and it
>>>>> really saved a major headache.
>>>>>
>>>>> Rob
>>>>
>>>>Excellent point.
>>>>
>>>>In such cases, often (but certainly not always) the data on the drive is
>>>>recoverable. So, having the tools to connect the drive to another
>>>>system
>>>>is a very good idea - these can cost you about $30 or less.
>>>>
>>>>However, USB thumb drives have a tendency to suddenly, permanently, and
>>>>irretrievably fail, with absolutely no warning. They aren't appropriate
>>>>for backup, and should only be used for convenient transfer of files that
>>>>you have elsewhere.
>>>>
>>>>Do *not* rely on these drives for backups or storage! If that's your
>>>>backup, make another copy right away on another media type, and do not
>>>>rely
>>>>on one copy.
>>>>
>>>>Hard disks and cases are cheap and easily available; 80 gig drives, if
>>>>you
>>>>can find drives that small, are in the $50 range, and half-terabyte
>>>>drives
>>>>are under $100. Cases start around $20. This is a vastly better
>>>>solution
>>>>than a thumb drive. Again, don't rely on one single backup.
>>>>
>>>>HTH
>>>>-pk
>>>>
>>>
>>>The thumb drives of today are much more reliable than those of not too
>>>distant past. Only problem is that the device writes to itself in a
>>>radically different way than data is written to a hard drive. Since
>>>flash memory has a finite life (can be written/read to a certain
>>>number of times) the designers have come up with a read and write
>>>strategy in the form of an algorithm that writes/reads to the entire
>>>memory spreading the data out. This way insures that no one part of
>>>the memory will be used more than the other for obvious reasons.
>>>
>>>If you interrupt the process while in use you can corrupt the file
>>>system and render the device useless. This is only because these
>>>devices are hotplug and user accessable. I use them all the time for
>>>work and play. In my BlackBerry, cameras USB thumb drives etc...
>>>I can only remember one I've ever had go bad and that was back when
>>>they were not available any larger than 256 megs IIRC. I have two 8
>>>gig Sandisk Cruizers that I use to move stuff, backup stuff, install
>>>etc... I like the Cruizer because the USB plug retracts. However I
>>>still don't trust them 100% and all the critical stuff gets to a file
>>>server with two 300 gig driver that backs itself up nightly from one
>>>drive to the other. This is the best way or a hardware RAID. But
>>>RAIDS aren't perfect either, Screw up the container and gone is your
>>>data.
>>
>> Not to whip the OSX horse too much more, but it's incredibly easy
>> to clone hard drives with a ~$30 utility program. The clones are
>> even bootable. When the drive in my iMac shat the bed a few months
>> ago I replaced it, booted on my backup and cloned back to the internal
>> with a couple of clicks. The backups are in the same filesystem type
>> as the original so it's quite easy to recover individual files as well.
>>
>> There's utilities to clone drives under Windows too but I don't know
>> of any that will make a viable clone of a booted system disc. That
>> doesn't mean that there aren't any...
>
>I regularly make viable clones of running Windows installs using Acronis
>TrueImage, which is in the $50 range. It's really easy and quick, and
>very reliable. The same mechanisms also create backups of selected files
>and groups of files, and they are very easy to recover or check. It does
>differential backups too, and it's easy to set up so that you get versions
>from different days.
>
>Since you mention OSX, a quick comment about running scheduled backups on
>Windows: The Windows task scheduler needs a non-blank password on the user
>account, or it will silently fail. If the password is there, no problem.
>You can change this behaviour, but it's a security feature; the problem is
>actually that it's poorly documented.
>
>TI has worked extremely well for me for some years now, and I've made a
>reasonable amount off its use. Making an image is usually my first step if
>I'm remotely unsure about the system I'm servicing. Generally the whole
>process takes me well under an hour, and I can work away in a much more
>relaxed manner, knowing that I've got a good copy of all the files; the
>client knows this too, and that relaxes them. If it blows up, I'll just
>take out a spare drive and we'll start over.
>
>I'm looking forward to a drop in the price of Blu-Ray writers and media, as
>DVDs often aren't quite big enough to contain a complete OS-and-application
>install.
>
>Anyway, the OP is on the right track; backups are often neglected, and are
>necessary. Things like TI make it very easy to make reliable backups in
>just a few minutes, with just a couple of clicks.
I have an older version of TI that you have to boot on to clone.
Works great for what it is. I don't have any Windows machines to
back up or else I'd update it. I don't really trust scheduled
backups for my own personal information for a number of reasons.
I like to hit the button and watch it finish...
I'm tempted to cough up for one of these...
<http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/MRF8BDSD8X/>;
but not for backup. A 1Tb drive is ~$100 these days...
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Re: Reminder: Back up your data - Patrick Keenan - 6-:16 -0-09-20
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"Claude V. Lucas" <claudel@sonic.net> wrote in message
news:4a36a1de$0$1631$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net...
> In article <wq2dneGmoJJiA6vXnZ2dnUVZ_j-dnZ2d@supernews.com>,
> Patrick Keenan <test@dev.null> wrote:
>>"Claude V. Lucas" <claudel@sonic.net> wrote in message
>>news:4a3684ba$0$1648$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net...
>>> In article <2t2kp3.9rp.19.11@news.alt.net>,
>>> Meat Plow <meat@petitmorte.net> wrote:
>>>>On Sun, 14 Jun 2009 23:19:43 -0400, "Patrick Keenan"
>>>><test@dev.null>wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>"Robert Machado" <robmachado@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
>>>>>news:NCiZl.18948$jZ1.14751@flpi144.ffdc.sbc.com...
>>>>>> The old laptop I use for recording in the dungeon I call a basement
>>>>>> bit
>>>>>> the dust on Thursday night.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Tuesday night, two days earlier, I backed up all my data files
>>>>>> onto
>>>>>> my
>>>>>> thumb drive that I have set aside ONLY for my guitar related
>>>>>> projects.
>>>>>> It
>>>>>> was the first time I had done this in about 6 months, and I averted a
>>>>>> mini-disaster. So, this is just your friendly reminder to back up
>>>>>> whatever you have as soon as you can. It didn't take that long, and
>>>>>> it
>>>>>> really saved a major headache.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Rob
>>>>>
>>>>>Excellent point.
>>>>>
>>>>>In such cases, often (but certainly not always) the data on the drive
>>>>>is
>>>>>recoverable. So, having the tools to connect the drive to another
>>>>>system
>>>>>is a very good idea - these can cost you about $30 or less.
>>>>>
>>>>>However, USB thumb drives have a tendency to suddenly, permanently,
>>>>>and
>>>>>irretrievably fail, with absolutely no warning. They aren't
>>>>>appropriate
>>>>>for backup, and should only be used for convenient transfer of files
>>>>>that
>>>>>you have elsewhere.
>>>>>
>>>>>Do *not* rely on these drives for backups or storage! If that's your
>>>>>backup, make another copy right away on another media type, and do not
>>>>>rely
>>>>>on one copy.
>>>>>
>>>>>Hard disks and cases are cheap and easily available; 80 gig drives, if
>>>>>you
>>>>>can find drives that small, are in the $50 range, and half-terabyte
>>>>>drives
>>>>>are under $100. Cases start around $20. This is a vastly better
>>>>>solution
>>>>>than a thumb drive. Again, don't rely on one single backup.
>>>>>
>>>>>HTH
>>>>>-pk
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>The thumb drives of today are much more reliable than those of not too
>>>>distant past. Only problem is that the device writes to itself in a
>>>>radically different way than data is written to a hard drive. Since
>>>>flash memory has a finite life (can be written/read to a certain
>>>>number of times) the designers have come up with a read and write
>>>>strategy in the form of an algorithm that writes/reads to the entire
>>>>memory spreading the data out. This way insures that no one part of
>>>>the memory will be used more than the other for obvious reasons.
>>>>
>>>>If you interrupt the process while in use you can corrupt the file
>>>>system and render the device useless. This is only because these
>>>>devices are hotplug and user accessable. I use them all the time for
>>>>work and play. In my BlackBerry, cameras USB thumb drives etc...
>>>>I can only remember one I've ever had go bad and that was back when
>>>>they were not available any larger than 256 megs IIRC. I have two 8
>>>>gig Sandisk Cruizers that I use to move stuff, backup stuff, install
>>>>etc... I like the Cruizer because the USB plug retracts. However I
>>>>still don't trust them 100% and all the critical stuff gets to a file
>>>>server with two 300 gig driver that backs itself up nightly from one
>>>>drive to the other. This is the best way or a hardware RAID. But
>>>>RAIDS aren't perfect either, Screw up the container and gone is your
>>>>data.
>>>
>>> Not to whip the OSX horse too much more, but it's incredibly easy
>>> to clone hard drives with a ~$30 utility program. The clones are
>>> even bootable. When the drive in my iMac shat the bed a few months
>>> ago I replaced it, booted on my backup and cloned back to the internal
>>> with a couple of clicks. The backups are in the same filesystem type
>>> as the original so it's quite easy to recover individual files as well.
>>>
>>> There's utilities to clone drives under Windows too but I don't know
>>> of any that will make a viable clone of a booted system disc. That
>>> doesn't mean that there aren't any...
>>
>>I regularly make viable clones of running Windows installs using Acronis
>>TrueImage, which is in the $50 range. It's really easy and quick, and
>>very reliable. The same mechanisms also create backups of selected
>>files
>>and groups of files, and they are very easy to recover or check. It does
>>differential backups too, and it's easy to set up so that you get versions
>>from different days.
>>
>>Since you mention OSX, a quick comment about running scheduled backups on
>>Windows: The Windows task scheduler needs a non-blank password on the
>>user
>>account, or it will silently fail. If the password is there, no problem.
>>You can change this behaviour, but it's a security feature; the problem
>>is
>>actually that it's poorly documented.
>>
>>TI has worked extremely well for me for some years now, and I've made a
>>reasonable amount off its use. Making an image is usually my first step
>>if
>>I'm remotely unsure about the system I'm servicing. Generally the whole
>>process takes me well under an hour, and I can work away in a much more
>>relaxed manner, knowing that I've got a good copy of all the files; the
>>client knows this too, and that relaxes them. If it blows up, I'll just
>>take out a spare drive and we'll start over.
>>
>>I'm looking forward to a drop in the price of Blu-Ray writers and media,
>>as
>>DVDs often aren't quite big enough to contain a complete
>>OS-and-application
>>install.
>>
>>Anyway, the OP is on the right track; backups are often neglected, and
>>are
>>necessary. Things like TI make it very easy to make reliable backups in
>>just a few minutes, with just a couple of clicks.
>
> I have an older version of TI that you have to boot on to clone.
> Works great for what it is. I don't have any Windows machines to
> back up or else I'd update it. I don't really trust scheduled
> backups for my own personal information for a number of reasons.
> I like to hit the button and watch it finish...
>
> I'm tempted to cough up for one of these...
>
> <http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/MRF8BDSD8X/>;
>
> but not for backup. A 1Tb drive is ~$100 these days...
True, but the issues of drive failure and single points of failure can still
exist. Many places I go use a separate optical disk backup for each
workday, and once a week one copy goes home with somebody.
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Re: Reminder: Back up your data - Claude V. Lucas - 6-:16 -0-09-20
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In article <TeOdncRETfUFW6rXnZ2dnUVZ_jydnZ2d@supernews.com>,
Patrick Keenan <test@dev.null> wrote:
>"Claude V. Lucas" <claudel@sonic.net> wrote in message
>news:4a36a1de$0$1631$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net...
>> In article <wq2dneGmoJJiA6vXnZ2dnUVZ_j-dnZ2d@supernews.com>,
>> Patrick Keenan <test@dev.null> wrote:
>>>"Claude V. Lucas" <claudel@sonic.net> wrote in message
>>>news:4a3684ba$0$1648$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net...
>>>> In article <2t2kp3.9rp.19.11@news.alt.net>,
>>>> Meat Plow <meat@petitmorte.net> wrote:
>>>>>On Sun, 14 Jun 2009 23:19:43 -0400, "Patrick Keenan"
>>>>><test@dev.null>wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>>"Robert Machado" <robmachado@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
>>>>>>news:NCiZl.18948$jZ1.14751@flpi144.ffdc.sbc.com...
>>>>>>> The old laptop I use for recording in the dungeon I call a basement
>>>>>>> bit
>>>>>>> the dust on Thursday night.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Tuesday night, two days earlier, I backed up all my data files
>>>>>>> onto
>>>>>>> my
>>>>>>> thumb drive that I have set aside ONLY for my guitar related
>>>>>>> projects.
>>>>>>> It
>>>>>>> was the first time I had done this in about 6 months, and I averted a
>>>>>>> mini-disaster. So, this is just your friendly reminder to back up
>>>>>>> whatever you have as soon as you can. It didn't take that long, and
>>>>>>> it
>>>>>>> really saved a major headache.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Rob
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Excellent point.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>In such cases, often (but certainly not always) the data on the drive
>>>>>>is
>>>>>>recoverable. So, having the tools to connect the drive to another
>>>>>>system
>>>>>>is a very good idea - these can cost you about $30 or less.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>However, USB thumb drives have a tendency to suddenly, permanently,
>>>>>>and
>>>>>>irretrievably fail, with absolutely no warning. They aren't
>>>>>>appropriate
>>>>>>for backup, and should only be used for convenient transfer of files
>>>>>>that
>>>>>>you have elsewhere.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Do *not* rely on these drives for backups or storage! If that's your
>>>>>>backup, make another copy right away on another media type, and do not
>>>>>>rely
>>>>>>on one copy.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Hard disks and cases are cheap and easily available; 80 gig drives, if
>>>>>>you
>>>>>>can find drives that small, are in the $50 range, and half-terabyte
>>>>>>drives
>>>>>>are under $100. Cases start around $20. This is a vastly better
>>>>>>solution
>>>>>>than a thumb drive. Again, don't rely on one single backup.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>HTH
>>>>>>-pk
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>The thumb drives of today are much more reliable than those of not too
>>>>>distant past. Only problem is that the device writes to itself in a
>>>>>radically different way than data is written to a hard drive. Since
>>>>>flash memory has a finite life (can be written/read to a certain
>>>>>number of times) the designers have come up with a read and write
>>>>>strategy in the form of an algorithm that writes/reads to the entire
>>>>>memory spreading the data out. This way insures that no one part of
>>>>>the memory will be used more than the other for obvious reasons.
>>>>>
>>>>>If you interrupt the process while in use you can corrupt the file
>>>>>system and render the device useless. This is only because these
>>>>>devices are hotplug and user accessable. I use them all the time for
>>>>>work and play. In my BlackBerry, cameras USB thumb drives etc...
>>>>>I can only remember one I've ever had go bad and that was back when
>>>>>they were not available any larger than 256 megs IIRC. I have two 8
>>>>>gig Sandisk Cruizers that I use to move stuff, backup stuff, install
>>>>>etc... I like the Cruizer because the USB plug retracts. However I
>>>>>still don't trust them 100% and all the critical stuff gets to a file
>>>>>server with two 300 gig driver that backs itself up nightly from one
>>>>>drive to the other. This is the best way or a hardware RAID. But
>>>>>RAIDS aren't perfect either, Screw up the container and gone is your
>>>>>data.
>>>>
>>>> Not to whip the OSX horse too much more, but it's incredibly easy
>>>> to clone hard drives with a ~$30 utility program. The clones are
>>>> even bootable. When the drive in my iMac shat the bed a few months
>>>> ago I replaced it, booted on my backup and cloned back to the internal
>>>> with a couple of clicks. The backups are in the same filesystem type
>>>> as the original so it's quite easy to recover individual files as well.
>>>>
>>>> There's utilities to clone drives under Windows too but I don't know
>>>> of any that will make a viable clone of a booted system disc. That
>>>> doesn't mean that there aren't any...
>>>
>>>I regularly make viable clones of running Windows installs using Acronis
>>>TrueImage, which is in the $50 range. It's really easy and quick, and
>>>very reliable. The same mechanisms also create backups of selected
>>>files
>>>and groups of files, and they are very easy to recover or check. It does
>>>differential backups too, and it's easy to set up so that you get versions
>>>from different days.
>>>
>>>Since you mention OSX, a quick comment about running scheduled backups on
>>>Windows: The Windows task scheduler needs a non-blank password on the
>>>user
>>>account, or it will silently fail. If the password is there, no problem.
>>>You can change this behaviour, but it's a security feature; the problem
>>>is
>>>actually that it's poorly documented.
>>>
>>>TI has worked extremely well for me for some years now, and I've made a
>>>reasonable amount off its use. Making an image is usually my first step
>>>if
>>>I'm remotely unsure about the system I'm servicing. Generally the whole
>>>process takes me well under an hour, and I can work away in a much more
>>>relaxed manner, knowing that I've got a good copy of all the files; the
>>>client knows this too, and that relaxes them. If it blows up, I'll just
>>>take out a spare drive and we'll start over.
>>>
>>>I'm looking forward to a drop in the price of Blu-Ray writers and media,
>>>as
>>>DVDs often aren't quite big enough to contain a complete
>>>OS-and-application
>>>install.
>>>
>>>Anyway, the OP is on the right track; backups are often neglected, and
>>>are
>>>necessary. Things like TI make it very easy to make reliable backups in
>>>just a few minutes, with just a couple of clicks.
>>
>> I have an older version of TI that you have to boot on to clone.
>> Works great for what it is. I don't have any Windows machines to
>> back up or else I'd update it. I don't really trust scheduled
>> backups for my own personal information for a number of reasons.
>> I like to hit the button and watch it finish...
>>
>> I'm tempted to cough up for one of these...
>>
>> <http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/MRF8BDSD8X/>;
>>
>> but not for backup. A 1Tb drive is ~$100 these days...
>
>True, but the issues of drive failure and single points of failure can still
>exist. Many places I go use a separate optical disk backup for each
>workday, and once a week one copy goes home with somebody.
>
>
>
Much depends on the value of the information...
My personal info is pretty important to me, so I have an array
of clones and occasionally burn an archive disc on good media.
It's always interesting to test one's backup scheme to verify
it's actually accomplishing it's intended goals and not just
giving a warm & happy feeling. For some reason I usually get
a blank look from people when I mention that little item.
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