The Importance of doing regular backups

[DWSUDEKUM]

As some of you may know I have a background in IT and I occasionally get on my soap box about backing up your data.  I want to relate a story to y'all.  This is a true story and it is currently still unfolding.  

 

I have a 500GB book drive, for those that do not know what that is; it is a 500gb external hard drive.  I originally purchased this drive about 5 years back and was going to use it to save the network backups on.  Well that intent lasted only about a month and I decided I needed to put my patterns, pictures, and all my working files on this drive incase my system drive failed or I replaced my system. The day before yesterday Microcenter ( an IT Store near me had 5TB drives on sale for $170 ) and I purchased one, again for the purpose of putting the network backups on it. I installed the drive and all was good.  I did backups on 2 of the 3 computers in the house, the third being a gaming computer with just games on it that can be downloaded and easily reinstalled so I decided not to back that one up at that time.  On my main computer I only backed up my patterns, pictures, and raw source pictures ( these were on the book drive ) and of course a full backup on my main system drive.  

Yesterday morning early my book drive took itself off line for some reason and I no longer had / have access to the files on that 500gb book drive drive.  That is except for the portions that I had JUST backed up on the new 5TB drive.  Upon investigating the failure it seems that the book drive had a failure in the area where it stores the information about how the drive is set up and it basically had / has amnesia.  My computer can see the drive when it is plugged in but not as it should be seen.  I can not directly access any of the files.  Lucky for me I have utilities that can recover things like this when they happen - hopefully.  Since this is a 500 GB drive the utility doing the repairs will take many hours to do the repairs and recovery of the files on that drive.  

 

<SoapBox Time>

As you just have read I was able to back up my critical files and lucky for me that I did.  Folks there are many reasons to back up your important files and few reasons as to why not to back them up.  You might be asking what files should I be backing up?  Here is a list of some of the more important ( in my opinion of course ) this is not all inclusive by any means:

1) Internet Bookmarks

2) Email Address Book

3) The whole My Document Directory 

4) Your Patterns

5) Your Pictures

6) Any Financial Files 

7) Any work files you might have on your computer

8) Any program that you have that you like and use but do not have the installation files for.

9) Drivers for any hardware that you have that you no longer have the installation disk(s) for.

 

There are many more but you get the general idea here.  Many of us have had hard drive crashes, viruses, malware, ransom ware that have corrupted the data on the drive.  If it was backed up on a regular basis one can go back and restore the files that have been corrupted, otherwise you lose the data.  So in essence back up your data on a regular basis.  At least once a quarter ( every 3 months ) or monthly.  This way you will not lose much information when your hard drive will crash.  Yes, your hard drive will crash it is preordained so the better prepared you are the better.

< Step off Soap Box >

 

DW

[RangerJay]

Good advice.

 

I consider myself "technology challenged" when it comes to computers - and maybe that is the reason I have always been obsessive about backing up my personal files on a regular basis. This practice has saved my bacon twice - both times when the drive on my computer of the day crapped out.  I did have a third incident a few years ago when one of the files on my financial program (Quicken) had become corrupted - meaning I was backing up corrupted files.  When I found the issue all I could recover was the same corrupted files from the backup drive and even the folks at Quicken couldn't help me out.  That little lesson got me started on maintaining my weekly backups for 6 months - no troubles since.

 

 

Jay

[Gordster]

Thanks for the reminder DW.I use a lot of dollar store cds to store patterns, photos, music etc.

I also use flash drives to store stuff.I have one with me at all times in case I see something I want to save.

Most of the newer lap tops don't have a cd or dvd burner in them anymore so the flash drive is my friend.

[DWSUDEKUM]

Thanks for the reminder DW.I use a lot of dollar store cds to store patterns, photos, music etc.

I also use flash drives to store stuff.I have one with me at all times in case I see something I want to save.

Most of the newer lap tops don't have a cd or dvd burner in them anymore so the flash drive is my friend.

That is very true.  This is one of the ways, another is the way I am doing it; with an external backup hard drive that hooks into the usb port or you could use something like one of those subscription online backup services like Mozy, anyway you look at it and choose is good as long as you do it.

 

DW

[amazingkevin]

I've tried many times and it will back up on 3 disc's and stops. but then won't go any further so i never get things backed up???

[Lucky2]

DW, thanks for the reminder/warning, but, I've never done a back-up on my system. I've never felt the need to, as I don't have anything on my computer that would be an issue if lost.

Len

[DWSUDEKUM]

DW, thanks for the reminder/warning, but, I've never done a back-up on my system. I've never felt the need to, as I don't have anything on my computer that would be an issue if lost.

Len

Unfortunately I can not say the same.  As I am self employed doing consulting and making and selling crafted banks and other scrolled items my patterns, links, finances and other goodies are on my drive(s).  So the back up thing is especially important for the pattern makers especially if they have hopes of publishing, etc.

 

I've tried many times and it will back up on 3 disc's and stops. but then won't go any further so i never get things backed up???

Kevin unless you need to do a complete back up of the whole drive it would be easier to just back up the important files / directories, internet links and address book.  You can plan what you want to back up by asking this one simple question: If my computer or hard drive packed it in and died what information would I miss the most?  You could use my list ( see above ) as a good starting place and go from there.

 

DW

[Kepy]

Good Advice.  I had a crash and cost me quite a bit to recover some of the material.  I am not computer literate so had to hire it done.  Now have an external hard drive and do an automatic backup every night.  My local tech set it up and sometimes when I have to get up during the night, I see the computer just working away.

[WigWag Workshop]

Mac Users, Time Machine is your friend.  HDD crash, replace HDD, Hold down CMD+R on start up until you see the Apple logo, then select your drive, and few hours later you will be back EXACTLY where you were before the crash.  Even the applications and web pages that were open at the time.

[wombatie]

I never used to back up anything until I read one of your soap box speeches DW, now I spend 5 mins every Friday doing a back up.  You taught me well Master.

 

Marg