Computer backup software

[Titan]

My desktop has been on the fritz for a while. I'd go into the details but I don't feel like posting a novel, lol. I'm not too educated on good backup software. Before I reinstall or try to repair Windows 7 and even my BIOS (I think there may be issues with the BIOS and motherboard as well), I want to backup my files and programs. I run technically 3 hard drives (one for my system, games, and programs, one for my photography and one with my personal files like music and stuff, but that's external and I can just disconnect it I guess). I don't mind paying for something good but of course free is better. What are everyone's suggestions to do this? What backup programs do people use? I want to take care of this on my next day off which will be in a couple days so I have time to research. Thanks Oh, BTW, been using the Windows backup that comes with Windows but I'd rather use a third party.

 

[Obsidian]

My desktop has been on the fritz for a while. I'd go into the details but I don't feel like posting a novel, lol. I'm not too educated on good backup software. Before I reinstall or try to repair Windows 7 and even my BIOS (I think there may be issues with the BIOS and motherboard as well), I want to backup my files and programs. I run technically 3 hard drives (one for my system, games, and programs, one for my photography and one with my personal files like music and stuff, but that's external and I can just disconnect it I guess). I don't mind paying for something good but of course free is better. What are everyone's suggestions to do this? What backup programs do people use? I want to take care of this on my next day off which will be in a couple days so I have time to research. Thanks Oh, BTW, been using the Windows backup that comes with Windows but I'd rather use a third party.

There are plenty of HDD cloning programs around, I use those or sometimes a mirrored array in my bigger capacity rigs. You could look at NAS also, but it's expensive just for backups.

Give TrueImage a look. Once you know what you're doing you can have a drive fail and be running again within a minute, no data loss.

 

[wonderings]

There are plenty of HDD cloning programs around, I use those or sometimes a mirrored array in my bigger capacity rigs. You could look at NAS also, but it's expensive just for backups.

Give TrueImage a look. Once you know what you're doing you can have a drive fail and be running again within a minute, no data loss.

Depends on how you look at it. My files are worth more to me then my computers. Pictures are irreplaceable, so much music over the years, would take ages to even realize all that was lost. Backing up should be done unless you are ok with losing everything. I unfortunately do not know any good back up solutions for windows, I use macs for 99% of my computing and they all use Time Machine which works fantastic. My PC, well I do not mind lose everything as there is nothing really on it save for a few games I play every now and then.

Hard drives fail, it happens. For the most important and irreplaceable files, I duplicate on different drives. Any reason to not keep using the windows backup? Whats better with third party?

 

[Titan]

Depends on how you look at it. My files are worth more to me then my computers. Pictures are irreplaceable, so much music over the years, would take ages to even realize all that was lost. Backing up should be done unless you are ok with losing everything. I unfortunately do not know any good back up solutions for windows, I use macs for 99% of my computing and they all use Time Machine which works fantastic. My PC, well I do not mind lose everything as there is nothing really on it save for a few games I play every now and then.

Hard drives fail, it happens. For the most important and irreplaceable files, I duplicate on different drives. Any reason to not keep using the windows backup? Whats better with third party?

I don't use Windows Backup because I don't trust it. I'd rather use third party personally.

Good thing I backed up when I did. Like 2 days later my computer died. Now I'm posting on a 10 year old laptop with Windows XP

 

[jstep7262]

I'm a photographer, so I backup everything to my Drobo. In addition, for client pictures, I also back up to Western Digital MyBooks, which get stored offsite in case anything were to happen to my house. Transferring things to and from my Drobo are easy as can be and I haven't had a single problem since I bought it years back. The only thing that I did was bought two more TB WD drives to install in the two empty bays. You can also set the Drobo up to be redundant and make a backup of the backup As for the software, I just use the software that came with the Drobo when needed (don't usually need to). I know that my answer isn't a real "backup software" recommendation, but it's my backup solution. For everything.

 

[Titan]

I'm a photographer, so I backup everything to my Drobo. In addition, for client pictures, I also back up to Western Digital MyBooks, which get stored offsite in case anything were to happen to my house. Transferring things to and from my Drobo are easy as can be and I haven't had a single problem since I bought it years back. The only thing that I did was bought two more TB WD drives to install in the two empty bays. You can also set the Drobo up to be redundant and make a backup of the backup As for the software, I just use the software that came with the Drobo when needed (don't usually need to). I know that my answer isn't a real "backup software" recommendation, but it's my backup solution. For everything.

I'm a photographer as well. I'm in the process of trying to get my own business together so I can quit the studio I work at (btw, any advice on how to get my bills paid while starting up on my own? Can always PM me ). I wish I could afford a Drobo. I'm gonna upgrade eventually to a solid state drive for my system and use my current system HDD for a backup of my photography drive and I'd like to get an external to back up the backup and keep it off site maybe in a safety deposit box. Though, I use Google Drive for my portfolio and they significantly slashed the prices a few days ago to pretty much next to nothing so I may just do that instead.

 

[jstep7262]

I'm a photographer as well. I'm in the process of trying to get my own business together so I can quit the studio I work at (btw, any advice on how to get my bills paid while starting up on my own? Can always PM me ). I wish I could afford a Drobo. I'm gonna upgrade eventually to a solid state drive for my system and use my current system HDD for a backup of my photography drive and I'd like to get an external to back up the backup and keep it off site maybe in a safety deposit box. Though, I use Google Drive for my portfolio and they significantly slashed the prices a few days ago to pretty much next to nothing so I may just do that instead.

Advice on how to pay bills?! Lol I have three jobs...as for affording the Drobo, it takes time. I started out backing up to DVDs and my western digital external. Got the Drobo for a good price on costcos website. My site is www.photographybyjlynn.com... I'll pm you with more photo stuff tomorrow since nobody else on the board wants to hear about that

 

[Titan]

Advice on how to pay bills?! Lol I have three jobs...as for affording the Drobo, it takes time. I started out backing up to DVDs and my western digital external. Got the Drobo for a good price on costcos website. My site is www.photographybyjlynn.com... I'll pm you with more photo stuff tomorrow since nobody else on the board wants to hear about that

Sounds good to me. The toughest part about planning everything out has been my pricing. I know what I want to make and generally what to charge but I keep changing my packages and second guessing myself. I have standard rates for prints themselves but I dunno packages and whatnot. Guess I need to just make a final decision and adjust from there. Doing recon online of other companies is less than helpful. Seems every photographer in my area charges very differently.

Anywho, looking forward to your PM. BTW, checked out your site. Looks really nice and I like your work.

 

[deathbyprayer]

Cloning tools, there are so many of them right now, some of them are free. If you want to preserve your settings and OS like there were no problems, then cloning tools are great. But for generic file back ups, I always use cloud based back up services like Carbonite, having it on the cloud, you're rest assured that it will stay there, unless the servers collapse of the Apocalypse has come.