Backing up files off iste

[marnie]

Backups-Carbonie? Acronis?

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I have been hearing a lot of scary stories about losing all of your precious photos and scrapbooking supplies because of computer failures. I bought an EHD and back up a lot of my files to dvd's. However I've heard even EHD's fail and it's not really a good back up system. From experience I know dvd's are not always the greatest and most reliable.

I heard of Carbonite, which backup files, and Acronis, which backs up your entire OP system, files, etc. However when I read about it, Acronis only restores to a computer with the same hardware configurations as your original unless you pay more than $100 annually. My question is how do I know the next computer I buy will have the same hardware configuration???

So, my question to you is, what back up system do you ladies use and recommend? I know computers fail and EHD's fail. I don't want to lose my precious phots and I sure don't want to lose all of my scrapbooking supplies, pages, etc.

Please help.

Thanks,
Marnie

[troush]

Marnie,

Your chances of both your computer and your EHD failing at the same time are rare - just make sure you unplug that EHD when not in use.

Your system should come with system restore CD/DVDs, or tell you that you need to make them.

Acronis does a full disk image backup. But, there can be problems trying to restore that.

Carbonite will only backup files on your C: drive that are NOT system files (so your Documents directories and such it will backup).

I use SyncBackSE - it does not backup system files, only Documents, second internal drives, or other external drives, etc. But, I have original DVDs for programs, (or downloads, which get backed up). If I were to replace my computer, I can get SyncBack and restore my documents back to my computer, including my photos, downloaded programs, etc. And then, just do a restore from my backup external drive(s). I have two that I swap monthly, and start over with a full backup and then incrementals.

-Trish

[Jenny Binder]

Oh, Trish, are you ever prepared. Want to come over to my house and get me set up? Wait, you can't right now because my laptop is at the computer Doctor where he's trying to recover ALL of the data that seems to be missing since Sunday night!!!! <sigh> "Did I have backups?" you ask? <sigh...again> Not consistent ones. So whatever you decide to use Marnie, just be consistent! (btw, my husband has a Rebit, which is not for Vista, only for XP, which automatically backs up his computer whenever he has it scheduled for...not sure about data vs. programs, but I can guarantee I will be finding that out!) Good luck!

[MidnightChardonnay]

"Did I have backups?" you ask? <sigh...again> Not consistent ones.

:eek: !!!!

[glorie]

I went back and forth on what to do to as my EHD failed with less than 10% full and ofcourse just over the year mark! Bottom line is DO something!! I decided finally and now have Carbonite which is still on its initial back up. I need to burn things onto DVD's also and will look into that more once Carbonite finished up. I debated over Acronis and Carbonite and went with the later as that is what is my uppermost of importance first. I may do Acronis in a few months but for now my personal files are what I want saved before anything else. Good luck on your upcoming decision!

[mfodrini]

I use Carbonite and have an EHD. I like Carbonite, because I don't even have to think about it. All my personal files are backed up automatically. I haven't had to actually use the service yet to retrieve my files because I haven't had a crash, but I feel confident that if that happens, all my files will be retrievable.