1. Computer Backup Fred Marshall Coastal Computers & Networks

2. “Back Up” and “Backup” Back Up: verbBack Up: verb e.g. “to back up” Backup: nounBackup: noun e.g. to create a “backup”

3. Why Back Up Your Computer? To preserve your dataTo preserve your data To preserve your computer installationTo preserve your computer installation To protect your investment in timeTo protect your investment in time To make reconstruction easier or even possible To make reconstruction easier or even possible

4. Types of Backup Data file backup - documents / picturesData file backup - documents / pictures System configuration backupSystem configuration backup Hard drive imagesHard drive images On-line backup (automatic) e.g. CarboniteOn-line backup (automatic) e.g. Carbonite

5. Backup Strategies On-site vs. off-site: what if there is fire or theft?On-site vs. off-site: what if there is fire or theft? Frequency: how often to go off site with backup data?Frequency: how often to go off site with backup data? Frequency: how often to back up?Frequency: how often to back up?

6. Everything is Preparation Backup prepares for disasterBackup prepares for disaster Backing up needs preparation too!Backing up needs preparation too! Prepare – Implement - TestPrepare – Implement - Test

7. Planning the Media What will be the backup medium:What will be the backup medium: Tape, DVD, another hard drive? Tape, DVD and portable hard drives are the best candidates for off-site storage.Tape, DVD and portable hard drives are the best candidates for off-site storage. Hard drives can be good for on-site storage.Hard drives can be good for on-site storage. On-line backup (e.g. Carbonite) is automatic and convenient and off-site.On-line backup (e.g. Carbonite) is automatic and convenient and off-site.

8. Preparing the Data When you know the medium, you know the size of the individual storage unitsWhen you know the medium, you know the size of the individual storage units - CD ~ 650MB - CD ~ 650MB - DVD ~ 4.5GB - DVD ~ 4.5GB - Tape … 20GB or greater - Tape … 20GB or greater - Portable hard drive … up to 1.5TB Keep the data:Keep the data: - all in one place on your hard drive - all in one place on your hard drive

9. Preparing the Data Keep the data all in one placeKeep the data all in one place NOT in Windows directory / NOT in Program Files directoriesNOT in Windows directory / NOT in Program Files directories Example for CD backup:Example for CD backup:C:\Data \My Documents (moved to C:\) \My Documents (moved to C:\) \Excel \Excel \Word \Word \Outlook Express \Outlook Express \Pictures …… etc. \Pictures …… etc.

10. Backup Strategies Daily backup to a 2 nd hard driveDaily backup to a 2 nd hard drive (Can run at night) New backup for each day (becomes 5 or 7 weekly backups)New backup for each day (becomes 5 or 7 weekly backups) Mon, Tues, Weds,Thurs,Fri Weekly backup to off-site mediaWeekly backup to off-site media Friday backup to CD, DVD or Tape

11. Data Restoration Testing the “system” is important!Testing the “system” is important! Make a test file and save it.Make a test file and save it. Run a backupRun a backup Delete the test file from the computerDelete the test file from the computer Restore the test file from the backupsRestore the test file from the backups

12. Backup Strategies Full, Differential or Incremental????Full, Differential or Incremental???? Compressed or not?Compressed or not? Recommendation:Recommendation: Remember you have to Restore!Remember you have to Restore! Full backup, not compressedFull backup, not compressed Best if in recognizable format as the original files – then any computer can read them!Best if in recognizable format as the original files – then any computer can read them! KEEP IT SIMPLEKEEP IT SIMPLE

13. Backup Strategies Why do you say: “Don’t Compress”?Why do you say: “Don’t Compress”? Doesn’t that save space on the backup media? Yes, it would save space.Yes, it would save space. Remember, the compression was done by a program running on your computer.Remember, the compression was done by a program running on your computer. If the computer crashes, will you have that program available to decompress the backup?If the computer crashes, will you have that program available to decompress the backup? KEEP IT SIMPLEKEEP IT SIMPLE

14. Backup Tools Manually Copy the files…. Whew!Manually Copy the files…. Whew! (native file format) Built into Windows – add to XP HomeBuilt into Windows – add to XP Home No Hands Backup – download + $19.95No Hands Backup – download + $19.95 (native file format) Backup My PC – commercial programBackup My PC – commercial program (proprietary format) Windows Scheduler for automatic backups.Windows Scheduler for automatic backups.

15. Backup Tools In every case, you need to tell the backup program which files to back up.In every case, you need to tell the backup program which files to back up. That’s why it’s better to have the data all in one place. It’s much easier to “point to it” – the list is shorter.That’s why it’s better to have the data all in one place. It’s much easier to “point to it” – the list is shorter.

16. System Restoration Before Windows “breaks”:Before Windows “breaks”: Create emergency boot floppies / emergency repair disks / (various names) Create a restore point in Windows. Create another restore point each time hardware or program install changes. Create a restore point before adding new software (and after).

17. System Restoration Create emergency boot floppies / emergency repair disks / various names Create restore points in Windows. Do these things even if you don’t know how to use them!

18. Hard Drive Replacement Starting from scratch:Starting from scratch: Install Windows, all drivers, all programs Install Windows, all drivers, all programs Reconfigure dialup and email Reconfigure dialup and email Restore Data from backup Restore Data from backup Disadvantage: you have to have all the drivers and programs and data. Disadvantage: you have to have all the drivers and programs and data. Easier method:Easier method: Replace hard drive image from an image backup. Replace hard drive image from an image backup. Disadvantage: if Windows was cluttered, this doesn’t get rid of the clutter. Disadvantage: if Windows was cluttered, this doesn’t get rid of the clutter.

19. Hard Drive Replacement Insurance against catastrophic failure:Insurance against catastrophic failure: Run Norton System Doctor S.M.A.R.T. sensor all the time. Run Norton System Doctor S.M.A.R.T. sensor all the time.or Run disk manufacturer’s test program from floppies (download from Seagate, Maxtor, etc.) Run disk manufacturer’s test program from floppies (download from Seagate, Maxtor, etc.) Often gives time to clone the diskOften gives time to clone the disk

20. Hard Drive Replacement Run Drive Image or Ghost automatically onto a 2 nd hard drive.Run Drive Image or Ghost automatically onto a 2 nd hard drive. Provides a disk image ready to go….Provides a disk image ready to go…. Don’t forget to check S.M.A.R.T. on the 2 nd drive!Don’t forget to check S.M.A.R.T. on the 2 nd drive!

21. Fred Marshall Coastal Computers & Networks Ilwaco, WA (360) 642-2073