how do you back up your pcs properly?

[Mark Shipley]

Hi Becky,

The set up here is such that if a PC goes down we can mirror the dead PC’s hard drive from the external backup drives onto the spare PC and have it up and running and back to where we were within a couple of hours.

Our biggest concern though is power fluctuations and interuptions. Everything has an uninteruptable power supply and beyond that we have a couple of petrol generators at the ready.

Nothing worse than getting to within 2mm of the end of a 3m banner and 😕 the lights go out.

Mark

[Nicola McIntosh]

becky watch those computer guys 😮 it sounds like a power supply unit to me!! they take five minutes to replace and are pretty cheap!!

bet they charged you a small fortune too!! 👿 on the issue of back up i have two other working pc’s at the ready just incase everything goes blink…. 😀 and that’s what makes pc’s so frustrating….you never know what will go wrong next!! 😀

Nik

[Kevin.Beck]

yep, that what the guy said. Its still under warrentee. So will cost me nothing to repair.

[Nicola McIntosh]

oh well that’s good news!! 😛

Nik

[Peter Normington]

Every body should back up their work, I know its not always the case.
I have a small programme I use, it was written by a friend as shareware, what it does is very simple but it is very effective.
It copies files, folders etc to another location, so with a spare hard drive or another computer, any files are copied or updated on a regular basis.
it dosnt change or compress the data so in the event off a major crisis all that is needed is to install your software again and access the files.
If any body is interested I may be able to upload the programme (dont know if this is possible) to the boards
Peter

[Bill Dewison]

That software sounds cool! I do the same thing, but manually. Its takes a little while to do, but as you say, you have to back up regularly just incase. My main concern has been viruses and the like, I spend quite a while now copying files around, scanning the computer and clearing away trash files.

UPS Mark! 😮 Blimey, you sound like you have a real belt and braces setup, are you preparing for a nuclear war? 😉 :lol1:

Cheers, Dewi

[Mark Shipley]

Dewi,

As you’re also based in Lancashire you should be ready for anything 😀

Like the White Rose Invasion Force (ooops I’m already here 😉 )

Mark

[Bill Dewison]

We do get the odd powercut, I’ll admit. Its annoying when it happens and I know it can batter the bananas out of a computer, its just the last time I spoke to someone using a UPS, he joked it was because the French had started testing nuclear missles and he’d said the odd nasty thing about them in the past 😕 Well it made me laugh anyway 🙄

Cheers, Dewi

[juddr]

i brought two old compaq proliant servers ($150 each) and a raid 5 disk array with 4 146gb disks., one of the servers is a hot spare.. there is heaps of old server gear floating around at the moment as companies upgrade,.

[Roy Roberts]

😀 Hi Becky, 😀
😮 Now computers I know about, 😮
I use 2 in my office (Converted Bedroom) one for vinyl printing & cutting on different machines HP PAVILION 40GB HD WIN98.
This is my robust machine.

The other is HP PAVILION 120GB HD WIN2000 for printing with printers attached.

I back up each computer to each other using a usb data bridge cable so both have the others info on it.
This way if There is a problem I can immediately move onto the other computer if I need to.

I NEVER (!) (!) use my Business computers on the Internet. I use my laptop running winxp as I don’t want to run any risk of virus problems.

I have also purchased an 180GB hard drive storage unit which will eventually store all my files.

All this sounds a bit extreme but I have learned over the years (ms-dos to winxp) you can never have enough backups of data.
Like you said you could loose £800.00 a day, whats the price of a good second hand computer. 😀

[Adrian Hewson]

Sorry mate but if you never use your business computers on the internet how are you in business????

I thought win 98 was obsolete

We run 10 computers on a network linked to broadband on win xp with CA virus protection and these run 24/7 never had a problem and my guys can access naything they want anytime.

For backups just moved over to second copy as per thread on this site absolutely perfect our win 2003 server bakcups up to two independent optical frices (IEEE 1394) sweet as sugar

Regards Adrian

[Rodney Gold]

I alos run 2nd copy which writes to a data server each evening , we run xp pro , a linux box as a firewall (smoothwall) for our broadband (the ADSL router also has a firewall)
We mirror the server (win 2k) on 2 x large removable HDs , I take one home and the other to my mom every week (2 x off site backups ) and swap the other 2 over .
98 sucks . its not at all robust and I would heartily recommend going to XP por with service pack 2
Apart from that we also run nortons antivirus and internet security on all or 16 or so puters that have access to the internet. apart from backing up to a Raid array server EACH puter has a mirrored data HD
I have 20 years of work on our systems , losing that means , to be blunt , Im f….D , that why im pretty anal about backups etc.
If you dont have off site backup , you might as well have NO backup.

[Roy Roberts]

😛 REPLY FROM THE MAN FROM THE ARC 😛

Wouldn’t I just love to have 10 computers connected to servers all running on WINXP PRO doing everything but make the coffee.(yawn)

But then again being self employed 3 is more than enough.

This is probably why my Bank don’t like me no loans, unused overdraft,
always in credit. 😉

[Bill Dewison]

I’ve only just noticed that your pineal gland is surplus to requirements, you already have a third eye! 😮 😉

I realise Microsoft have ceased to support 98, but I still use it on a daily basis. I’ve tried Millenium and XP, but neither seem to suit me, so Win98 2nd edition it stays. It has its problems, like with any operating system, but it works for my business.

I can understand why Highvisman would want to keep his main computers away from the internet. Unless you have a reasonable budget to buy security/virus software and have the time to monitor it, the internet can play havoc with your computer. Accessing through a laptop may not be the ideal solution for a larger business, but I can see the benefits to the smaller concern. Wish I’d thought of doing that, even a 2nd hand PC for £200 would be preferable to loosing my main machine because some deranged programmer decides to unleash ‘I Love You’ viruses and the like 😕

I’m getting the impression though that the main thing when working with computers is backing up. How many of us didn’t back up today? 🙄

Cheers, Dewi

[juddr]

dvd writers are another excellent backup method.. i have seen the drives for sale for under $80 (nz$) and the blanks for next to nothing also,.. 4.7gb per disk is an acceptable amount of space for client files etc.. and you can post these off site to your friend etc.

It should be common sense. But always password your offsite backups, the last thing you want is your competition to find your clients directory backed up on a cd that’s now sitting outside in the bin.. (There are scumbags here in NZ that make a living from sifting thru peoples rubbish looking for anything they can sell to your competition or clients)

..old CD’s can quickly be rendered usless with a holepunch… (they wont shatter..)

[Nicola McIntosh]

i thought becky was on about, if your pc died and had to get fixed like his, and it had go to pc hospital for a few days, what would you do? 😀 😀

back-up is pretty common knowledge for day to day running of pc’s!! 😛

Nik

[juddr]

put your data hard drive into a removable cradle. and keep a spare empty cradle housing in the cubbord, that way if your pc dies, you just pull the disk out and install the cradle into your new / borrowed / backup pc. this is also good if for some reason you have to evacuate your shop in a hurry you can just grab the drive and take it with you..

i do this if im away for any length of time, pull all the disks out and store them in the safe.

[Rodney Gold]

Microsofts support of 98 is actually not an issue , the problem is with peripherals , machinery and programs that can ONLY run or only have drivers for XP. Not even modern games these days run on 98. If you want a new CD writer , scanner or the like , I doubt you will get one that has 98 drivers.
Basic internet security is free , you can DL personal firewalls like Sygate etc just about anywhere and anti virus packages are cheap.
Only if you are connected 24/7 on broadband and run no security whatsoever might you have hassles. You are FAR more at risk just DLing e-mails than being connected.
What to do if your PC goes to hospital is dependant on circumstances , if you do have networks , its simple , you just use another puter , if you are on a tight budget and have a single puter , you wait. At the end of it all , it shouldnt take long to fix a PC problem if its hardware related , a few hours or so. Software or virus or conflict issues might take longer.

As to what to do in a single puter scenario , if the workload demanded it , it might be worth buying an old box and mirroring a system and certainly for security’s sake , it would be worthwhile.
You can connect your main puter to the older box and use the older box as a print server with your cutter , printer etc on it , this would at the very least speed your workflow on the main puter. Design on one and print on another.

[Roy Roberts]

😮 I had a similar problem as Becky but with my laptop, 😮

😛 We had a new computer repair shop open in the high street and I thought great lets give them the business. 😛
I took it in with all the restore disks etc and was told they would look at it and ring me.
Four days later 😕 with no phone calls 😕 I decided to call in, they informed me that it was in their workshop. 🙄
👿 After politely asking if they would mind ringing their workshop to update me they came back with the excuse the engineer has not had time to look at it yet. 👿
I eventually got the address of the workshop and went round to see the engineer.
There he was the poor LAD about 17 up to his neck in boxes trying to move equipment around.
😕 I saw my laptop sitting on some of these boxes collecting dust. 😕

I took the laptop and spent the next 24hrs sorting it out myself.
If this had been my main computer then this would have caused major problems. (!)

My advice Becky if you are on a budget or not is to have a second computer set up to how 😉 YOU 😉 want it for your business running whatever operating system suits you and keep it as a clone.
If like me you do have days when there is not a lot of important work to do then take this time to update it.

Dewi the third eye used to be in the back of my head, when I worked in the transport industry. 😮

Cheers lads

Roy.

[Alan Drury]

For less than £40.00 you can get Norton’s Ghost software which will take a ‘snapshot’ of your system to create a recovery disk. If you then have a problem put this back in and you can be back to normal. Ghost V9 also allows incremental backups and (I think) drive copies.
Alan

[Bill Dewison]

😳 Hadn’t looked at it like that Rodney, just tested the theory by looking up Norton Ghost 9 and it doesn’t support Win98 at all, so it kind of proves the point. Again, I hadn’t thought of hardware either, it looks as if I may be forced to upgrade if anything goes wrong with my current system. I wish there was a way to blame Microsoft, I really do, but when every hardware/software supplier withdraw their support for an operating system you’re kind of buggered. 🙁

Reluctantly I’m going to look up the prices for Win XP, may as well get it over and done with.

Cheers, Dewi

[Kevin.Beck]

Got my baby back today…….. 😀

Yes nic, my original question was not about backing up your files, but how would you cope without your computer for a couple of days.

In an ideal world, you should have a second comp in the background waiting for such misfortune. Luckery I re-enlisted the old comp, slow, but got me out of a bother.

larger firms will have the resorces to cope, but the small 1 man firms oftern use the same comp for internet, invoices, designing and vinyl cutting. They would be in sh1t street..

I actually lost my rag with the shop who sold it to me, they saud I had to book it in for repair, not just bring it in….Luckery a more friendly chap offered to look at it in his dinner hour and it was ready at the end of the next day.

[Alan Drury]

Dewi Ghost V9 comes with Ghost 2003 disk in the box as well, which does support earlier os BUT does not do incremental backups.
Alan

[Alan Drury]

I suppose when you looks at the price of computers now a days and their spec. getting a 2nd machine is not such a bad idea any way. I get new kit every 3 years and the original becomes the spare on the network so stuff is still available and what was the spare becomes my kids games machine (although they complain that it is too slow)
Alan

[Tim Painter]

what was wrong with it Becky??

[Kevin.Beck]

Apparently it was all my fault. 😳

I had pushed the “on” button too hard. This caused it to travel too far back and it was arcing on something, causing it to blow the fuses in the plug……

Wether that was really the problem or it was a way of that cocky salesman git to put the blame on me.

I did mention to a manager, that when selling to a business, they should take some responsability to get the machine repaired ASAP if it does break.

Perhaps asking for an extra £100 on top of the price of the comp. Then if the machine goes wrong, and if its brought to the repair shop befoe noon, it`ll be mended by the end of that same working day.

I certainly would have opted for that.

[Nicola McIntosh]

quote becky:

I had pushed the “on” button too hard. This caused it to travel too far back and it was arcing on something, causing it to blow the fuses in the plug……
.

now that’s a good one 🙄 they computer guys will tell you anything!! 😮

it can assure you becky it was not your fault!! 😀 😉

Nik

[Nicola McIntosh]

forgot to mention becky, replace your pc power lead (from plug to pc) 😀

they only cost 95p on the net!! 😛 it’s actually a kettle lead!! 😀

anyway the guy that fixed yor pc should have told you that!! 😛 (i forgot) to mention it 😳

Nik

[Kevin.Beck]

No he didn`t,

why should it be replaced?

[Nicola McIntosh]

it’s because of faulty wiring!! 😛

it could occur, through the lead being finished, had it’s day!! 🙄

if your pc does blow a fuse again, it’s your power lead!! 😉

Nik

forgot to mention when a pc is under warranty (they will make yor pc seem totally inadicuate from the first time you take it to be fixed) 😮

they drag on the faults……….cause nine times out of ten, not every knows what pc’s are all about 🙄 (the pc guys do…ripping you off) 🙄

[Kevin.Beck]

used the same power lead, and everything was ok.

quite agree with you on the “rip off2 thing.

i don`t know whats a good part or cheapo part in a computer.

i can remember when I had SL5, and tried to do a gradient fill, all I got was block lines, thought it was the software.

changed the graphics card and everything was ok, the biulder had built the comp using all cheap sh1t.

Once went into PC world. Asked about having a USB port installed, he told me by the time you`d paid for the part, then the installation, you weren`t far off the price of a new machine.. Was a bit taken back, nearly ordered a new comp, but had a word with someone I knew, he put it in for me £25 all in..robin b@st@rds

[Nicola McIntosh]

quote becky:

Once went into PC world. Asked about having a USB port installed, he told me by the time you`d paid for the part, then the installation, you weren`t far off the price of a new machine..

now that’s just typical of them!! 😮 there just money making company’s 👿 👿 don’t give a monkey’s about your pc….oh no just the pennies!! 🙄 stay well clear 😀 on the subject of your pc’s power supply!! i was told today, if you bought your pc from a large or well know pc shop, what the guy said to you about the power on switch, you have a case for the trading standards to investigate!! 😀 (i know it’s a major hassle) but seemingly it’s all to do with yourself getting electrocuted 😮 😮

nik

[Nicola McIntosh]

quote becky:

Once went into PC world. Asked about having a USB port installed, he told me by the time you`d paid for the part, then the installation, you weren`t far off the price of a new machine..

now that’s just typical of them!! 😮 there just money making company’s 👿 👿 don’t give a monkey’s about your pc….oh no just the pennies!! 🙄 stay well clear 😀 on the subject of your pc’s power supply!! i was told today, if you bought your pc from a large or well know pc shop, what the guy said to you about the power on switch, you have a case for the trading standards to investigate!! 😀 (i know it’s a major hassle) but seemingly it’s all to do with yourself getting electrocuted 😮 😮
don’t know how that happened d/post 😳
nik