Have you made a back up today?

26 replies
Hello Warriors,

I woke up this morning, fired up my main PC, and Windows would not load.

I tried to start Windows in Safe Mode, and that didn't work.

I tried to load the Last Known Configuration, and that didn't work.

I figured, ok, I might have to re-install Windows, and that should fix the problem right?

Wrong...

My main C drive was listed as Unknown, and to re-install windows I would have to
Reformat the drive. Not a chance, all my important data was on this drive, and
formatting it meant I would lose everything on that drive.

After spending the last 6 hours today attempting to recover the data from my main
hard drive, I finally was able to recover everything on my drive, and I'm re-installing
Windows as we speak. Lucky for me, I have 2 computers that I work with....

My question to you is, do you have a Master Back Up of your important data OFFLINE
on DVD's, in case your hard drive ever fails on you?

If you don't, for your sake, make one now, and get into the routine of making regular back ups.

I used to have the attitude that it would never happen to me, and it had been a couple
months since I did a master back up, so, if I lost everything, it would've been a nightmare
to recover from.

Consider this as your reminder to start backing up now, and don't think that it will
never happen to you, because hard drives have a life span of 5 - 10 years, and it's
not a question of "IF they will fail, but rather, When"

Carlos Garcia
#back #made #today
  • Profile picture of the author WebRank1
    That's very good advice as I always put off my backups. Thanks for the reminder though and sorry for the trouble you had to go through!
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  • Profile picture of the author Rachel Rofe
    Seems like lots of people are having this problem lately.

    I awesomely downloaded a virus today and am going to end up losing everything... I'm pretty happy about it, though. I find once I have no distractions I do a zillion times better anyway. I should probably never do a back-up just for this reason.

    In other news, there's an awesome site a lot of people rave about (that I've yet to try myself): Online Backup: Easy, Completely Automatic. Secure. Carbonite.

    $50 for the year, not too shabby.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dan Liptak
    Yes, backups are very important. I had a HD crash on Thursday. Luckily it was my backup drive.

    Also, don't forget about offsite backups.
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexandre Valois
      After seeing my business go bust twice when I started out, I say we can never stress the importance of back-ups enough.

      A couple months ago I bought a one-click backup external disk drive, and run a full maintenance and backup once a week.

      That is on top of my hard copies (dvd backups).

      And now that I switched to a dedicated server, online backup service included as well.

      You can never be too cautious they say?

      Think of it as an internet marketer's insurance

      @ Rach now - Girl, shoulda told me about that sooner, I got a couple nasties I can send your way
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      • Profile picture of the author CarlosGarcia
        If you're ever in a predicament of getting your data back, this software saved me today:
        Active@ File Recovery Software & Web Service. Data Recovery for Windows XP 2003 2000 98 ...

        I have no affiliation to them, and that software helped me get all my data back,
        when nothing else would.

        Granted, you need a 2nd computer to hook up your "dead drive" to, since this
        drive would not boot up at all.

        So I connected my faulty drive, as the slave to my other computer, and using that
        software I was able to get all my data back, and now, Windows is being re-installed.

        Losing your data is the absolute worse feeling in the world, don't let it happen to you.
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        • Profile picture of the author Alexandre Valois
          Originally Posted by CarlosGarcia View Post

          as the slave to my other computer
          Now, now, now ... this is starting to sound kinky!
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          • Profile picture of the author CarlosGarcia
            Ha Ha, that's funny, at least I can laugh about this now, 6 hours ago..... I was :confused:
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            • Profile picture of the author thatgirlJ
              My MacBook died a few weeks ago I was going to back up right before we left for vacation, but I said "I'll do it when we get back!"

              When we were on vacation it crashed and I lost it all...unrecoverable.

              But I've had the same thoughts as Rachel...a heck of a lot less distractions :p

              (but really ->)

              I now have a new MacBook Pro (bright side ), and I'm backing up as we speak.

              Mac users can't use Carbonite, so get Online Backup, Data Backup & Remote Backup Solutions from Mozy.com ? Welcome

              It's great! 5 bucks a month
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              • Profile picture of the author Alexandre Valois
                Now I see everyone advocating online backup services ...

                I assume most of you are from the states?

                From my understanding you guys have no bandwith use limit from your ISP's?

                Lucky bunch, we're not so lucky here up north.
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                • Profile picture of the author rondo
                  Thanks for the reminder. I'm going to give Carbonite a try.


                  Andrew
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                  • Profile picture of the author jhongren
                    Thanks for the thread and I am doing my backup NOW.

                    Also do backup for your blog posts and content if you have a blog. Scedule them weekly and send them to a gmail which offers up to 20MB of attachment.

                    Yahoo Mail has failed me as it only take up to 10MB.

                    So thanks Carolos for the reminder! =)

                    John
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                    • Profile picture of the author Headhunting55
                      As an IT Consultant for over 24 years, I have a favorite little saying that I repeat at LEAST 5 or 6 times a day to various clients:

                      "Back it up or PACK it up!"

                      Backing up up data is NOT Difficult, NOT expensive, and it is something you HAVE to do.

                      It's simple: get an external drive that matches or exceeds the size of the disk that you want back up. Buy Acronis True Image Echo Workstation. Go through the setup wizard (the instructions are quite easy). And you are done.

                      I have used this system for HUNDREDS of clients, and it's what I use on my own systems.

                      Now the Online backup Services (Carbonite, etc..) are good as a Redundant Backup/Secondary Backup resource, but I would never use them as a primary backup system. They are too slow, and you do have to be concerned about the possibility of your Internet connection failing. These services are good as part of an overall backup strategy though...just not primary.

                      If you have questions about backup methodologies, please PM me....there are MANY effective methods...the one i just mentioned is just what works for me.

                      But....you need to be doing SOMETHING.
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                      • Profile picture of the author hibernate
                        I use an online backup system, (and I chose Mozy), as my primary backup because I believe offsite backup is preferable to physical backup that requires one to physically carry tapes, swappable or portable hard drives, DVDs, etc. to a "safe" alternate location.
                        I want to guard against not only an equipment failure with my prmairy hard drives, but also against theft or fire.
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                        • Profile picture of the author Mike Antoni
                          Just this week my Macbook Pro crapped out and my hard drive failed. I lost all my data on there...and the Macbook Pro isn't even 2 months old yet!

                          Worse then that, I imported all my PC data onto the Macbook Pro (running XP through VMWare Fusion). I had no backup for either the Mac or XP side and lost everything I've created since 2004.

                          I feel like an idiot and only hope that one of my last ditch efforts works. This week I'm freezing the drive in an anti-static bag for an hour or so then trying to boot it as an external drive.

                          If that doesn't work I may have to spend around $2,000 to have it done professionally.

                          So, like Carlos says - BACK UP YOUR COMPUTER!!!

                          Mike Antoni

                          PS - Another thing too. Make sure you save all install files, serial numbers, passwords, and all that stuff too. Even a backup won't save you if you don't have the original install files and serial numbers.

                          I'm going to have to rebuy Office Pro, Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Camtasia, Snag It, FLV Producer, and tons more stuff I don't even know yet!
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                          Check out my Affiliate Internet Marketing Blog, lots of cool free stuff. And make sure you take a peek at Trilateral Profits. Internet Marketing Management

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                          • Profile picture of the author CarlosGarcia
                            Originally Posted by Mike Antoni View Post

                            Just this week my Macbook Pro crapped out and my hard drive failed. I lost all my data on there...and the Macbook Pro isn't even 2 months old yet!

                            Worse then that, I imported all my PC data onto the Macbook Pro (running XP through VMWare Fusion). I had no backup for either the Mac or XP side and lost everything I've created since 2004.

                            I feel like an idiot and only hope that one of my last ditch efforts works. This week I'm freezing the drive in an anti-static bag for an hour or so then trying to boot it as an external drive.

                            If that doesn't work I may have to spend around $2,000 to have it done professionally.

                            So, like Carlos says - BACK UP YOUR COMPUTER!!!

                            Mike Antoni

                            PS - Another thing too. Make sure you save all install files, serial numbers, passwords, and all that stuff too. Even a backup won't save you if you don't have the original install files and serial numbers.

                            I'm going to have to rebuy Office Pro, Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Camtasia, Snag It, FLV Producer, and tons more stuff I don't even know yet!
                            OUCH, sorry to hear that Mike.

                            I'm sure you can contact the vendors and let them know your computer crashed,
                            and they can look you up in their database, or perhaps you have confirmation emails?

                            I wish I could recommend a tool for you to use, but I'm not a Mac user.

                            I have heard about freezing the drive for about an hour, and apparently this method
                            does work, even if it's temporary to get your critical files backed up.

                            I was lucky that I had some CRC Errors 45, which is deadly for booting the operating system,
                            but I was still able to recover my important data.

                            Good luck my friend.
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                            • Profile picture of the author Fabian Tan
                              Yep, in fact I have 2 back-up copies offline and one online.

                              Fabian
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                            • Profile picture of the author erichpsw
                              Sorry about your troubles. But here a FREE great tip for anyone worried about backs. I personnally use Cobian, its a free backup software. Cobian's site - The home of Cobian Backup

                              Totally Free, but what I have done is added a second harddrive, and every night it backs up any changes to my important folders/files.

                              Its probably for me the greatest tool I've download and used. Everynight while I sleep, it backups all my files for me. You can even set it to how many backups to keep on file so you don't overload the second drive, I personally keep 6 days of backups, just in case.

                              I hope this doesn't sound too much like a sales letter, cause its a totally free, and thats what happens after a couple glasses of wine.

                              Anyways, I hope this tip helps someone.

                              Erich
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                            • Profile picture of the author Jarod Lam
                              You know, Dan Kennedy said 'one' is a bad number in business.

                              If you have only one product and one traffic source, your business is like a house of cards.

                              That goes for computers, files and employees too. You should have at least two of everything.

                              Anyways, here's what I normally do:

                              I would save the entire folder of business documents into a pen drive after every major update or at the end of the day.

                              For audio/video content, I would burn them onto dvd's.

                              Jarod
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                            • Profile picture of the author hibernate
                              One other note, some people have been able to salvage a seemingly dead hard drive with Steve Gibson's SpinRite. See his site at Home of Gibson Research Corporation (no affiliate link). SpinRite is a several year old program but there is a lot of daily activity at an offsite newsgroup the link to which you can find at his site mentioned above. Lastly, he offers a 30 day no questions asked refund policy.
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                        • Profile picture of the author CarlosGarcia
                          Originally Posted by Alexandre Valois View Post

                          Now I see everyone advocating online backup services ...

                          I assume most of you are from the states?

                          From my understanding you guys have no bandwith use limit from your ISP's?

                          Lucky bunch, we're not so lucky here up north.
                          Great additional ideas guys, I'm glad this is turning into an informative thread.

                          I didn't even think about of keeping a back up outside my house in case of theft or fire.

                          Good call!

                          Let me tell ya, doing a recovery has been painful, you don't want to go through it.
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                • Profile picture of the author CarlosGarcia
                  Originally Posted by Alexandre Valois View Post

                  Now I see everyone advocating online backup services ...

                  I assume most of you are from the states?

                  From my understanding you guys have no bandwith use limit from your ISP's?

                  Lucky bunch, we're not so lucky here up north.
                  Buddy, I'm in Ontario, so we definitely have bandwidth caps now too, 95 GB / month
                  with Rogers, and extra $25 for unlimited bandwidth. Oh well, it's how things are going
                  now, but it's better than losing my data like I almost did today.

                  Thanks for the thread and I am doing my backup NOW.

                  Also do backup for your blog posts and content if you have a blog. Scedule them weekly and send them to a gmail which offers up to 20MB of attachment.

                  Yahoo Mail has failed me as it only take up to 10MB.

                  So thanks Carlos for the reminder! =)

                  John
                  Glad you're on it, after what I went through today, wouldn't want to see any of
                  you guys go through that either, better safe than sorry!
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                  • Profile picture of the author Alexandre Valois
                    Originally Posted by CarlosGarcia View Post

                    Buddy, I'm in Ontario, so we definitely have bandwidth caps now too, 95 GB / month
                    with Rogers, and extra $25 for unlimited bandwidth. Oh well, it's how things are going
                    now, but it's better than losing my data like I almost did today.
                    95 Go ? You're still a happy camper!
                    Here in Quebec, 10 to 30 Go bandwith caps are frequent, and unlimited use is getting hard to find...

                    Guess that's why I'm still using that prehistoric "hardware" backup system
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                    • Profile picture of the author Ronnie Nijmeh
                      Another "backup" service I love is at Dropbox - Home - Secure backup, sync and sharing made easy. ... it's actually kind of like a sync server, so if you're on the road, you'll always have access to your files (and it keeps revision history, so if you update a Word doc, but want to go back to the copy from yesterday, you can).

                      The beauty is that it's all an automatic sync and it integrates right in Windows Explorer (or "Finder" on the Mac), and you can also "share" folders with others so you just drag and drop a file you're working on and it'd automatically appear on your partner's dropbox folder.

                      It's saved my ass a number of times.

                      Ronnie

                      P.S. I don't work for them or anything... just a happy user. Besides, it's free Can't beat that price.
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                      • Profile picture of the author eljay003
                        I just want to share an experience I had with my web host. One of the features of my dedicated server is the backup thing. The host will perform daily backups for me (no need for me to do anything ).

                        It was one unfortunate night when my site was inaccessible for more than 24 hours due to a faulty RAM. All my files were lost. The webhost told me that the daily backups were located in the same hard drive where my other files can be found and that they cannot recover any files or backup for me.

                        Anyway, since I normally do a monthly backup, I was able to restore my site on my own
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                • Profile picture of the author Dan Liptak
                  Another way to do offsite backups is to buy 2 external HD's. Come up with an offsite schedule, say every week and then exchange one HD with a friend/relative that lives nearby. Just keep rotating the two drives according to your schedule.
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  • Profile picture of the author jackmrk
    You can now buy the great PC Backup and Recovery tool "Acronis"
    for less than $10 (instead of $50) - just in the next 6 days!

    I will do your backups automatically when you tell it to.

    More details at my blog (see my signature): http://www.bestitfriend.org/blog

    Yes I do get a comission if you buy it through my blog, but I stand
    by this product with all my 25 years of computing experience
    and I have been using it at home and work for years.

    It is a great product.

    Do yourself a favour and buy it (even if you miss the promotion).

    Yours,

    Jack.
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    Holistic Marketing | Relationship Marketing - How to Become your Customer's Most Trusted Adviser And Partner's Best Friend

    Virus Free, Fast Computer FOREVER - Tips by a Computer Guru with 30 years of experience
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