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Pastimes : Computer Learning -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: FJB who wrote (87440)	1/18/2015 1:31:05 AM
From: Raptech	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 110626

I backup my important work files and financial records (Quicken forces a backup every 5th log in) to several different externals and thumb drives so feel safe with the very critical stuff. I also image my drives because in the event of a crash recreating everything would be a real PIA and terribly time consuming. System failures and exposure to malware is a risk we all have when we boot the computer. Imaging is inexpensive, simple and quick these days so better safe than sorry.

To: FJB who wrote (87440)	1/18/2015 8:58:00 AM
From: PMS Witch	4 Recommendations Recommended By Gottfried Id_Jit russet SI Ron (Crazy Music Man) Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 110626

I just don't see the benefit of a complete backup if you have your important data replicated. Over the years, I have never lost even a single byte of data because of a system failure, but I've lost plenty of data because of my own carelessness and stupidity. I backup my data daily, and rotate the backups weekly. That leaves me with seven copies, plus the original. Monthly, I update my data to SkyDrive (or whatever Microsoft's calling it these days.) I use eternal drives too, but sporadically. For me, the question is "How long to recover after a disaster?" For me, the answer is always under five minutes. When I use the word "Data" I'm writing about the stuff that has been created or collected by me: Documents, Pictures, Music, etc. I'm not writing about Software packages or Windows Systems. I treat these as entirely separate entities. I can get new copies of my software. I can buy a new copy of Windows. I can even buy a new computer. But I can't buy lost personal files such as Photos, Work Product, or similar Documents. But System Files seem to go crazy without warning. One moment, everything's fine. The next, a disaster. Sure, with skill, time, patience, and perseverance, I could re-trace the steps that hatched the problem, but this could take hours, or maybe days. Why bother? There's a better approach. This is where a System Image pays huge dividends. In under five minutes, I can restore my entire Windows System. Once restored, all files, settings, configurations, additions, alterations, customization, and preferences are restored. Whatever the problem I encountered was, it's now gone! Cheers, PW. P.S. For best results, one should store their personal data and their Windows System on separate partitions, keep separate backups, and when the need arises, restore them separately. I cannot understand why Windows still stores personal data and System files on the same partition -- it's a profoundly unsound practice.

To: FJB who wrote (87440)	1/18/2015 9:19:50 AM
From: steve harris	Respond to of 110626

Not as much anymore, but wasn't too long ago your computer would just crash, wouldn't boot due to a new driver or software upgrade, or even a nasty virus. Instead of having to reload windows, reload apps, set up all your software like email settings, etc, all I did would grab my backup image, reload it and in less than 30 minutes I'm back to where I was. How long would it take you to reload windows, your apps, your data, and set everything the way it was?