Comments on: A lesson in backing up your hard drive… the hard way! http://www.bigmediadesign.com/blog/2008/09/backup/ Graphic Design Weblog Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:07:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Matt http://www.bigmediadesign.com/blog/2008/09/backup/#comment-10 Matt Tue, 23 Sep 2008 06:48:59 +0000 http://www.bigmediadesign.com/blog/?p=31#comment-10 I never thought about the possibility of a fire wiping the lot out, I had considered a remote backup service before but not for that reason. I was more worried about the hard drive just mangling itself whilst on a path of self destruction. Thanks for the link, I'll check it out now :) I never thought about the possibility of a fire wiping the lot out, I had considered a remote backup service before but not for that reason. I was more worried about the hard drive just mangling itself whilst on a path of self destruction. Thanks for the link, I’ll check it out now :)

]]> By: Amanda Vlahakis http://www.bigmediadesign.com/blog/2008/09/backup/#comment-8 Amanda Vlahakis Mon, 22 Sep 2008 20:05:26 +0000 http://www.bigmediadesign.com/blog/?p=31#comment-8 Back-up is only proper back up if it's remote back-up - for instance if your office burns down your main machine AND your external hard drive are going to go down in ashes aren't they? So you aren't really backed up properly still. The only way an external hard drive is good enough back-up, is if you take it 'off site' each day, so you have your files in two separate locations every day. I have something like about 300 client project files I can't afford to loose and so I have an external drive such as your own, a good quality laptop for temporary working on if my main machine fries, which contains most of the files also, and then I use a remote back up service on top. I've had a machine fry on me 2-3 times now, so I'm practically a back-up zealot :) The remote back up service I use is very good I've found - www.mozy.com. Very quick and easy to use. I'd also recommend keeping a written storage of all your passwords and usernames for all your vital services and the url of all the places you need to go to re-download any software you rely on. Basically what is required is a list/plan of action in the event of a machine frying that tells you what to re-install from disks and what to reinstall online and all the passwords relating to this. In paper format, so it doesn't fry along with the machine. And also a digital format - that goes to your remote back up service. My process has become very slick now, the last time my machine fried, I was up and running again in just two hours and it was much less painful and stressful than the first two times :) Back-up is only proper back up if it’s remote back-up - for instance if your office burns down your main machine AND your external hard drive are going to go down in ashes aren’t they? So you aren’t really backed up properly still.

The only way an external hard drive is good enough back-up, is if you take it ‘off site’ each day, so you have your files in two separate locations every day.

I have something like about 300 client project files I can’t afford to loose and so I have an external drive such as your own, a good quality laptop for temporary working on if my main machine fries, which contains most of the files also, and then I use a remote back up service on top.

I’ve had a machine fry on me 2-3 times now, so I’m practically a back-up zealot :)
The remote back up service I use is very good I’ve found - http://www.mozy.com. Very quick and easy to use.

I’d also recommend keeping a written storage of all your passwords and usernames for all your vital services and the url of all the places you need to go to re-download any software you rely on.

Basically what is required is a list/plan of action in the event of a machine frying that tells you what to re-install from disks and what to reinstall online and all the passwords relating to this. In paper format, so it doesn’t fry along with the machine. And also a digital format - that goes to your remote back up service.

My process has become very slick now, the last time my machine fried, I was up and running again in just two hours and it was much less painful and stressful than the first two times :)

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