In which I confess my secret shame

[rj_anderson]

My first computer was entirely DOS-based, and I have never been without a computer since. I have been online since 1987, when I had a 300-baud modem. I have lived through harrowing system crashes, the deaths of CPUs and fans and hard drives, and al manner of other unforseen disasters.

And yet I am still really, REALLY bad about backing up my files.

Today, when I got an error saying my CPU had overheated (which is a Harbinger of Doom if ever I heard one), I went looking for a backup utility on my computer (which I have had for a year and a half) and couldn't find it. A helpful article on the webbernets informed me that the Windows XP backup program was not part of the default installation, and I needed to get it off the CD.

So then I had to go hunting for my copy of Windows XP (which caused me to be very cross for about 45 minutes when I was able to find every other piece of essential software I have owned for the last ten years EXCEPT that one) and install it. I selected the files I wanted to back up, chose the location... and the backup program refused to oblige.

It looked like a glitch, so I uninstalled the backup software and reinstalled it. Still no dice. So I looked up ANOTHER article to figure out what was going on.

...

Turns out nobody backs up files to CD any more. To the extent that Windows XP Backup refuses to even allow it as an option.

Who knew?

So now I guess I have to go buy a flash drive or something. Feh.

Comments

[shoebox2.livejournal.com]

Feh, indeed.

...Does having a seriously cute 'annoyed' icon to use help any?

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

I hope you recover what you need to.

I have an external harddrive, I email my stuff to me, I store all my writings on a private yahoogroup...

When my computers got stolen, the only thing I lost were 2-3 chapters of rewrites for the book I was about to turn in. I had everything else.

If they don't crash, they can be stolen, burn up in a fire, whatever...I wouldn't trade my private yahoogroup for any other method. It rules!

I got my first computer in...um...1992 I think. Just after my son was born. Had been using them at work (legal secretary) for some time before that, but that was the first I owned...and I paid almost 3k for it. LOL. Oh my....

[queenofthefae.livejournal.com]

That sounds really annoying!

[imaginarycircus.livejournal.com]

I back up my files (my novel revisions and files) in my gmail account and we bought a 1TB LaCie hard drive for backing up everything. We use it with our Macs and a firewire and it is fabulous.

I got my first PC in 1984. It was an IBM 80/86 and I got online in 1990 on Prodigy. :D

[robinellen.livejournal.com]

I never back up either...even though I've had a few close calls. Hm....

Good luck!

[avarill.livejournal.com]

The backup that comes with Windows isn't terribly good. I recommend syncback free. http://tinyurl.com/3qty5

It won't resurrect your entire OS, but provides a way to systematically back up your most important files. Such as documents, photos etc.

I have multiple hard drives and regularly synchronize them (including my laptop). Works like a charm and I've managed to survive a few data failures without too much pain.

[erinbow.livejournal.com]

have you considered backing up online? (but your laptop's not web-capable, is it?) anyway, that's what I do. online space is cheap, and it least not in the same physical place as your computer in case of theft/fire/whatever.

To tell you the truth I don't even back up properly. I just mail myself important files occasionally. Hey, it's better than nothing.

[erinbow.livejournal.com]

PS: Flash drives are actually much nicer than CDs. Faster and easier.

[rose-in-shadow.livejournal.com]

Flash drives are awesome. I have two. one I use reguarly, and one I back up stuff on every now and then. For good deals on flash drives, keep an eye on dealcatcher.com. It has deals for lots of different things, but I often see good prices for flash drives and SD cards.

[kerravonsen]

I have learned that the only way to have reliable backups is to make the computer do them for you. Manual backups are always too irregular. That's why I got myself a 500G external USB drive, and I have my computer set up to do regular backups to it without my intervention. Weight off my mind, it is.

If I were being more thorough, however, I'd not only have an additional backup drive, but I'd backup offsite as well. Not sure of the best way of doing that, though.

[drmm.livejournal.com]

I backup to CD myself but I don't use any utility to do so. Since my important files are all in 'My Documents', I just backup that section onto several CD's.

I suppose a flash drive would be easier but if I'm going to pay money to backup my HD, I'll just buy an external HD.

[soloflights.livejournal.com]

Just copy the files you want to back up onto a disk. You won't back up programs, but the files are what are important.

Back up programs are all well and good, until you try and restore something, and its a bit more tricky than having a copy of your files on a disk.

[camillofan.livejournal.com]

It is soooooooooo not my business to comment on the comments of your commenters, but I can't resist expressing surprise that people back up creative work (or anything important, but especially that) into the cloud. Maybe I am a Nervous Nellie, but online storage seems risky.

[kaflower.livejournal.com]

This is completely out of the blue, but I really think that for your next computer, you should consider getting a Mac. I've had both mine for two plus years and not ONCE have I lost data/ejected memory/deleted a registry key/blown up my computer.

Just saying. I know it doesn't help. I second (or third) the LaCie option cause I've had mine as long as I've had my Macs and I have never had an issue.

Best of luck!
Kryssy

[mary-j-59.livejournal.com]

Oh, dear. My sister and I both lost our hard drives this spring, but the fellows at our local genius bar (Apple Store) were able to save almost everything on them. And I got us a couple of external hard drives, plus thumb flash drives - and then I discovered this:

http://www.getdropbox.com

The best site in the world. Seriously.

So I now have a copy of my novel-in-progress in the cloud, as well as on my thumb drive and hard drive.

I do hope you've managed to salvage the info on your drive, and that all will be well. (And I do love your Moomin icon!)