Comments on: How to Backup All of Your “Stuff”, the Right Way

By: Chris Palmer

Chris Palmer — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 22:12:56 +0000

Nice topic! I’ve had this problem forever, with various versions of Windows running on both laptops and my desktop. Now I keep two backups on dvd labeled with programs and what personal files I have. I’ve since switched to Ubuntu (linux os) and keep a tar compressed file with my whole os and standard programs I use after each backup when I unload all the extra files on my computer (mp3′s pics ect.) onto dvds. If something (God forbid) happened to my hard drive all I have to do is drop the tar file into my root directory and extract it and everythings back to normal. I also use a site called Suse Studio where I’ve slowly been adding all the programs I use and setting that up, so if for some reason my backups fail for my os, I can instantly get an iso image of linux to install in minutes!!!

I’m not much of a fan of Macs, but any system thats based of unix is a friend of mine!!!

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By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:22:37 +0000

For me, Level 4 was pretty easy to execute as I’d back up key files (photos, iTunes music, etc) on DVD and mail it to my mom. She simply stores them in a closet for me to get to in case I ned the backups. And she can look at all the kid pics too. It was good to see these backup CDs recently as I was visiting home, and made me feel I was doing *something* right as far as backup strategies go.

I wonder if all this is overkill sometime. But hey… if I lost all my kids’ pics I’d be seriously bummed. I guess it’s worth it then, eh?

By: Manish R.

Manish R. — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:21:53 +0000

Excellent advice, I was in the process of writing a blog entry on back-ups but most likely will just point to this one.

I have a new 500GB WD My Passport USB drive and use CCC, I’m able to boot via USB.

I’m stuck at level 4 as well.

By: Bob

Bob — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:20:49 +0000

Some good issues covered here. I currently use Carbon Copy Cloner or CCC. It can make a USB drive a clone and bootable. Works brill and I love knowing that I’ve always got an up to date backup when I plug it in.

By: Jim

Jim — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:43:47 +0000

Brad – This is AWESOME advice! Glad you made the switch to Apple – the first step to security. I am probably at level 1, after years of doing no backups! Imagine that! I've accrued enough photos that I have taken with two digital cameras that I got serious about backups – This past June I bought a one TB Western Digital and use Time Machine to backup the two internal hard drives. I'm on a desktop so the bumps in the road aren't an issue but we're getting a MacBook Pro soon – backups will probably be even more important. A mirrored backup may be necessary if I add another computer that requires backing up. I DO like Time Machine – that snapshot in time is awesome! MS can't touch it! Later!