[DominationXVI]

I've recently realized how devastating it would be to lose all of the data on my puter, so I would like to back it all up. The main thing i'm worried about are all of the programs I currently have intstalled. Many of these programs were downloaded online thru my university, so I have no hard copy of the software in case something happens. I REALLY would never want to have to go through all the legwork of downloading this stuff again. So i'm thinking about just doing a full backup of my pc's hard drive, would this do the trick? Is a full back up different than cloning? I'm under the impression that cloning a drive copies the entire file structure and everythiing, and that a full back up just copies all of the files, is this correct? Any strategies you guys could give me for going about this would be great.

[CrazySpai]

Hey Dominiation,

If you have some spare money I would invest in an external hard drive that is roughly the size of your internal hard drive. I recommend twice the size but if it is the same size it should be fine.

Once a week you could copy your ENTIRE hard drive over to the external and you should be good. It will take some considerable time but I think it would be worth it.

Another option is if you have any skill in computer hardware and some basic bios knowledge you could install a slave hard drive but then set up the hard drives in Raid configuration.

-Crazy

[no2pencil]

Write a script to check for the USB attached storage. If it is detected, compress & PGP encrypt the compressed file, store it on the USB storage, & swap that storage out with a 2nd USB hard drive. Keep one off site in case of fire, theft, ect.

[CrazySpai]

PGP, that isn't really secure is it? I have heard it is rather easy to crack. I might give a shot at it to see.

Anyway, I believe he was asking about what to backup onto, now how to. There are several freeware compression and backup software if you do not have the skills to write that script.

[no2pencil]

*shrug* Just throwing my hat into the ring

[CrazySpai]

By hat.. you mean.. Black Hat?

[DominationXVI]

I'm thinking about getting a 2nd hard drive. I don't use a whole lot of space, so I think i might go with one of those velociraptor 300gb drives. I would like to use my existing drive for backups. I'm only using approx 130gb right now, so I'm thinking i'll just clone the content of my existing drive over to the raptor. I'll obviously be making the new drive primary.

I like the script suggestion as well, however, i don't really know how to script so that will be a problem. I know C++ well, and am becoming more comfortable with java. Is scripting similar to writing programs in languages such as c++ and java?

[no2pencil]

DominationXVI, on 21 Jan, 2009 - 10:27 PM, said:

Is scripting similar to writing programs in languages such as c++ and java?

I was talking at the shell level of the OS.

(Windows) Batch
(Linux) Bash/Korn

[skyhawk133]

I use Mozy.com to backup to an online repository.

[MorphiusFaydal]

PGP is *not* easy to crack. We're talking multiple years even with access to one of the big IBM supercomputers.

[CrazySpai]

MorphiusFaydal, on 21 Jan, 2009 - 10:02 PM, said:

PGP is *not* easy to crack. We're talking multiple years even with access to one of the big IBM supercomputers.

Sorry, read up on my encryption. I have some dumbass friends...
Sorry about that no2pencil. Thanks Morph for clearing that um.

[mrloserskid]

DominationXVI, on 21 Jan, 2009 - 05:10 PM, said:

I've recently realized how devastating it would be to lose all of the data on my puter, so I would like to back it all up. The main thing i'm worried about are all of the programs I currently have intstalled. Many of these programs were downloaded online thru my university, so I have no hard copy of the software in case something happens. I REALLY would never want to have to go through all the legwork of downloading this stuff again. So i'm thinking about just doing a full backup of my pc's hard drive, would this do the trick? Is a full back up different than cloning? I'm under the impression that cloning a drive copies the entire file structure and everythiing, and that a full back up just copies all of the files, is this correct? Any strategies you guys could give me for going about this would be great.

if it was me i would go to folder options and select show hidden files and system files.
go to walmart buy an external hard drive.
and basicly copy my hard drive to it lol.

if not
go to the store buy an external hard drive. it may have backup software with it my did.
if not use nero or some other software. lots of free ones. try
some of the ones at freewarefiles.com
hope thsi helps

[musya]

right click your drive go to properties -> tools -> backup now,
It lets you back up to a drive, either a full backup or update it from files that were changed since you previously backed up, and it compresses it too. but yea to an external drive and make sure you unplug that drive once your done compressing, so no power goes to it.