How do you backup (vista) ? | The Coffeehouse

webmonkey
How am i supposed to code with theeeeeese ?

I keep thinking I really should start to back stuff up properly, but I'm lazy and I never get round to it. So if I'm going to do it it needs to be automatic once setup.

I was just poking about in Vista's previous versions feature, I'd never realised it was as good as it appears to be. Can i store these shadow copies on another disk?

How good are the other backup tools in vista? Do any of them create a continuous backup of all versions of everything like Time machine?

What do you do to backup?

jh71283
Throw new System.Beverage. OutOfCoffeeException()

Windows home server.

Without it I'd be too lazy to set up full backups for every machine at home.

Sven Groot
My name has 9 letters. Coincidence? I think not...

I run a logoff script that uses RoboCopy to mirror my data to an external hard disk. Since I shut down every night this runs daily. I also periodically burn a subset containing the really irreplacable stuff (e.g. source code) to a DVD-RW, which I keep at the lab at university, in case my house burns down or something. I use two DVD-RWs in rotation for this, and I burn them using ImgBurn, no real backup tools used.

As for my laptop, the only stuff on there that I care enough about is source code, which is also stored in a subversion repository on my desktop machine, and those are included in my desktop's backups.

Bas
It finds lightbulbs.

Windows Home Server. I never, ever think about backups anymore, but have a daily backup of everything on every machine now. It's heaven.

AndyC

In reply to Bas

#Nov 20th, 2008 @ 7:24 AM

Windows Home Server.

'tis awesome.

Dr Herbie
Horses for courses

In reply to AndyC

#Nov 20th, 2008 @ 8:12 AM

I back-up to an external hard-drive. I started out just using synchtoy to copy the document directories, but then I decided that wasn't good enough and I moved to using Vista's built-in backup software and scheduled it to run weekly (low rate of change on my home PC). The backup software will (supposedly) backup email, etc as well as user-files.

As I type this I have realised that I've never tested the restore of the backups ... I'll have to do so after the next on on Sunday evening ...

Herbie

harumscarum
out of memory

In reply to Dr Herbie

#Nov 20th, 2008 @ 8:36 AM

What did you find in synctoy that wasn't good enough? I just started using it for something unrelated and was impressed enough to start using it for backup.

Dr Herbie
Horses for courses

In reply to harumscarum

#Nov 20th, 2008 @ 8:39 AM

Mainly because I don't know how to get it to backup things like emails and registry settings. Other than that it was good for making copied of the documents folders, etc.

Herbie

AndyC

In reply to harumscarum

#Nov 20th, 2008 @ 8:39 AM

The fundamental issue with thing like synctoy is that you aren't really making a backup, just miroring the contents. It won't protect you against accidental file overwrites, deletions, corruption etc. A proper backup utility will do all that and more.

spivonious

I use the built-in Vista backup to backup to another drive in the system. I have it doing an incremental backup once a week. The only thing I don't like about it is that I can't actually select folders to backup. Instead I have to choose categories of files.

Is Home Server worth the license cost? I don't think I'd use it except for the backups.

PaoloM
Hypermediocrity

In reply to spivonious

#Nov 20th, 2008 @ 1:03 PM

Yes, it's totally worth the license cost ($99 at NewEgg). Plus you can do all sorts of cool stuff with remote access and shared folders.

And it's basically a full Windows Server 2003 (sans domain), so you can host all your web apps at home.

elmer
I'm on my very last life.

My main desktops are on all the time (yes, I'm destroying the planet) so I just schedule backups to an external drive, using NtBackup... Full backup once a week, incrementals or differentials (depending on the machine) nightly.

harumscarum
out of memory

In reply to AndyC

#Nov 20th, 2008 @ 8:59 AM

hmm maybe it is time I start taking back-ups more seriously.

Ion Todirel
buuu

I'm doing it in software too, MirrorFolder

GoddersUK
I CAN has cheezburger and you CAN'T has stop me!

Live Mesh.

webmonkey
How am i supposed to code with theeeeeese ?

In reply to GoddersUK

#Nov 21st, 2008 @ 3:49 PM

Hmm, I might get another drive and give vista's backup stuff a go.

A WHS would be nice, but completely overkill just for me. I'd end up never using it because 23.5 hours of the day it wouldn't do anything.

Live mesh is nice, but doesn't guard against deletes and overwrites (unless I'm missing some cool feature).

Now I've started this thread I've got to do something, because if I don't all my data will disappear!

Bass
www.spreadfirefox.com/5years/

I put my stuff up on Internet and let the rest of the world mirror it.

elmer
I'm on my very last life.

In reply to spivonious

#Nov 20th, 2008 @ 1:03 PM

http://www.petri.co.il/installing_windows_xp_ntbackup_on_windows_vista.htm

I still prefer the old NTBACKUP.

blowdart
Peek-a-boo

In reply to webmonkey

#Nov 21st, 2008 @ 4:20 PM

Well I use my WHS for backups, and to store my videos on. I can then stream from it to my machines, or the xbox. I don't use the remote access stuff however.

Ion Todirel
buuu

In reply to Bass

#Nov 21st, 2008 @ 4:53 PM

ahahaha, you're evil Wink

well said

magicalclick

I just do Complete PC Backup to DVDs or External Drive. When I recover, I prefer everything in mint condition. No garbage I installed for fun. And no personal information is saved.