A computer problem I recently experienced has prompted me to start a topic thread critically IMPORTANT to us all:

What procedure (if any) do you use for backing up critical data on your hard drive?

1) How often do you perform (routinely scheduled?) a backup?

2) Do you utilize a software utility program? If so, which one?

3) Backup media: CD, DVD, Zip, tape, offsite internet storage, or?

4) Exactly 'what' files (data) do you routinely backup?

Universally popular Windows email programs like: 'Outlook' & 'Incredimail', store their crtically important data (addressbook, calendar, notes, archived email, etc) in unlikely (hidden) locations. As a result many people don't know how (or may overlook) backing up these files. What are the actual file names given for this critical data, and where are these files actually located?

The hd backup data utility program I'm currently using is called 'Backup Plus' version 7.1.1:
http://avantrix.com

to manage my computer data backups and curious how this program compares to others available out there.

I hope this proves to be a useful thread to share advice & recommendations for keeping critical computer data routinely (and regularly) backed up, avoiding heartache if an unexpected hard drive crash occurs.

Looking forward to hearing everyone's comments.

Scott

Hi Scott, long time no "e"

For partial backups of important files, I agree with you that the e-mail files are most important. The location of these files has become more of a mystery over the years but there is a way to get Outlook to tell you exactly where it's storing your messages:

Go to Tools>Options>Maintenance and then click on "Store Folder". Highlight the entire path and then CTL+C to copy it. Now paste this into Internet Explorer (CTL+V), press ENTER and it will take you directly to the folder that contains all your stuff. Now you can copy every file you see to a safe place.

Other important areas to back up are your "My Documents" folder and your main download directory. As a rule of thumb, it's a good idea to create a folder called "Downloads" so that anything you download from the internet gets stored there. Whenever you get that little "Save or Open" dialog from a web page, you can choose "Save" and then point it to your "Downloads" directory. This way you always know where to find stuff after a download and you just have one folder to backup in the future. It's also a good idea to back up you browser's bookmarks (in Windows they're in your "Favorites" folder).

For more serious backups (to restore the entire system in case of a total disater), I recommend Norton Ghost.

Chris

Scott. For years I have used Norton Ghost Image.
You require a spare partition or a second Harddrive to save your Ghost Image to.
Once you get the PC working from a clean Install with just the essential drivers and program. You save a Ghost Image to the spare partition.
Now when ever you get a problem with the PC. Just re-install the Ghost Image back again and your PC is back to the day you saved the Ghost Image....Its brilliant

I can get my PC back to day one in 10-15 minutes....That's WinXP with all my programs.

Graham UK.

I use DriveImage Pro which is very similar to Norton Ghost.
Usually what I do is install the operating system first, add all the drivers and then perform an image of the hard drive. Once I have that image, then I start installing my others applications. If one of the application causes the operating system to be unstable, I can always reload the image in less than 15 min.

When all of my applications are installed and running smoothly, I then perform another drive image and store it in a backup hard drive.

As far as data, I use cdrw and zip disk to store them.

Scott,
If you're interested in backing up Outlook files, you can always export your email and address book to a different location.
However, if you want to know where the files are located, first you have to go to Explorer/Tools/Folder Options. Select the View tab and choose "Show Hidden files and folders".

Then go to your profile folder. Usually it is located in Document and Settings/UserName (ie UserName = Scott)/Local Settings/Application Data/Identities.
This is where outlook stores its files.

Claude

Hello Scott,
First off thankyou so much for the card....It set me off bawling but your kindness really touched me. I will email you shortly I promise.

To get to the topic in hand. ... I have two dead hard drives in my drawer with data on that I would dearly love to retrieve.....why? becuase I never used to back up.

After two fatal hard drive crashes I learned my lesson and anything that is important I add to my second (storage) hard drive AND make a copy of it on cd. Every now and then I go through the cd's and pull off what I still want and make a new cd and throw the old out of date ones.

Best to you
Tony

Thanks for all the great responses. After reading your stories, I realize that I MUST purchase a hard drive imaging utility program to backup my hard drive. PC Magazine recently conducted a comparative review of:

Norton Ghost 2003: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1091163,00.asp

Drive Image 2002: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1091162,00.asp

Drive Imaging http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1094490,00.asp

Acronis TruImage 6.0 http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1091164,00.asp


Acronis TruImage 6.0 garnered 5 stars as well as PC Magazine's Editor's Choice award. I'm curious if anyone here has had any experience with TruImage 6.0, as I'm thinking of going with it instead of Norton Ghost or Drive Image now, as I also have a NEC brand CDR-CDRW drive (model NR-7900A) which TruImage 6.0 supposedly works well with.

Claude: Thanks for directing me to the Outlook file location. The Outlook file has the file extension of .PST. On an interesting side note, I notice that some Yamaha Style files also appear to share that SAME .PST (microsoft office data file type) extension. Anyone know why?

Scott

Update: I found out that PowerQuest's 'Drive Image Pro' that Wizboy uses has unfortunately been discontinued. I just read a recent Aug 19th, 2003 PC Magazine review of the new 'Drive Image 7' (replacement for 'Drive Image 2002 & 'Drive Image Pro') and they give this newest version 5 stars.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1207125,00.asp


I think I may consider going with the new improved "Drive Image 7' instead of TruImage 6.0 now.


Scott

Scott,

Yes. I actually do have an older version of DriveImage which restores the image using a bootable cd in a non windows gui.
The nice thing about this new version is you don't ever have to leave Windows or reboot in order to perform your backup.
Good Luck!

Claude

Scott, If you can find Drive Image Pro old stock in some comouter store go ahead and get it. That's what I use and you don't need a second hard drive to store the image. The newer version (DriveImage 7)is as good as the older one plus some other improvements.

Scott. Which ever IMAGE program get finally buy. You require to save the image to either a spare partition or another Harddrive.
The reason is an image would over write itself if stored on the same partition as your OS system.

Graham