Newsletter Archives

• Get those full system backups working!

  Posted on March 19, 2016 at 06:58 CDT by woody • Comment in the Forums

  I got this message from JIY – and what he says is absolutely right.

  There is an underlying theme with all this updating, upgrading, clandestine goings-on.

  That is, very few people make system backups. There are a whole bunch of comments over the last few days that could have warranted the response, “What is your most recent backup?” To which you know there would be no good answer. And no, we’re not talking about restore points. This is a full system backup on a USB hard drive, facilitated by EaseUS Todo Backup (free), Windows itself, or something else.

  I have dealt with enough friends’ system problems (repeat offenders) to devote a 1.5Tb Seagate to backup duty. Get it fixed, updated, and then backup immediately. A full backup of my 2Tb (1.81 actual) which is 1.66 unused takes about 35 minutes under USB 2.0 to that drive. That same drive holds my Windows 1.04 file copies of the 720K originals … and a whole bunch of other cool stuff.

  $80 for a backup drive is cheap insurance. Even if you were lazy and ran backup only twice a year you still could “get out of it”. Seems that backup declined along with the decline in bluescreens? Anyone who has seen a disaster reversal (especially on a laptop)  would agree it’s the ultimate “undo”.

  In cases of Windows 10 failed prevention, a backup may be invaluable.

  Microsoft made a good move in Windows 10, by bringing back all of the Windows 7 backup capabilities – which are extensive. But I wanted to make two points.

  First, there are plenty of good, free system image backup programs available. I’m currently recommending Comodo backup – as you all will see next week.

  Second, there’s an incredible bargain on external backup drives this week. Amazon is listing the Western Digital 1 TB “My Passport” USB 3 external hard drive for $64.19. If you’re a Prime member (I am, and recommend it), you get shipping free. I’ve never seen a name-brand external hard drive that cheap.

  Windows Patches/Security backup

• Symform – a fascinating idea about backup

  Posted on December 7, 2010 at 23:01 CST by woody • Comment in the Forums

  I had never heard of Symform before reading this article in InfoWorld.

  My first reaction, just as the author says, was “you gotta be kidding, I would NEVER do that.”

  But then I read the details – and it makes sense. A completely different approach to cloud backup. I wonder if it’ll fly?

  Other backup, Symform
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