Backup Info

My Backup Procedures

Bob Mitchell Productions

As I had said in the NAJA Newsletter, there are many and varied solutions to the backup problem. However, I thought it might be easier for you to understand if you see the proceedures I follow:

First, I segregate all my data (databases, client files, word documents, spreadsheets, digital photographs, emails, etc) and keep it into a single folder on a secondary hard drive - not the ‘c’ drive. This means you may occasionally have to reset the default file locations in some programs, but that shouldn’t be a big problem. Depending upon how complex your data structures are, you can decide how to organize and populate your primary data folder. I made mine easy to use:

d:\Data
      \Photos
            \Family
            \web work
      \Word Documents
      \Client Files
      \etc.

This kind of file folder set-up makes it very easy to make backup copies of everything important to me. ALL of my important files are in one place and I know I’m not going to miss something when I make the backups.

I need to keep my client documents for years; thus I always have more than one backup copy! A duplicate backup task copies the data files to a second networked computer hard drive, or an attached USB hard drive. Also, I set up backup tasks so that they repeat automatically and without intervention.

A number of programs can do these tasks for you. One which I started using several years ago, and which has served my needs very well is Second Copy. You can find the newest version at www.secondcopy.com. Its very straight forward, easy to use, inexpensive, yet has many advanced options for such tasks as syncronizing and making multiple archives. You can have numerous backup tasks which can be set to automatically execute based upon individual schedules. You can even have them compress the backup files if you choose. The best part though, is that it’s reliable: once set up and running, you can nearly forget about it.

My data changes frequently, so I make backups every day. And, since I leave my machines on all the time, I have the program doing its work when I’m not: 3AM. I also make chronological backups to ensure data integrity. That is, I have sequentially numbered backups of some data, so I can reset my conditions to a specific prior time. I also keep a data backup drive off site for extra protection. You can always replace a computer, but you can’t very well replace invaluable data!

If you have questions about backups, send them to me.

Bob