Computer Back-ups

8 years ago

I've got a WD removable hard drive and use WD SmartWare set on "Continuous Backup". Am I OK to not use Windows Backup? I'm backing up the same files twice by using each, correct?

TIA

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kbarb - San Francisco - Z10a

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

If you have both of them set to backup, and backup to separate backup files, and they're both configured to run, then yes, you're making duplicate backups, which is unnecessary.
I'd choose one and disable the other one.
I don't know what "Continuous Backup" is - does it explain ?

One thing to consider is whether any particular type of backup uses a proprietary format, for which you will then need the same software to restore.
But if all the backup is doing is copying files over to a separate location, it's not a problem - you could just use Explorer to copy files back.

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jrb451
Original Author
8 years ago
"Continuous Backup": every time I make a change to a file on my C: drive it's backed up, immediately. I don't have a set schedule (day/time) for WD to back up like I do/did with Windows.
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kbarb - San Francisco - Z10a
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Ok, sounds good.

One thing to remember is that if a newly edited file, when backed up, is overwriting the backed up original file, you can run into problems if the newly edited file contains mistakes or is corrupted.

You would most likely lose the original "clean" backed up file.

So it's a good idea to keep some historical backups.

It depends on how the actual backup is setup though.
jrb451
Original Author
8 years ago
That's a good point.
Elmer J Fudd
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Continuous, instantaneous backups is massive overkill. What you're saying is that your saved files are so special, your (personal) memory and your time are both so very limited, and the risk of a PC failure any minute of the day is so imminent, that anything other than immediate backups puts you in jeopardy. To that, I say, nope. Very unlikely to be the case, I don't care who you are or what you do. And doing so can foster an unwarranted paranoia.

And you realize that by keeping your one backup copy continuously connected to your PC, you risk losing what's on your PC AND your backup if there's a power surge or a hiccup in the PC's power supply. Not a good practice no matter how you look at it.

You needn't use Windows backup, or what came with the drive, if these don't do what you prefer. There are lots of free backup programs that should be more useful to use. Many apps (like Excel or Word) will do save backup copies every few minutes. Isn't that enough?

Once a day is overkill for most people, every few days or week should suffice for most, but so be it. For the occasional something special when your backup is between cycles, attach it to an email and save it as a draft. Or put it on a thumb drive and then remove it from the PC. Done.
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kbarb - San Francisco - Z10a
8 years ago
You make a good point, but I think what users do is open the package, and choose what at quick glance seems to be the best option. At least he's running a backup, which a lot of users don't do at all.
Continuous backup is somewhat similar to RAID Level 1.
It wouldn't be the top preference for myself, but it's not like it's akin to lighting a match at a gas station, and the risk of losing everything is really rather tiny in reality, much less than the risk of losing files because of not having any backup at all. Let's not frighten or disparage the poor guy. Nevertheless, on balance, it'd probably be better to do the usual and have it run once a day, every three days or the like.
jrb451
Original Author
8 years ago
"What you're saying is that your saved files are so special, your (personal) memory and your time are both so very limited, and the risk of a PC failure any minute of the day is so imminent, that anything other than immediate backups puts you in jeopardy. "

Really, that's what I'm saying? I had no idea. I thought I was seeking an informed opinion. BTW - This was the default setting on the WDSmartware I believe. Also, FWIW, I do have UPS backup..

Not to worry kbarb, no offense taken here. His wording was far too crass for me to take it personally.
User
8 years ago
One thing to remember is that if a newly edited file, when backed up, is
overwriting the backed up original file, you can run into problems if
the newly edited file contains mistakes or is corrupted.

I agree with kbarb on this point and will add an additional thought to it. If, by the slightest chance, your system picks up a nasty that all your security features miss or the nasty gets under the radar...so to speak...it, too, will be copied. Experience has taught me over the years to keep my WD unplugged from my system until such time as I've defragged my system and made a security/system check. I do this about once a week unless there's been a system update or a change in a program that needs remembering. Then I plug it in and do a backup. Once the backup is complete...I unplug my WD. It may sound like overkill...but this procedure has kept me warm and safe for a long, long time.

One of the earlier advisories for cleaning a system of a nasty was to turn off system restore...then turn it on again. Why? Because restore had also copied the nasty into its restore backup. If a user didn't follow this advice...the nasty would reinfect their system continually...no matter what removal tools were used. Advice worth remembering.
Elmer J Fudd
8 years ago
Sorry for the overreaction, no slight intended.

Computer Back-ups

kbarb - San Francisco - Z10a

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Computer Back-ups

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