Computer problems and/or advice 2012

[Hans J]

I have found in the internet a lot of Backup software ( some for free ) :
http://www.chip.de/Downloads-Download-Charts-Top-100-der-Woche_32368489.html?xbl_category=39018
Sorry in german ...

I would like to hear a opinion from other members about her expierience ...but it seems no members here use Backup software ...I think this is very danger because it anything happens with a PC is all lost ( all pics )

[David Pilling]

I backup files by hand to DVDs - advantage no back up software to go wrong. It's a fair point to say that you don't know if your backup software works until you do a full restore from it. Backup software is notorious for bugs.

Another option is to have a second hard disc and synchronise files on to it - there is a lot of free disc synchronising or mirroring software available - probably the least sophisticated/worst from my web site (got a mention at last).

Presumably one should distinguish sync'ing files to mirroring the contents of disc sectors. Sometimes, one can have an operating system running from a file which emulates a disc - Linux using wubi would be an example. I can't bring to mind how one does it these days for Windows (vmware?) - getting to the point, if you can do that all you have to backup is one big file.

This crosses into the area of what are you backing up data or the complete installation - I've only bothered about data, but when Windows has destroyed itself along with all the restore points - how I wished I'd got the whole system.

There are many amusing stories about the loss of the only copy of great manuscripts - fire, over zealous cleaners etc. those who don't have backups are relying on the theory that the second draft was always better.

[ranunculus]

Opinions sought on Cloud or Cloud derivatives please folks?

[Alan_b]

I personally use Acronis True Image for backup but I have the 2010 version; subsequent versions have received very poor reviews.  If all my computers had Windows backup I would probably use that.  Perhaps more important than your choice of software is the backup location.  If you backup to an external hard drive and keep the hard drive with the computer then both would be lost in the event of fire or theft.     

[Hans J]

Thank you David + Alan !

[JohnLonsdale]

I have found in the internet a lot of Backup software ( some for free ) :
http://www.chip.de/Downloads-Download-Charts-Top-100-der-Woche_32368489.html?xbl_category=39018
Sorry in german ...

I would like to hear a opinion from other members about her expierience ...but it seems no members here use Backup software ...I think this is very danger because it anything happens with a PC is all lost ( all pics )

Hi Hans,

I use two solutions to ensure I have multiple real-time and time-delayed backups both at home and remotely.  GoodSync is a program that runs on my main computer which backs up files to several external hard drives and other computers on my network - I've had very good experience with this.  I also use MozyHome to back up files to an online resource, so that if my whole house burns down everything is still safe somewhere else.  With Mozy you pay depending upon the amount of remote storage you need, but it is good value and works really well.

In addition to backing up images and other data files, I back up system settings which are specific to individual programs, like Photoshop Actions etc., but I don't bother with making disk images.  My Windows installation and internal drives use a RAID 0 configuration spread over 3 x 1TB internal hard drives, to maximize performance, so if one HD goes bad I have to reinstall everything anyway.   I generally do a  clean install of Windows every year or so anyway, and getting my main computer fully back up to speed takes only a few hours with most programs being available by download.  With all my data files already backed-up on other drives it is a simple matter of copying them back across. 

Best,

J.

[Hans J]

Thank you John for your interesting informations !

Hans

[annew]

Re backups - We use Chronosync on our mac, which seems very good.

[ranunculus]

Many thanks, Anne ... I will investigate.

[annew]

A black, black day yesterday - our Mac has gone belly-up..
We can't blame everything on Bill Gates.

[johnw]

A black, black day yesterday - our Mac has gone belly-up..
We can't blame everything on Bill Gates.

How strange Anne. Condolences.  I hope your backup has held up.

At least there is plenty of room in the Mac graveyard for a decent burial, I hear the other is at capacity. 

It has been so humid here for more than two weeks everyone is worrying about their computers.

johnw

[Gerry Webster]

A black, black day yesterday - our Mac has gone belly-up..
We can't blame everything on Bill Gates.

My condolences Anne. What happens when a Mac goes belly-up? It just stops working? I remember many years ago my first Mac died gracefully - the screen just got smaller & eventually turned blue.

[David Pilling]

"belly up" - as long as it is not the disc, you'd easily get your stuff back. Obviously still cost, inconvenience.

[brianw]

My Windows auto update is failing to reconfigure on startup.

It asks as normal for a shut down. Behaves normally until it restarts when the reconfigure  on startup fails at 15%, so restores to the old/previous settings, then restarts again without a reconfigure.
It has been doing this since 16th so has failed several times. All seems to work otherwise, just not all updates are taking place. if I look at the update list just an odd one seems to have been ok since the 16th. and it keeps re-attempting the failed updates.

Ideas please.

[David Pilling]

The repeated updates rings a bell, I think I had something like that a few months back, eventually Googled it, and removed the component the updates were for.

If you can see what updates are being downloaded and failing (or repeating) that must be a good clue.