tag:ask-leo.com,2008://5/tag:ask-leo.com,2008://5.12443- 2008-09-10T19:35:24Z Comments for Why don't people back up? Movable Type 3.2 tag:ask-leo.com,2008://5.12443-comment:43924 Comment from Graham on 2008-08-26 Graham Hi

Does anyone know how to disable Backup in Windows 2000 Pro? The reason I ask this is because I found that my desktop was repeatedly backing all my Word documents each time I opened a file. Even when I deleted the backup, a new one would instantly appear in its place. Eventually I managed to work round the problem by getting Backup to exclude all Word documents from the backup process... well, I hope this is the case. At any rate the problem appears to have disappeared for the time being at least. However, I would like to rid myself of the Backup program altogether - or at least disable it to the point whereby I feel I'm in charge of it rather than having it pulling all the strings in the background. Unfortunately MS's Help files fail to explain how this objective may be achieved and not being a PC technocrat I'm reluctant to play the sorcerer's apprentice here. On a related issue I have no objections to System Restore but I'd have plenty if Backup was surreptitiously (not to say pointlessly) filling my H/D with copies of files from other applications. Or do I have to laboriously exclude them too? Much better, it seems to me, is to shut the whole program down and let me back up my files manually, which is what I've been doing for some twelve years now. So if anyone can tell me how to put Backup back into its box, I'd be very grateful.

Regards, Graham Knott

PS. I apologise for the location of this comment/query of mine. It's just that I am unable to find anywhere more suitable to place it on this section of your website.

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 2008-08-26T11:57:33Z tag:ask-leo.com,2008://5.12443-comment:42595 Comment from Terri Popiel on 2008-07-14 Terri Popiel http://unspecified My best recommendation is just to copy My Documents to a CD (two different CDs, perhaps by two different programs, just in case a scratch happens. Forget about restoring programs and Windows, etc. They will only restore on the SAME computer if nothing else has gone wrong. Just backup docs and photos and forget about the rest. It's useless.

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 2008-07-14T14:02:35Z tag:ask-leo.com,2008://5.12443-comment:41973 Comment from Patti on 2008-06-25 Patti I love Mary's comment!! I'm with her! I didn't know I would need to learn a whole other language to operate this blasted thing (which has quickly become a necessary evil)! There are so many terms I have yet to figure out and I have neither the time nor desire to learn either.

However, believe it or not, I just installed a new hard drive and it was surprisingly easy! I still had the Operating System CD that came with the computer, plus I had CD backups of my pictures and documents and the CDs from the programs I'd installed (family tree maker, quicken, etc.). I just updated everything from online sources and now I'm back in business -- I'm happy!

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 2008-06-25T17:32:01Z tag:ask-leo.com,2008://5.12443-comment:41352 Comment from Sebastian on 2008-06-07 Sebastian Well....some of us older folks, new to computing don't have a "clue" of "how to do a back-up" on a CD, DVD, flash drive,thumb drive, etc....Dell offers an online backup for a reasonable price. Does anybody have any info &/or suggestions re: using the Dell Back-up program? or any other simple ways to back-up?? ( PS: I've been a "victim" of a hard drive failure & had to spend about $240.00 to my computer repair man to fix "the problem", etc...Thanking You folks, beforehand for your "input" - GREATLY APPRECIATED!! A GRATEFUL SR. CITIZEN....Aloha, Sebastian

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 2008-06-08T07:12:50Z tag:ask-leo.com,2008://5.12443-comment:40915 Comment from Tim on 2008-05-26 Tim http://unspecified I agree with those that say that backup is not only time consuming, but isn't full proof and can fail as well. Nothing is 100% full proof.

However there are exceedingly different things and ways you can do things, to improve that ever so slim chance of you not being able to recover with your backup, to the chance that you will be able to.

I for example, increase the chances of recovering from a backup in the event that there is not only a system failure, but a backup failure by making several backups.

By this I mean that I make several types of backups to HDD, Flash Card, USB Thumb Drive, CD, DVD, etc...

I also keep a backup not only on each of those types, but a 2nd set of those in a different area of the house within a fire proof, etc... safe, in the event that there is a catastrophic fire or other disaster.

That way where one fails, or is destroyed, with any remote slinder chance of luck, the data will not be lost..

It is also key to not have too many sets of copies... thats why i only have 2... one easily accessible...and another in a safe... both of course accessible by lock only, to prevent theft..

It may seem a little extreme to some, but if it keeps me from loosing my data in any way shape or form, with the very very slim and rare chance of total utter catastrophy... Then it is well worth it..

I update the backups about once a month, unless there is something super important that can not under any circumstances be lost...

Hopefully to some that are willing to go to those lengths it is worth it to them as well.

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 2008-05-26T20:42:34Z tag:ask-leo.com,2008://5.12443-comment:40871 Comment from Ken Crook on 2008-05-24 Ken Crook http://unspecified There are two types of people. Those who backup and those who have yet to lose everything to a system crash.

Acronis True Image has saved me a couple of times. On my system it takes only 30 minutes to backup to a USB drive, and only 30 minutes to restore when something gets screwed up. I can even grab just one file off the backup if I needed it.

With the upcoming Windows XP SP3 update, you would have to be dumb or be really lucky to do the install without first doing a full backup.

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 2008-05-25T07:02:23Z tag:ask-leo.com,2008://5.12443-comment:40853 Comment from Frank on 2008-05-23 Frank http://unspecified I believe Dan Brown is on the right track with the simplicity of his answer; quote:

"The answer is simple. So many of us do not understand how to do this operation".

Many/most 'ordinary' users do not 'understand' the process. Like . . what is happening during the backup . . . is it a copy? . . how do you explain 'another drive'. . . a partition? . . . incremental, . . sync etc.

Being able to relate these simple words which everyone basically understands to the computer operation by 'ordinary users' is difficult.

I believe many ordinary users cannot 'visualize' or relate to the process in such a way that they can understand it and accordingly embrace it and use it for it's value and importance.


I, alas, am among the many 'ordinary users' seeking simplicity. In Flori-duh.

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 2008-05-24T01:26:40Z tag:ask-leo.com,2008://5.12443-comment:40823 Comment from Leo on 2008-05-22 Leo -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

It depends on the capabilities of your backup program.
Typically you can back up to CDs or DVDs, another machine on
your local network, or I recommend getting an external USB
drive to back up to.

Leo


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 2008-05-23T00:45:15Z tag:ask-leo.com,2008://5.12443-comment:40798 Comment from Claire Gehrett on 2008-05-21 Claire Gehrett I tried to backup with my computer's instructions but I don't have an F drive. I just have c and d drives so how would I backup my system?

Thanks for help.....

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 2008-05-22T05:53:28Z tag:ask-leo.com,2008://5.12443-comment:40792 Comment from Leo on 2008-05-21 Leo -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

Terri: Wow. I gotta say, that's a pretty depressing summary.

But in fact it's inaccurate.

Once you backup you now have two copies of everything you've
backed up. Lose either one, and you're still ok.

In addition, the media isn't nearly as fragile as your
scenarios outline, but even if they were, I'd simply advise
making more copies, perhaps making making each days backup a
new one, or rotating through and re-using a number of disks,
for example.

But media fragility certainly isn't an argument against
backing up. On the contrary, it's an even stronger argument
to backup often.

Leo


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 2008-05-22T01:01:26Z tag:ask-leo.com,2008://5.12443-comment:40784 Comment from jeh on 2008-05-21 jeh How about the simple "Briefcase" for backup? Very straight-forward and has been working pretty well for me.

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 2008-05-21T19:45:09Z tag:ask-leo.com,2008://5.12443-comment:40781 Comment from Terri Popiel on 2008-05-21 Terri Popiel http://unspecified Back up is time-consuming and not reliable. If you back up on your computer and your computer crashes, you have lost every thing. If you back up to a CD or DVD, it can scratch and you've lost every thing. If you back up to an external hard drive and it scratches and fails, you've lost every thing. If you back up to a zip disk and then it malfunctions, you've lost every thing. If you back up to a flash drive and the internal car fails or the thingamig USB gets loose, you've lost every thing.

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 2008-05-21T16:22:06Z tag:ask-leo.com,2008://5.12443-comment:40779 Comment from Dan Brown on 2008-05-21 Dan Brown The answer is simple. So many of us do not understand how to do this operation. Myself included. I've come to the conclusion that I might need a software program to walk me through it and allow my PC to backup on my CD-R's. My OS is Windows 2000 that allows me to backup everything on my C-disk (drive) and that sure does not make any sense. Any free backup programs out there? Novice but trying.

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 2008-05-21T15:56:33Z tag:ask-leo.com,2008://5.12443-comment:40775 Comment from Adam on 2008-05-21 Adam i find, that the easyiest way to backup is by using a OTB soloution inbuilt into a external usb HDD enclosure, welland make a cheap one for about AUS $35.( case only) all you do is set the program up, plug in the dirve and press the OTB button on the back, it will then automaticly copy or sync everything you want from your computer to the HDD. then you unplug it, put it in the cupboard for another week, its easy as that. and because its a standard 3.5 case, you can change the HDD or even pull the HDD out and put it in the machine itself for faster copying.

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 2008-05-21T13:45:51Z tag:ask-leo.com,2008://5.12443-comment:40769 Comment from Michael Harding on 2008-05-20 Michael Harding So I had a nice, current Acronis 10 HDD image 'safely' stored on an external USB drive. Then my XP Pro system wouldn't boot up *but* I was then unable to access my DVD drive. Therefore the image was useless.
A miracle was performed whereby my one year old HDD, which was replete with bad sectors, was replaced and the OS restored via Recovery Disks. For this experience, $245 and I parted company.

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 2008-05-21T07:15:52Z tag:ask-leo.com,2008://5.12443-comment:40765 Comment from Israj on 2008-05-20 Israj http://unspecified Recently I felt that bacup is very essential because there is some problem in my machine that's why i can't open my machine but at the same time i need my programme and the data base for my immidiate purposes.And i can't do anything because i have no other options.
But it is still true that before it happen i have no realisation about the backup facilities.If I have then i obviously do that.That's why i appreciate Leo for published this type of article by which we are aware about back up and its advantages.
So lack of knowledge is one of the many criteria for the people not to store back up data.

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 2008-05-21T04:33:22Z tag:ask-leo.com,2008://5.12443-comment:40749 Comment from Ken B on 2008-05-20 Ken B Well, I'm pleased to hear that Acronis does, in fact, have a "bare metal" restore ability. I may just look into it further.

As to Ben's comment about 119-page manuals, I'd have to agree that that would be a bit intimidating/overwhelming for most people. Perhaps a solution to that might be to have backup solution providers include a small "getting started" pamphlet, which would take them through the installation and setting up pre-defined "full backup" and "weekly backup" scripts, and then running the "full backup" once.

I think another obstacle is that many people think that we "techies" can perform miracles, because we sometimes manage to do just that. Why bother with the "hassle" of making backups if help is just a phone call away if ("when"?) the system crashes?

Case in point, from about 8 years ago...

My wife's cousin's system crashed. He had all of his business data on it, and of course not a single backup. We managed to recover it. We got him a tape backup for Christmas. (He said he'd install it, despite our offer to do so for him.) Several months later, his system crashed again. He never even installed the drive, and had no backups. We pulled a second miracle and recovered the system again, and this time we installed the tape drive. We even made a backup for him. Well, some six months later, you guessed it, this aging system died again. This time, however, he did have a backup -- the one we made some six months earlier, which was still in the drive. Once again, we perform a miracle and recover his system. Fortunately, he got a new system shortly thereafter, though I don't know if he ever made backups.

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 2008-05-20T21:08:20Z tag:ask-leo.com,2008://5.12443-comment:40748 Comment from BigJohn007 on 2008-05-20 BigJohn007 tried acronis!!! it dont work!!! so complicated couldnt figure out how to do it!!!

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 2008-05-20T21:07:36Z tag:ask-leo.com,2008://5.12443-comment:40747 Comment from John Stephens on 2008-05-20 John Stephens As far as I can see, the reason people don't back up is that it's virtually impossible on a normal PC to do so. They don't come standard with anything that can store enough data to do a decent backup, the software isn't there by default to do it, and it's very hard for a standard user to know what to back up and what not to. Things like their PST for their email are hidden away in an obscure directory, so even if they did have the time to feed dozens of CDs into the PC and then store them carefully afterwards, they probably would miss important data.

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 2008-05-20T21:00:24Z tag:ask-leo.com,2008://5.12443-comment:40743 Comment from Tom Brown on 2008-05-20 Tom Brown I use Acronis version 10, which I know is not the latest. I verify each backup after creating it.

On at least two occasions when I have tried to access a backup, Acronis has claimed the file is not in .tib format--though it has that extension and was previously verified by Acronis.

I keep several generations of backups on USB drives, so this situation was not a total disaster. But it is disconcerting to find that a supposedly valid backup is not usable, and such an experience might cause someone to give up on doing backups.

Any file--not just an Acronis backup--might become inaccessible for one reason or another. So I think it is essential to keep more than one generation, or perhaps more than one copy, of a backup.

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 2008-05-20T19:02:28Z tag:ask-leo.com,2008://5.12443-comment:40742 Comment from Steve Burgess on 2008-05-20 Steve Burgess http://unspecified I think it's also important to have a backup offsite - most IT people know this (whether or not they practice it). I think most end users aren't aware of this but unfortunately, if they were, they might be less likely to do backups in the first place. But I've worked recoveries many times where a home or business office was burglarized, and the perps took the backup because it was sitting on the computer. Or consider fires or floods - they tend to take everything that's sitting in the same place too. A local school's library burned down and, while they did do backups, it was a CD sitting in the desk drawer under the computer. After the fire, it was just a re-hardened blob of melted plastic. There's a picture of the laptop in question here: http://datarecoveryworldwide.com/images/laptop_3.jpg Makes the idea of off-site backups a little more desirable.

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 2008-05-20T18:44:41Z tag:ask-leo.com,2008://5.12443-comment:40741 Comment from Steve Burgess on 2008-05-20 Steve Burgess http://unspecified I think Mat has a good suggestion in suggesting bundling backup devices, but to get people to pay more, they'd need to scare 'em - and what they are trying to do is tempt 'em. They want to sell easy, carefree, pretty, and safe. Backup reminds them they might have to do additional *work* that is no fun, hence takes the edge off their pitch. Maybe repackaging backup as something exciting itself...

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 2008-05-20T18:34:14Z tag:ask-leo.com,2008://5.12443-comment:40739 Comment from Frank Dauenhauer on 2008-05-20 Frank Dauenhauer http://unspecified I bought a second hard drive identical (80GB) to my primary HD. Initially did a clone using the mfr's (Western Digital) free program, and now keep both drives active as Drives C and D, using Windows XP Pro. About a year ago I lucked into legitimate, free copies of Paragon Drive Copy (version 8) and Acronis True Image (version 7). I now use Paragon to clone Drive C to Drive D every two weeks. I keep Acronis in "reserve" if anything ever goes wrong with Paragon. I've had to use the cloned Drive D (in boot capacity) at least four times over the past year to recover Drive C, following the procedure(s) in this Web site: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb%3Ben-us%3B307545
and in this Web site: http://www.informationweek.com/news/windows/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=189400897
I know I should have an external hard drive rather than an internal one to protect from natural disasters, but at least I'm protected from losing everything on Drive C as long as Drive D is available and up to date.

One question: why isn't there one source for all information on backups, with easily understandable, step-by-step procedures for every eventuality? I think it's a lack of an authoritative, "one-stop shopping" source that makes people give up on thinking about backups (or disk cloning, or whatever).

Frank D

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 2008-05-20T17:58:03Z tag:ask-leo.com,2008://5.12443-comment:40738 Comment from Mat on 2008-05-20 Mat I experienced catastrophic data loss very early in my computer-using-career - in about 1994. Since then I've always taken backups of one sort or the other, at varying levels of technical sophistication, and with various coverages. But I think that computer SELLERS are missing a marketing trick. Why sell you JUST that new laptop? Why not put a bundle together that includes an external hard drive and a decent piece of software to prompt you, on a weekly or monthly basis, to plug the drive in and it'll do the backup for you? OK, it costs more, but surely they'd sell more kit too? And be seen to be putting customers' interests first as well? Plus providing a bit of 'education' for computer buyers - at least making backup a slightly more visible option. So come on Dell, Lenovo, HP, Sony, I reckon there's some profit to be made here!

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 2008-05-20T17:57:08Z tag:ask-leo.com,2008://5.12443-comment:40737 Comment from Ben on 2008-05-20 Ben http://unspecified Leo and Ken -
Thank you. Yes, I aware of need to put backups on separate kind of media (disks, hard drive ect.) In article Leo ask, "So why don't people back up?" I try to give one reason - confusion - because back up makers not very clear on what user needs for back up.

Not everyone have degrees in computers and many peoples don't understand most simple needs. Back up makers must not make mistake to thinking everyone understand. Acronis user manual has 119 pages. In Acronis Startup Recovery Manager 3.4.2 section it say, "Be careful! Drive letters in standalone Acronis True Image Home might sometimes differ from the way Windows identifies drives. For example, the D: drive identified in the standalone Acronis True Image Home might correspond to the E: drive in Windows." I think writings like this many peoples get confused. If Acronis so easy why so many pages needed? :-)

I not angry at Acronis or back up makers. Many other softwares makers guilty of thinking peoples understand information. I want makers tell me everything like I a baby. More information better than not enough.

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 2008-05-20T17:54:47Z tag:ask-leo.com,2008://5.12443-comment:40734 Comment from Shawn Patrick on 2008-05-20 Shawn Patrick Hi Leo... I have read the bulk of your newsletter that pertain to people doing a backup on their computer. Like myself I have encourage my friends to do the same. Their is a large reluctance in performing a backup. I think one of the reasons is that people are afraid to. I have from from friends that they are afraid of doing something wrong to their PC and it will screw things up that they don't know how to fix. Many people have come to terms with chat-rooms and e-mails or for some.. interactive on-line games. For them the loss of their computer to do their favourite activities would leave them stranded. I agree, some people may be lazy because they feel that it's too involving as well as time consuming. Leo, when it comes down to it... I think it extends from fear. Many people do not wish to do much reading. They don't want to rack their brain to understand how to install and use something that is written for the average person that isn't familiar with computer jargon. I was one of those kinds of person. It was upsetting. I'd say to myself, "what the (H) are they talking about?) then give up. I've seen all too often that the literacy level of an average person is low. That is why I see more and more people substituting words with acronyms. (TYVVM) (BRB) From my research of back up program websites the advertisements are full of flowery words to sell a product. For only ($29 to $49) No where do I read that they will walk a newbie step by step in an easy to do way. The old KISS method... (Keep It Simple Stupid) Leo... I leave my comment with you now. Shawn from Toronto Canada

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 2008-05-20T17:35:43Z tag:ask-leo.com,2008://5.12443-comment:40732 Comment from Jerry Cassel on 2008-05-20 Jerry Cassel About half the time,when I start a back up. The secound disc wont format. How can I fix this?

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 2008-05-20T16:52:00Z tag:ask-leo.com,2008://5.12443-comment:40731 Comment from Diana Barnum on 2008-05-20 Diana Barnum I don't back up at all. The only tasks I use my computer for are email and surfing the web. I really don't see any reason to back up; I don't want to save any of the stuff I read while surfing and I don't want to save any email. If a communication is really important, I send it by snail mail with a receipt requested form.

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 2008-05-20T16:51:16Z tag:ask-leo.com,2008://5.12443-comment:40717 Comment from Leo on 2008-05-19 Leo -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

Actually Acronis does support this. You can burn a boot CD,
and then restore your backup to "bare metal". In fact I've
done it. :-)

Leo


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 2008-05-20T04:43:45Z tag:ask-leo.com,2008://5.12443-comment:40699 Comment from Ken B on 2008-05-19 Ken B And, Ben, the whole point of a backup is to have a copy _somewhere_else_. Making a "backup" of the contents of a disk onto the same disk is virtually useless. If the system crashes and you need to restore from the backup, you're "SOL", since your backup isn't accessible. That's like keeping copies of your important paperwork in the same file cabinet as the originals.

The problem I've seen with Windows backup solutions is that I haven't seen any "bare metal" solutions. That is, one which can restore the system onto an empty drive, such as after a drive crash. The ones I've seen all appear to require that you reinstall Windows and then the backup software in order to run the restore. I know of such a utility for Unix/Linux, but they don't have a Windows version. Even Acronis, which Leo recommends in his previous post, appears to lack this ability.

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A comment on: Why don't people back up?

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 2008-05-19T16:16:09Z tag:ask-leo.com,2008://5.12443-comment:40688 Comment from Leo on 2008-05-18 Leo -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

You have to backup *somewhere*. No, it doesn't have to be an
external hard drive, but that's probably the most convenient
and cost effective solution. Alternatives include CDs and
DVDs (which are a hassle to manage during the backup),
backing up to another machine on your local network. A very
poor, but sometimes necessary alternative, is to backup to a
second internal drive.

But yes, you must backup somewhere ... that's the whole
point.

Leo


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A comment on: Why don't people back up?

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 2008-05-19T04:52:45Z tag:ask-leo.com,2008://5.12443-comment:40682 Comment from Ben on 2008-05-18 Ben http://unspecified Maybe confusion is part of problem people don't backup. Acronis website say it will backup emails, photos, music, entire operating system, ect. It not say you need extra hard drive. So if computer have 250GB hard drive, and 200GB is used up, how can 200GB be stored in 50GB free space? People might say can't afford cost of program plus cost for extra hard drive so program useless.

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A comment on: Why don't people back up?

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 2008-05-18T16:50:36Z tag:ask-leo.com,2008://5.12443-comment:40676 Comment from Mary on 2008-05-18 Mary http://unspecified I began using a computer late in life. I now do backups. But one of the most frustrating things for me was trying to understand the terminology used in the backup program. Even today, I STILL get frustrated when I read something like, "Your new backup system is completely compatibile with any disk mirroring / striping / spanning / RAID scheme." Honestly, that tells me squat. I'm not the brightest bulb in the chandelier but I can't be the only person who reads stuff like that and says, "Oh well, trying to backup my system is just too hard."

Sure, many programs claim to be user friendly and say things like "even a novice can use it", but in reality, that's just not the case. I found I needed a lot more knowledge to make educated choices on what, when or how to backup my system. Some people don't have the time or desire to put that much effort into it. If manufacturers make it sound daunting by using fifty dollar words to describe a fifty cent process...

Bottom line is, if I can turn my computer into a giant paperweight with just a few inadvertent keystrokes or clicks of the mouse, my backup program should be just as easy. :-)

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A comment on: Why don't people back up?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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 2008-05-18T14:33:36Z