Virtual Assistant Forums | Work from Home

JKVirtualOffice · #1 (**permalink**) 05-10-2008

I looked back through the old threads and tried a search but didn't really see what I was looking for....

I was wondering what people do about having a back up system for their files. I am going to get a large portable hard drive to store my client files on. But I am wondering if this is enough. Should also back up to CD like once a week? I've read a little about an online back up system but wasn't sure of the security of this.

I'd love to hear what others do.....

Tess · #2 (**permalink**) 05-10-2008

Hi Kimberly

We have our big huge external hard drive, two laptops, and an online document library that we use for backups. Because we also run a few servers we run full backups there for websites, software applications, etc. as well.
I think the more security measures you can take the better, but I've never once backed up to a disc...those things just clutter up my space and never end up being useful in the long run (for me

)

vainparadise · #3 (**permalink**) 05-10-2008

I have an online backup system and also use an external hd as well.

JKVirtualOffice · #4 (**permalink**) 05-10-2008

Thanks, Tess. I agree with backing up on a CD. I can't imagine it would do much except to complicate my life. I had read on another website that someone else did it every week and that just seemed a bit tedious to me. I did buy an external HD today so that should work for now. I'm going to looking to the online backup a little more too...just in case the HD were to fail.

katchal07 · #5 (**permalink**) 05-12-2008

The week before last I had to reformat my laptop and had been backing up online for free at mozy.com. What I found was that I really need to back up my whole system and for a small monthly fee I am able to do that and the peace of mind I get from backing up online - which requires a login and password to get to - makes me feel so much better.

I am sure there are other options beside Mozy but I have been happy with it so far. The files I did have backed up there were quickly retrieved and re-loaded to my laptop. I now back up 8 times a day - it is all done in the background and only backs up files that have been changed since the last back up.

Just my 2 cents

Modern Marketing Support · #6 (**permalink**) 05-12-2008

I back up to a LaCie mobile pocket drive. When I bought it last year I thought at 160G it would be big enough. But, it's not. It's half full right now and I know I'll need another one very soon.

D_Victoria_Virtual_Assistance · #7 (**permalink**) 05-12-2008

I back-up to an external hard-drive as well as online. After having my hard drive fail last month, I backup every day!

Rebecka Melson · #8 (**permalink**) 05-12-2008

I backup up each of my accounting files and my business files onto a seperate disk and then I do a full backup onto a zip drive.

jeannedb · #9 (**permalink**) 05-13-2008

Funny you should ask this question! I just bought myself a Western Digital My Book 500 GB External hard drive last Friday from Costcos for a great price and my computer didn't recognize it. I assume it had something to do with Vista though I couldn't be sure (the box said it would work with Vista).

I went to their website and registered the serial number and a different product came up (not even close). I double checked the number etc. So the site would not even allow me to download anything that could possibly help the situation. Grrrrrrrr. Called customer service and I literally (and I literally mean literally) was on hold for over 30 minutes with some of the most depressing hold music I've ever heard. It's easy to be on hold when you set the phone down and hit the speaker phone button.

While on hold, I continued searching their site for possible help. It got to the point where I decided to pack the product up and if someone decided to talk to me before I got it packed up again, I would give them a chance. Not a chance.

Thank goodness for Costco's 100% satisfaction policy!

I got a Seagate Free Agent and it worked like a dream immediately! It cost more, but the serial numbers matched up when I registered it, so I figured it was worth it.

By the way, I now use the external hard drive in addition to using online back up space allotted by Norton.

Essential Office Solutions · #10 (**permalink**) 07-30-2009

I bought a Western Digital My Book external 1tb HD. It came with the backup software but after installing (waiting too long) I have found the software included is a demo expiring after 30 days.

I have 14 days left on the demo. Does anyone know of a free software program that I can use with this HD.

I could probably pack it up and return it to Best Buy but that is 50 miles away and would prefer to keep if possible.