Data Backup Resources

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Huge hard drives are very affordable now. This gives us plenty of room to save tons of data. We obviously need more space for digital photos, music files, and everything else we are storing in digital format these days. In addition to our precious files, our software is using much more space than ever before. Backing up entire hard drives is not usually advisable with these newer huge drives. Selectively backing up our data and not the operating system and program files is the norm. Be careful to make sure that you are actually backing up the files that you need backed up.

Don't let price be the sole criteria for selecting an Online Backup Service Provider. There are a lot of good services to choose from. "A relatively novice computer owner with a cable modem and fixed IP address can buy a terabyte disk drive and some software and call himself an online backup service. Imagine your backup data that you thought was safe and secure at an online vault is actually stored on someone's Dell home computer in the bonus room above their garage."

An amazing number of people don't backup their data on a regular basis, even though they know it needs to be done. Most of the same people will admit that the loss of their data would be a very serious problem. Don't wait until you lose your data to implement your backup and recover procedures. Your data can be lost on any day, including today!

Incremental backup methods have been used for years to reduce the time and media required to backup computer data. The concept allows the backup program to only copy files that have been changed or added since the last backup. It is obviously more efficient than backing up entire disks or folders when only a small percentage of the data has actually changed. The better online backup services are going to the next level by only backing up portions of files which have changed.

How your business be impacted if all of your data was lost? Would your business recover? How long would it take? How much money would you lose? You may not be planning on a catastrophic data loss, but you had better have a plan for when it occurs. Your business could be at serious risk. This article was published by a medical practice and discusses the basics of how they avoid the serious consequences of data losses.

Ever heard clicking noise from your hard disk? Usually bad news. Losing data can be more than just an inconvenience. Backup your data and hard drive failures will not be so painful.

Backing up your data may seem like a simple thing to do. Making a single backup copy of your hard disk drive, or some of your important files actually is a very simple task. Planning and implementing a backup strategy that will allow you to recover your data when it is lost can be a more complex task. There are a lot of factors that will determine the methods used to backup your data, the frequency of the backups, the retention of previous backups, and the storage of backup data. Backup strategies range from simple to complex and the costs can be substantial. Develop the correct strategy for your business or computer and the cost will be in-line with your needs.

Stashing your money in your mattress may have been a good idea a couple of hundred years ago. But times have changed. Don't keep your data in your house or office, give it the same respect you give your money.

The Windows Backup utility lacks sophistication and flexibility, but it does provide the basic backup functionality needed by small business and home computer owners. It is free and it provides a wizard to simplify the process of creating, running and scheduling a backup job. There are many backup products and services to choose from, if you are not alreading backing up your data, then take a look at the Windows native backup utility, it's free.

There have been several reports of backup tapes lost or missing in recent months. In most cases the tapes are eventually found or recovered. However, the damage was already done. Companies suffer huge credibility losses when they have to report to their customers that their data may have been compromised. There is absolutely no reason why a lost backup tape should be a problem if encryption is used.

Backing up your computers hard disk drive is really not a complicated task. There are a number of ways to copy your data to a backup device that will provide a basic level of protection against hard disk failure. Ensuring that you will be able to recover from a data loss is an entirely different matter. Most people who rely on a simple backup to a USB drive, CD, or DVD, don't have sufficient protection from common data loss events. It is not a question of IF, but WHEN will your next loss of data occur. Follow the guidelines in this article to ensure that your next data loss will not be permanent, and minimize the loss of time and money.

This sample chapter from Inside Windows Storage: Server Storage Technologies for Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003 and Beyond takes an in-depth look at backup and restore technologies for Windows, including Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 Volume Shadow Copy Service. The chapter traces the evolution of backup applications for Windows, first recounting where the applications have been, then describing the features and requirements they have now. The chapter also covers the technical challenges that need to be solved in order to back up and restore data in a timely way and explains the various ways in which backup/restore techniques can be classified. Finally, the chapter discusses new developments in Windows Server 2003 for accomplishing snapshots (volume shadow copy service), describes the Network Data Management Protocol (NDMP) and explains how it fits into the Microsoft vision of storage management. Title: Inside Windows Storage: Server Storage Technologies for Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003 and Beyond

Learn how you can put ASR to work to restore your Win XP and Windows Server 2003 systems in the event of failure. If the system drive on your server fails, you'd normally have to replace the drive and manually install Windows and your backup software (if you are using third-party software) before you could even think about performing a system restore. With Automated System Recovery (ASR), you can restore Windows from a special backup rather than install it manually. IT pro Brien Posey offers this list of information and pointers for using ASR to perform an automated system recovery. Items include:

• Steps for performing an ASR backup
• Limitations of the ASR process
• Creating a replacement ASR floppy disk
• Manual installation of certain apps following a recovery

Learn how to plan for disaster recovery in the Windows Server 2003 environment. These tips, tricks, and best practices will provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to use the tools that are built in to Windows Server 2003. This sample chapter, taken from Sams' Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Unleashed, 2nd Edition, focuses on the implementation of disaster recovery strategies. The chapter covers several topics, including:

• Disaster Recovery Planning
• Developing a Backup Strategy
• Backing Up the Windows Server 2003 Operating System and Services
• Examining the Windows Server 2003 Backup Programs
• Virtual Disk Service
• Using Remote Storage
• Using the Volume Shadow Copy Service
• Media Management for Windows Server 2003 Backup and the Remote Storage Service
• Windows Server 2003 Startup Troubleshooting Utilities

It's tough to look for help during a virus attack. That's why we've put together this printable reference that addresses how to back up and restore the registry. Print this reference and save it for virus emergencies.

There is never a good time to lose information, and although ideally you should have a proper backup plan in place, that is not always the case. Fortunately for Windows admins everywhere, the Winternals team has got your back. Examine the data recovery tools included in your Winternals Administrator's Pak and learn how to use them effectively in this sample chapter from Winternals Defragmentation, Recovery, and Administration Field Guide. From recovering files lost on the local computer to recovering data from a damaged disk located across a network, you will find a tool in this toolset to serve your purpose. Also investigate more advanced solutions that can recover data from multiple nodes via a centralized console, and how to recover Active Directory objects that have been accidentally deleted. Chapter coverage includes:

• Recovering lost data across a network (Remote Recover)
• Recovering files (FileRestore)
• Advanced data recovery and centralized data recovery (Recovery Manager)
• Restoring lost Active Directory Data (AdRestore)

To make sure you have effective data backup and recovery systems in place, you'll need to plan in detail for disaster recovery, make sure that all your employees are fully aware of the effort to back up files, and test the system.

Going beyond simple backups to disaster recovery. In additon to backing up data, you will need to test your entire recovery process.

One of the loneliest sounds you'll ever hear is the sputtering of a hard drive on its last legs or the silence of a computer failing to start up.

Many small and medium sized businesses have insufficient data backup and recovery plans. Large IT operations invest heavily in backup and recovery strategy This article covers six aspects of a backup strategy that every small business and medium sized business should cover:

• Backup Software
• Devices and Media
• Backup Types
• Full Redunancy
• Backup Tasks
• Reporting and Monitoring

All computer hard drives will fail. Will you be ready when you face a data disaster? You should be making backup copies of all of your computer files that are not expendable.

You should know by now: Computers can and do fail. The problem is that you usually get no warning before it's too late. Don't wait until your data is gone. Read Kim Komando's article about backing up your data.

There are lots of ways to backup your data. Put a little thought into what you are doing and why you are doing it. Select the files that really need to be backed-up. Everybody's needs are not the same. Determine what data you have that you need to be able to recover, and then back it up using your system of choice.

The same people who spend fortunes on deadbolt locks for their doors security systems in their home, office, and automobile, are not protecting the data on their computers. It is downright foolish to store important data on any electronic device without regular backups. Don't wait until your data is gone to decide to start backing up your data.

Data backup systems are just as important to small businesses as they are for big corporations. There are several examples of small businesses that lost their valuable data and never recovered. Because of 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, people now prefer to keep backup copies of their important data offsite.

Survey finds just 57% of those who store personal info on computer back it up; loss can be devastating and costly. The cost of recovering critical data from crashed computer can be far more than the cost of a new computer. People are relying on their computers to store more critical data than every before, but an astonishing number of them are not protecting their valuable data by making backup copies. Many don't even think about backing up their data until it's gone.