Backing Up a Laptop

glennmac · Oct 17, 2001

On my old Mac desk system, which I haven't used for years, I have some sort of program that automatically backs up my internal hard disk to an outboard hard disk whenever I log off. I am considering getting a new laptop (and probably getting rid of my desk system). I am confused as to my options as to how to backup a laptop, never having used cartidges or zips or firewire or CD burning or whatever this new stuff is.

Any recommendations as to backup hardware, software and procedures for a laptop user who has no desktop system.

cowboydoc · Oct 17, 2001

Glenn,
In the office I just use a cd-rw. Each day they back up all the files and records for the day on that and put it into the safe. With the new laptop I got the cd writer so I could do the same thing.

jwstewar · Oct 17, 2001

A nice package to use if you want to schedule back-ups is made by Dantz corporation. It is called Retrospect. They have various versions of it depending upon your needs. Retrospect Express ir around $50 for a single computer. It will back up to Zip, secondary hard disks, some CD-RWs, and some tapes. I recently got an external (USB) Seagate 20 gig Travan drive comes with Retrospect Express. Schedule it at night when I'm not using the computer and go. First time I've had a complete system back-up since Windows 3.11 and it would fit on 2 or 3 Zip disks.
BTW Retrospect is both Mac and Windows compatable. I've used it on a Mac network for probably 6 years. As rescued my butt several times.
http://www.dantz.com

Bird · Oct 17, 2001

This new Dell is the first computer I've had with a CD/RW (which I haven't used yet), but I selected that because I've never watched any DVDs and didn't think I would be. I thought the CD/RW would be a good way to do backups, but my nephew tells me the CDs won't last as long for erasing and re-writing as the Zip disks, so I'm using the Zip drive for my backups and of course I, personally, don't have a clue as to whether or why one's better than the other.

Bird

TerryinMD · Oct 17, 2001

The RW cd media does have a shorter shelf life. It really isn't made as a true back up device. For what it costs nowdays for CD-R's, you could back up once a week and have a permanent backup for posterity.

Terry

cowboydoc · Oct 17, 2001

Yes that's true I think Bird but the one writeable cd's are about .30 and the rw ones are $1 so no big deal there. Last time I looked into it those zip drive discs were about $13 a piece.

RPM · Oct 17, 2001

I'd go with the CD R/W for backups.

The key is to use decent quality CDs to record to. The difference is in the dye used to create the CDs (you'll notice they have a different tint to them. The cheapo ones will deteriorate after a couple of years. The better ones are good for 20 years+ some vendors claim 100+ years ... they meet all the legal requirements for document storage anyway.

Try this link for more information:

http://www.mitsuicdrstore.com/Gold_Longevity.htm

I'm afraid zip disks can't match CDs for longevity - although they do have an edge for constantly re-writing.

My preference would definitely be CD-R/W if the information is valuable.

Patrick

glennmac · Oct 17, 2001

I started two threads on laptops and obviously having a CD-RW is a way to do backups.

But I think I need some basics explained in the terminology people have used in both threads.

1. What is the difference between a CD-RW and a CD-R?
2. Can you write on, erase, and rewrite on a CD-RW?
3. Same question for a CD-R?
4. Can you write on a DVD? Erase and rewrite?
5. Can a DVD drive read a copy from a CD?
6. Can a CD drive read and copy from a DVD?
7. If my laptop has a DVD drive, can I somehow use this to play DVD movies on my tv?

Thanks.

Anonymous Poster · Oct 17, 2001

. What is the difference between a CD-RW and a CD-R?..
Compact Disc-Read Write, Compact Disc-Read only

...2. Can you write on, erase, and rewrite on a CD-RW?
Yes/No... two main types of media Write-Once and Re-Writeable, as the names imply, only the Re-writeable is usable over and over {eraseable}

...3. Same question for a CD-R? No, read-only

...4. Can you write on a DVD? Erase and rewrite? No
However,for $599. you can purchase the new DVD-RW units and buy the blank discs for about $28. each so you can copy your friend's DVD movie he paid $12. for...

...5. Can a DVD drive read a copy from a CD? Yes, a DVD can do everything a CD-R can do and more...

...6. Can a CD drive read and copy from a DVD?
...You're being redundant... Only a CD-RW can write and read, a CD-R can only read, a DVD can read any CD, movies, programs, games, video, pictures, music... but if you have a DVD movie playing, you can't copy that straight to a CD-RW...

...7. If my laptop has a DVD drive, can I somehow use this to play DVD movies on my tv?...
Yes, some laptops have an RCA video output jack {yellow color coded} like on the rear of a VCR, or you can buy an adaptor for under $150. that plugs into a 15 pin VGA plug, laptop or desktop and pipe it to your tv...

huckflynn · Oct 17, 2001

Glennmac,

With my critical files, I zip them into one compressed file and then ftp the file off premises. A batch file handles this for me so I merely start the process. I have 2 batch files I use, the only difference is in the file name created and sent.

I prefer off premises backups. If my house were burglarized or destroyed by fire, I'm covered.

I don't bother backing up program files -- I keep the master copies of important programs off premises. I also back up to another computer on the network. This computer has all the software and data my laptop has but is maintained solely for backup.

Since implementing this system I have never had to restore from backups -- but I came close once when the laptop kept rebooting during startup. I enjoy having my complete office on a laptop and would never go back to just the desktop -- nor would I bother attempting any synchonization schemes.

The one thing I would caution you about backups -- check them regularly to make sure they are storing what you think they are storing. Many people run a backup procedure as a matter of habit but never review the procedure or the results of their efforts. Invariably, when the time comes that the backups are needed, they don't have the data they thought they had.