Topic awaiting preservation: what is better for backup? (Page 1 of 1)

Hello,

What is better? A ZipDrive or a big harddrive w/ removable rack?

What do you think price, performance, feasibility, reliability wise?

--
Regards,
Elias

For backup I would go with CDs, although it wasn't one of your choices. I used to have a Zip drive (do people still use those things?), but it was horrible. I found the disks themselves to be very unreliable--I was always losing data and getting damaged disks. As for the really big harddrive with removable rack, well, let's just say I'd feel more comfortable with CDs.


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CD Writer or maybe even a DVD writer depending on the amount of stuff you want to backup.

CDs are so cheap, easy, fast and store 700MB each.
DVDs store generally nearly 5GB and are pretty cheap now. (I know you can get 16GB ones).

A removable HDD isn't very practical IMO. and zip disks don't hold that much.

I'd say DVD-Rs would be best, but I think that you might have a better time reading CD-RWs on other computers, not to mention the hole in your pocketbook...


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You can't really automate the process with CDs, though.

Use NTBackup on XP/2000 based machines, and have it backup to a file on another hard drive. You can schedule this, and have it overwrite the files on a weekly basis.

Problem solved.

If you're talking about true backups you'll need removeable media that you can store offsite in case of fire or the like. Tape drives are nice; fast (and friggin noisy) and easy to carry to the safe deposit box.

Jason

Hello,

I usually go for CDs but 700mb is a bad limitation..besides It can't be really automated, at least I have to switch cds and stuff...

What would I do with 50 backup cds over a year?

HDD sounds practical, big and fast...

Thank you for your comments.

--
Regards,
Elias

Zip drive ... bad bad bad. Lost too many things to that evil blue demon.

Here's my backup routine, which I'm upgrading this weekend with a DVD+R.

1. I have an automatic backup routine that runs every night. It backs up to a dedicated HD mounted in a removable dock. I removed the pin inside the locking mechanism (easy to do) so I don't have to bother with a key in an emergency. Fire? Oh no! Grab drive. Go.

(If you can swing it, just ghost your whole drive(s) to a backup drive.)

2. Once a month I back everything up to disc. That disc is promptly labeled and taken to my parents' house where it stays. Off site. Safe. If something happens to my place and I'm not there to yank out the backup HD, I've got my discs somewhere else. If something happens to their place, I've got the HD.

(Hard copies like this are advisable also because something drastic could happen to your system (e.g. power surge) and you could lose data on both your system and your backup drives.)

3. Any projects I'm done with I burn off onto CD. Twice. One at my place, one at the parents'. Redundancy is the key.





[This message has been edited by Wes (edited 11-14-2003).]

yeah, we all remember Wes's house being broken into and then it flooding (or some shit)..

I dunno, I guess in reality, I'm not all that concerned about backup. Nothing I've ever deemed 'worthy of backing up' has ever been bigger than a CD or 2....

I think the saga of Wes's disaster is long gone, but try these threads on the subject..
Journey With Me Into My Upgrade
The Upgrade Journey Continues
Still Wanna Follow the Upgrade Story?

[This message has been edited by Petskull (edited 11-14-2003).]

I do all three, ZIP, CD and External Backup drive.

Zip: Temporary stuff only, mostly to transfer stuff between my dad's and my own computer. In the 5 years that I have used ZIP drives, I have only had one fail and that was due to both bad disk and bad drive at the same time. Plus the drive was a school drive, not mine. I have an internal ZIP drive on my G3 and have not had a problem with it yet. I guess I am one of the few that have had good luck with ZIPs.

CD: Once every few days. CDs are cheap now, even the good ones.

Drive: Anywhere between once a week to once a month depending if I have done alot of projects or not.

My backup system basicliy is the network from the computers and some cdr's when i need to do something with a HD i simply dump the content of it in a directory on the other machine. All main projects are in their own directories and could be easily written to cd.

__________________________________________
"Art has to be forgotten. Beauty must be realized."
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So...does anyone enjoy the irony of asking if a Zip drive is a good backup option, but then saynig that the 700mb of a CD is too limiting....??

I just use a firewire HD. It bailed me out more than once.

-Xel

Petskull: Geez, you're gonna jinx me again.

Thankfully, I'm now living in a much better apartment complex and the computer I spent so much time building is still serving me well. (Let's just see how it handles Photoshop CS.)

DL: Good catch.

As for the Zip disks, if you have good luck with them, then I supposed they'd be OK for transferring somewhat large files between computers. But I wouldn't keep my only copy of any file on one.

Though, if you're just using them to transfer files, then I'd recommend a USB flash drive instead.

For backup, I'd still say CD-Rs or DVD-Rs. (Right now, Best Buy has Memorex DVD-Rs or DVD+Rs for $40.00 off. And everything is free shipping.)

DL:
I once asked my friend about his zip tapes and he told me he got one that holds 20gb...didn't check how true his statement was...now by saying that 700mb is limited, i supposed that 20gb+ zip tapes exist.

Wes: yeah, I like the idea of redundancy, as I encrypt my backups, I can distribute them not only to my parents, but to my friends too

--
Regards,
Elias

Wes: the only thing that I got when that ZIP drive failed was because of the Click of Death, if anyone remembers that.


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Thanks for reminding me I have to buy some more CD-Rs people.

Lallous - he was more likely referring to this - http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/computers/removable_disk_drives/iomega_peerless/_review/257018/

Also by Iomega, but not a Zip disk by any means.

Unless I missed an update, the largest a zip disk currently gets is 250 mb.

I for one found my Zip drive to be an invaluable tool. Even after my CD writer came. I never lost any data on them, and them more relaible than CD's, as well as more durable.

There's also these from Iomega -
http://www.iomega.com/direct/products/category.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=58741&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=63191&bmUID=1068903596699

Yes DL, I was referring to IoMega products but don't know which one exactly my friend was telling me about.

so you think IoMega and their big capacity solutions is feasible? anyone tried it?

--
Regards,
Elias

for a home pc, dvd's rock pretty much. they are fast and hold a few gigs of space. much better than a cd... and eh.. zips are a joke.

Ah, see, if you're not talking about Zip drives, but an Iomega tape drive (please, for God's sake don't capitalize it in the middle -- can't stand that even when it's supposed to be) then that's a different story.

Hmm ... looking at their site, it looks like they don't even sell the Jaz anymore.

Anyway, tape drives are slow, but have customarily been a reliable backup solution, though I don't know specifically how good the Iomegas are.