Back up your data

[Wilburn]

Just a thought for you all.

I use this piece of software on my mac (works on pc too).

It backs up constantly whatever data you tell it (you don't notice) to their servers on the internet, photos, movies, documents etc.

I currently have around 250gb (yes two hundred and fifty gigabytes) backedup and it costs me around £12 per month.

I restore anything when I like and I can even restore 'versions' of files for example, a certain excel file from last Wednesday.

Remember, your hard drive WILL die one day, surely your data is worth far more than the computer it's self?

You can also FREE OF CHARGE back up to another computer on your network or to a friends computer over the internet and they can backup to you FREE OF CHARGE.

CrashPlan – Automatic Offsite Backup

[kayjayd]

An excellent bit of advice Paul.

Did you know a lot of ISP's provide this service Free of Charge these days bundled in with your broadband connection? For instance BT Internet? I set this up for my mother-in-law the other day and it works perfectly.

[Wilburn]

Hi,

Yes, it was the BT advert a few months ago that got me thinking about it.

BT only gives you 5gb free which is great for most people but I am already using 250gb, but then £12 per month ain't exactly a lot of dosh.

[kayjayd]

Originally Posted by Wilburn

Hi,

Yes, it was the BT advert a few months ago that got me thinking about it.

BT only gives you 5gb free which is great for most people but I am already using 250gb, but then £12 per month ain't exactly a lot of dosh.

It would help if I had read your posting correctly

[wilf]

You can buy a 500Gbyte external hard drive with auto back up software (Maxtor) for under £70 and then your data is safe in your hands, not someone else who I would trust not to give it to the government/taxman or whoever as far as I could throw them.

Paranoid? You need to be...................no such thing as privacy anymore, even your local authority can tap your 'phone/set investigators on you/trespass on your property for the merest of reasons.

[Wilburn]

safe until you have a fire!

Unless you keep it off site - but then its hassle to retrieve it and refresh the back up and lets face it the average Joe doesnt even back up at all - nevermind managing their backups!

[kayjayd]

Originally Posted by wilf

You can buy a 500Gbyte external hard drive with auto back up software (Maxtor) for under £70 and then your data is safe in your hands, not someone else who I would trust not to give it to the government/taxman or whoever as far as I could throw them.

Paranoid? You need to be...................no such thing as privacy anymore, even your local authority can tap your 'phone/set investigators on you/trespass on your property for the merest of reasons.

Most of the online backup services encrypt the data on ingest so you'd need the decryption key for it to be of any use. No-ones gonna want to pinch Paul's porno collection anyhow

[kayjayd]

Originally Posted by Wilburn

safe until you have a fire!

Unless you keep it off site - but then its hassle to retrieve it and refresh the back up and lets face it the average Joe doesnt even back up at all - nevermind managing their backups!

Just an aside Paul - did you realise it would take you a minimum of 24.6 days constant restore streaming to get all your data back over an uncontended 8mbps ADSL line?

[Wilburn]

Thats true but most of the data isnt used daily so it wont be a problem.

It will take less than 8 hours to download all that is needed short term.

[kayjayd]

Originally Posted by Wilburn

Thats true but most of the data isnt used daily so it wont be a problem.

It will take less than 8 hours to download all that is needed short term.

Sorry for being a nerd, it's my day job