Backup the home PC?

[Faithless]

Okay, so I'm getting more concerned about losing everying on my PC at home.

What's the best options for backing up my home PC?

* Separate PC acting as a server/backup of sorts?

* Latest backup hardware/media?

* Other?

Also, how do you backup the registry and where does that saved information get stored?

[mrazntre]

Create an image of your hard disk periodically.

[yoMAMA]

I think there's an option in XP to backup your harddrive.

[VV o n g B a]

easy method is to get an external firewire connected hd (assuming u have a firewire port) and the backup software that comes w/ it. u can have windows periodically save ur registry info, but u prolly don't want to back that up on the hd. if u break ur system somehow, i feel that it's better to start clean and just reload ur important programs and files. the only reason this might not be a good idea is if u don't have the original install cds for ur programs.

if ur afraid of hd failure instead of registry corruption, u can put ur hds in mirrored raid mode. u need two hds for this to work and a raid pci card if ur motherboard doesn't support it. if one hd fails, u will have a backup. this will also potentially speed up ur disk acces since u can access w/ two hds instead of one. if u want backup AND speed, u can get 3 hds and put them in a 0+1 configuration so that it will write and read w/ two hds and check integrity.

a server computer will also work. u can set it to backup the contents of ur hd periodically, but if all u want is backup (ie u don't need it to host websites or run game servers), then it's prolly not worth it.

[537]

I think there's an option in XP to backup your harddrive.

XP's backup utility is basically a toned-down version of VERITAS' Backup Exec. But you still have to think about storage media. If you backup data to your local hard drive, you do nothing to provide disaster recovery for that data.

For me, backing up my home PC is not a priority. I don't store sensitive data on there. However, if I did require a data recovery solution, I would mirror my drive(s) as well as backup the data to CD/DVD every week or so. If you had super-critical data that you just HAVE to preserve, I would advise you to invest in a good SCSI adapter and DLT/SDLT drive. This type of media has a shelf life upwards of 10 years. Extra hard drives are not a viable backup solution for data archive, as they are only good for a couple years.

Since I'm a performance junkie, my system is built for speed. I'm striping two drives. If either drive takes a shit then I've got to rebuild the whole thing. But it's not a big deal personally to me, as I can rip everything out, reinstall hardware, throw on an OS and be up & running in less than an hour.

[Faithless]

We're looking at beefing up the hard drive of one of our PC's.

We bought a Maxtor with 250 GB, and we're looking to share-out a folder on it.

I'd like to make this PC a file server, but I understand there's a cost issue with Microsoft server-based operating systems.

[Chester]

You can get a box to connect the external hard drive enclosure to your network so that all systems on the network can access it. Network Attached Storage on the cheap. No actual server required.

Something like this:
http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?grid=35&scid=43&prid=640

It'll be less than $90.

[Faithless]

You can get a box to connect the external hard drive enclosure to your network so that all systems on the network can access it. Network Attached Storage on the cheap. No actual server required.

Something like this:
http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?grid=35&scid=43&prid=640

It'll be less than $90.
Well, since this Maxtor hard drive is a little trouble, we'll probably look at an external hard drive now.

[Chester]

Well, since this Maxtor hard drive is a little trouble, we'll probably look at an external hard drive now.
That Linksys device doesn't have a drive in it (though they have devices that do). It's just a USB-Cat5 link for USB drives.

All you'd need to do is get an external enclosure for that Maxtor drive. Should cost around $30-40.

[Commando_turned_MD]

USB hard-disk drive. Mine is 300GB. Enough storage for all my music, data, porn files.