Backup!

fmackay · Post by **fmackay** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 8:11 am

Top of my shopping list this afternoon

thanks

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 10:57 am

Hi Fiona

I use Family Tree maker too and it is quite easy to back-up to a CD/DVD or to a memory stick.
Click on 'File'
Click on 'Copy/Export Family File'
the window that comes up says 'save in'
Pull down the options menu on the tool bar of this window and choose which type of storage medium you want to use.
Remember and give the file a name in the lower slot too
I always give it the same name as the family file I am working on.
It will give it a .GED suffix.
Click 'save' and youre safe!

It only takes 2 or 3 seconds to save a file with 2,000 names and details onto my memory stick.

Every month or so, depending on how much I have added, I back-up onto a re-writable CD and just overwrite the existing file on the CD.
Develop a routine and it ensures your precious information is secure. If you link certificates and Photos to the Scrap-book these should be secure as well.
FTM has its faults and drawbacks but it is easy to save your info.

Russell

sporran · Post by **sporran** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 11:36 am

Hello all,

I would like to stress that any backup scheme is better than none, but I would caution against overwriting an existing backup. In Russell's case, he has two media (the CD and memory stick), but the temptation is to have one memory stick, CD, DVD, or tape as the backup and to over-write each time. If the hard disk crashes while the backup is in progress then it is likely that everything is lost. For example, if you are using CDs, have at least two sets and cycle their usage.

In companies, the usual scheme is to have tapes labelled Monday through to Thursday, week1 to week5 (for Friday's backup), and months January to December that are used instead of the daily or weekly tape. These full backups (I am no fan of incremental tapes) are stored off-site, ideally in a fire-resistant safe. Even so, there is always the user who creates a file and deletes it the same day, then expects IT to find it!

Regards,

John

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 12:14 pm

Hi John

Couldn't agree more. Just didn't want to complicate things.

The memory stick is just a back-up for the main CD back-up. Belt and braces style.

I'm not a fan of saving your back-up to someone else's computer. They will have different software to yours and it can interfere with your files on occasion. (dependent on what other uses they have for their computer).

Like David my first reaction was No Back-up - GULP!!!!!!

fmackay · Post by **fmackay** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 3:36 pm

Hi there
Panic over! Have done as suggested and saved files etc - thanks for your help
Fiona

scml · Post by **scml** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 3:48 pm

Hi Mary,

Thanks for the url for esnips. When I did a search for it I found a good list of similar sites and have settled for one called Streamload. I am giving it a try out tonight to see how it goes and so far it is a very simple program to use and upload to. Just need to drop my files onto the upload program and away it goes, so easy.
This one has a lot of storage space as well so I think I will also upload all my photos as well just to have another safe place to keep it all.
Don't we just love all this great technology, its fantastic

setait · Post by **setait** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 1:36 pm

DWW Wrote:

As has often been said, it's not a question of if a hard disk will fail, but when, never mind some difficult to understand, in retrospect, process that led to your datafiles being scrambled (to use a polite term ! <g>).

I thought the software would probably censor the real term

It's taken 6 months of slow time work to get back to pre

state and I've only just started to do new research on my own family.

Sheena

Ted · Post by **Ted** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 5:45 pm

Hi Everyone

Thanks lots for this thread folks - really gave me something to think about. Although I am in the habit of taking back ups onto CD I could not hand on heart say that I have everything - or do it often enough. Taking the sound advice posted here I coughed up for a big external hard (250GB) and have now backed up my entire C drive. The good bit for lazy gits like me is that it will automatically synchronize the whole lot every time I start my PC - so everything is constantly up to date in the back up drive. $\:D/$

Cheers

Ted

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 9:06 pm

Hi Ted

I don't think its a matter of being lazy at all !

Most of us are so busy rushing to make the next exciting find that we tell ourselves we'll do it tomorrow. Unfortunately that find leads to other clues which lead to other searches which lead to other finds which lead to.........

And so it goes. That Tomorrow was actually last week and we haven't got round to it yet

'Scuse me a minute IGI might just have............

Russell

Jockbird · Post by **Jockbird** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 9:39 pm

Evening all,

Just don't do what this prize numpty did.....we've just got a new PC and I was very diligently moving my certificates & census off the old one onto CD, in order to move them onto the new one.

Like Russell says, I just wandered off to the IGI...and into SP found a few more bits and pieces and thought I'd add them to my CD. I saved them under the same name as before and whoosh...away went 130 separate bits of info and I was left with the 10 I'd just added.....further more I'd just cleared off the Recycling Bin as I'd seen my 130 files on CD...what could go wrong......famous last words

Anyway, 12 hours later, having trawled through my previous searches on SP and got friends and family to return the files I'd sent to them I'm only about 5 or so certs adrift..the place is like Armageddon as my kiddies have been allowed to run riot and I've just suggested to OH about an external hard-drive.....he agreed....more a case of anything to keep me quiet.

Now off for a lie down in a darkened room!

Cheerio for now.

Eejit features from Bognor! (aka Donna)
x

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