A daft question [I know!].....

Post by **emanday** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 10:27 pm

I make backups regularly from my FTM program, but they are copied onto a DVD as well as my hard disk.

The one thing I also always do is, after making the copy of the backup on DVD, I open it into a new file immediately to make sure it has backed up and copied correctly.

Some might call that overkill but, as an ex-programmer consultant, I am only too aware of the disasters that can occur when a backup programme or module fails to "do it properly" which, I should stress, happens a lot more often than you might think.

Always, but ALWAYS, check that your backup has "taken" by doing a restore (to a different place) before breathing a sigh of satisfaction!

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 11:08 pm

Hi Mary

Some might call that overkill

Nah, that is common sense!!

I not only back up to a 2nd hard disk, but also a 3rd external HD and also about once a week, I back up a zipped version of my tree to a memory stick, which I carry everywhere with me. Even then I can see the potential for losing some data.....

I really should have another external HD which I leave in another building after back-up!!!

Best wishes
Lesley

Post by **SarahND** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 11:20 pm

LesleyB wrote:I really should have another external HD which I leave in another building after back-up!!!

Aak! You just reminded me that I used to rely on the fact that I had a backup both in my office and at home. Now that I no longer have an office...

No one warns you about that hazard of retirement

Regards,
Sarah

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 11:54 pm

Hi Sarah
Maybe no office but you have Minnesota, Idaho & France in which to leave a backup - far enough apart in case of major disasters!!

Best wishes
Lesley

Post by **SarahND** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 12:04 am

I had the feeling you were going to bring that up, Lesley

And I've been sitting here trying to figure out how to send regular backups in three directions every week

Regards,
Sarah

Post by **emanday** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 2:05 am

My DVD copies, including all my FTM backups, SP and other images are kept at my daughters house!

I also have images archived online. That one is quite handy if I need to let someone else have a view of them. I can give them a link to individual images AND have access to them when not on my own PC.

kathyc · Post by **kathyc** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 9:44 pm

I'm a writer, so with both work and genealogy stuff at risk, I am a bit obsessive about backups.

One of the simplest additions I made to my backup routine was to open a free Hotmail account to which I send attachments of my work every time I finish working on something. It takes seconds for me to send off an email, so those backups are always the most current since I don't back up to CD every single day. I have friends who do this with yahoo mail and with gmail as well.

A note of caution if you add this to your routine: you must log in to Hotmail at least every 30 days or the account is emptied. I imagine something similar is true with the other services.

Kathy