Computer backup.

kburra

kburra

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Do you make a backup of your computer,(External HD) in case of a catastrophe whatever that may be, so it can be restored/installed on a new PC? or just cross your fingers and hope it never happens.
 
I use a 2TB external WD hard drive for backing up all of my important files. These things have become so inexpensive that I don't see any reason why not to. That little thing has saved me hours of having to go back in and redo spreadsheets.
 
I also have been backing up our computers on a monthly basis for years. Now I (also) have a 2TB external hard drive. Very useful.

Although I'm retired, recently an old client requested an update to his website. From the external hard drive (actually, the one before this current one), I was able to retrieve my timesheet for his projects (he had a little time left over) as well as his website, including the Photoshop files. Updated, uploaded, email to client, email from client, all done.
 
kburra said:
Do you make a backup of your computer,(External HD) in case of a catastrophe whatever that may be, so it can be restored/installed on a new PC? or just cross your fingers and hope it never happens.
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Back up? No idea what that is, there again I haven't changed with the computer age. Never bought anything online, I prefer to see before I buy. Never paid any sort payment online, when a bill comes in, (via Royal Mail) it gets taken to the bank, or Post Office and gets paid, usually in cash. That bill is then filed in a paper file, held for two years and then shredded.

That's how it was before the internet, it might amuse some but it's what I know, nothing gets missed, I'm not profiled, and by and large, canvassers, scammers and others, no nothing of me and if they don't know me they can't target me for their own end. Quaint? Who cares?
 
I use 'AOMEI Backupper' software to backup daily to a external drive. It's all automatic once you set it up. My backups are a full backup first, then smaller incrementals (just the changes since last time), then another full in 10 days or so. If the computer decides it won't boot, I can boot a USB of AOMEI and do a restore, nothing lost. 'Macrium' is a free product that a lot of people use.
 
horseless carriage said:
Back up? No idea what that is, there again I haven't changed with the computer age. Never bought anything online, I prefer to see before I buy. Never paid any sort payment online, when a bill comes in, (via Royal Mail) it gets taken to the bank, or Post Office and gets paid, usually in cash. That bill is then filed in a paper file, held for two years and then shredded.

That's how it was before the internet, it might amuse some but it's what I know, nothing gets missed, I'm not profiled, and by and large, canvassers, scammers and others, no nothing of me and if they don't know me they can't target me for their own end. Quaint? Who cares?
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The post was not about scammers or security, it is about what you have on your pc IE: Photos, Emails, Documents, PDF files etc etc. The question is if your PC went up in flames would it matter?
 
My only backup is by putting my pictures on a thumb drive. I have things on Google Docs and Sheets that I don't want to lose and that's in the cloud. That's it.
 
rather than waste space on a new thread |: AVG which I have had for somewhile has for some reason blocked Google - so I am having to use other search engines - I have read several ways of correcting this and so know it is possible but still don't understand the 'geek' can anyone explain it simpy? many thanks!
 
There are two reasons I backup daily. Think of what you would do if... 1) The computer just won't boot at all. 2) You installed something on purpose or by accident that is making the PC a rats nest, and you wish you could just make it yestersday. I've had both situations over the years and was glad for the magic wand software.
 
davey said:
rather than waste space on a new thread |: AVG which I have had for somewhile has for some reason blocked Google - so I am having to use other search engines - I have read several ways of correcting this and so know it is possible but still don't understand the 'geek' can anyone explain it simpy? many thanks!
Click to expand...
Three things to try,one at a time

Open your AVG Internet Security > Hackers > Open Ransomware Protection > Make sure you enabled 'Smart Mode' > Click Blocked/Allowed apps, and check whether Google Chrome is under the blocked list. If yes, remove it and add it under the Allowed apps list.

Also, try Disabl HTTPS scanning.

And, Turning off AVG web shield, with this off Chrome should work again.
 
I only manually backup personal files and pictures to an external hard drive.
No need to backup the system files. Linux Mint takes only about 15min to completely install.

The OP asked, "... so it can be restored/installed on a new PC"
And I assume that is in consideration of a full operating system backup.
But here's the thing, the operating system backup likely wouldn't install on a new PC.
... Unless the hardware was exactly the same and even then may not,
because of unique identifiers associated with processors and memory.
If there are too many hardware changes, Microsoft will not accept the registration code for example.
So the full system backup files would only restore to the computer originally backed up.
 
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Absolutely. I backup my computer to external hard drives, several of them and keep them in a fireproof safe. I also backup my phone. I have worked in IT for 25 years and have seen people lose everything.
 
I also use Aomei Backupper. I create a full backup to an external 1 TB SSD once per month. I don't leave the SSD connected, so it's "air-gapped" from the internet. Unlike JeeperDon, I do my monthly backups manually. I don't worry too much about a boot drive or system disk; if I suffer a complete meltdown of Windows, I have a hard copy, so I can simply reinstall Windows 11 and then restore my "stuff" from the latest backup.
 
My computer is a 27 inch iMac. My backup are:
  1. Time Machine - Runs a backup every hour.
  2. SuperDuper - I run SuperDuper every month. It makes a bootable backup of all files. If my internal hard drive were to die, I can boot off this external drive with SuperDuper and continue using the computer as usual and I would lose nothing.
  3. Thumb Drive - All documents, pictures, music, apps, etc.
  4. iCloud - Backs up files in real time. Since iCloud is cloud based, ALL files with private information are password protected.
 
I bought a new external 2 TB SSD for Time Machine. The old 1 TB SSD gave out on me a few days ago after over 8 years. I got my money worth from it. The Mac started to slow down and the culprit was the old Time Machine External Drive was giving out. Installed the new 2 TB SSD and the Mac is running again like a Swiss Watch.:cool:
 
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