Pc backup system

[lmontagnaj]

I'm looking for a back up system for my home office windows pc.

And an additional system for my business that will back up multiple pc's.

I need a DEPENDABLE SYSTEM for both.

Any Suggestions on Brands, Types and Where to Purchase?

Thanks In Advanced,
Lucian

[rem1224]

Lucian - There are soooo many options for backup systems, it's hard to know where to start. I usually like the "simple is better" approach. There are many good software programs out there for backup - from free to high dollar. I've never felt the need for one of the real high dollar programs, so I can't really comment on them.

You can check out some of the free programs available from one of the download sites like Free Software Downloads and Reviews - Download.com - - search for "Backup Software" then filter to "Free" programs. Check for ones with the highest ratings. They basically all do the same thing - it's personal preference as to which user interface you like best.

I've been using a commercial backup package called Second Copy for about 8 years now for my office network and for my home PC - has not let me down yet and it's easy to set up. It's only $29.95 so not a huge investment. You can download a trial copy from their web site - Second Copy: Secure your data with automatic backup software

Biggest decision is what you are going to use for backup media - tape drive? DVD/CD's? External Hard Drive? Internal Drive on the Network? FTP copy to another site over the web? etc. etc. etc. Not sure of your business setup (network? how many PC's?, how much data? servers?) or how much data you have on your home PC to backup so it's hard to say which is best.

I don't care for tape backup very much. I find it slow, a pain to change tapes, tapes fail and need to be replaced more often, etc. CD/DVD is pretty much a one time use - so it can get expensive. FTP can be a good option for off site backup storage, but there is some cost involved there, too. Disk storage is pretty cheap and reliable these days - so that's what I use.

A lot depends on how much data you have to backup. I don't backup "programs" or "operating systems" - just the actual user data (docs, spreadsheets, emails, accounting data, etc) which, for me, totals about 75GB. I've got a 500GB hard drive installed in a spare computer that I use for my backup system - I split the drive into 5 partitions (Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri) - so each day's backup goes to a seperate partition - That way I can keep 5 seperate backups with the last 5 days versions of any file available to restore if needed.

I also use a Western Digital external hard drive (USB or Firewire connection) as a secondary backup media that I can take and store offsite (in case of fire or other disaster). I run a full backup to this drive once a week, and it goes home with me.

For my home PC, I have another WD external hard drive that I backup to, then I store that drive in my office.

[lmontagnaj]

Thanks for the reply... I bought 2 Seagate Free Agent Xtreme 1 TB drives. They seem to work great, I'm using one for the house and the other for my desk computer at my business. I plan on getting 3 more for my other computers at work...

I may piggy back/ daisy chain a second one on the most important computer.

The drives are USB, Firewire or Esata, I'm using Firewire at home and USB at work. I plan on making sure my next computers are Esata to increase the data transfer rate.

I'm looking for a new PC for home, but don't want Vista, I'll look at Windows 7 when it comes out or may go to an IMAC.

Thanks Again,
Lucian

[mikehn]

I have a Seagate freeagent I got at Costco. Only 250gb, but more than plenty to backup multiple home PCs. Unless of course you have a gazillion dirty movies and pictures on your PCs.