X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.3 PL11]
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.i-amiga
Date:         Mon, 28 Dec 1992 02:15:08 PST
From:         Daniel Joseph Oak <jonin@NETCOM.COM>
Subject:      Re: AmiDos ate my hard drive! :)
              Pierce" at Dec 28, 92 5:35 am

>       There isn't an OS anywhere on this planet that wont eat a hard
> drive upon occasion. I work in an exclusively ms-dos environment and
> we have had instructors call us with dead hard drive problems. It happens
> to all, at least once in the life of their hd. I note that someone
> else has already told you how to fix your problem; however, did you
> think of backing it up ??? I have backups that backup my backups.
> I learned several years ago that a lost file would affect me, so I
> started backing up everything I couldn't do without.

I have some notes on this subject:

 1: From a profesional standpoint it is insane NOT to do backups.
 2: Backups is not a pain - but a way NOT to be hurt when your hard drive
    crashes or dies. (NOTE: I said When - not if.  It Will happen.)
 3: All Computer related companys Do backups in this fashion:
    Full DASD backup - These are done monthy, quarterly, and yearly.
    incrimental      - These are done weekly and only gather changes done
                       during that week.
    Daily            - Only changes done for that day.
So - for example. Let's say your HD killed itself the 30th of this month.
You would do the last monthly - 4 weeklys and 4 dailys to get it back to
par.  Granted from a pc point of view this would be difficult since most
people who work pcs are not that religious about it. so what I propose is
this:
   1: Instalation backup:  this is a mirror of how you set up you system
                           at first. Save this and only re-do when you
                           have done some major overhaul to the pc - and
                           do this before EVERY Hardware Change you do
                           to the PC.
   2: Weekly updates:      Find some day in your week and make it your
                           backup day.  Set the backup to only pick up
                           things changed since last backup.
   3: Critical Files Backup: This is a bit different.  We all know where
                             we hide those special databases of information
                             we deem critical. Be it your phonebook, check
                             book, financial spreadsheets or just that
                             hot black book of dates, this is really the
                             stuff you dont want to loose. So set up a
                             script to copy that to a disk, or if your
                             backup program can handle it - select only
                             those files as a pattern save.  When do you
                             back this up you ask? I would say after every
                             major update - or whenever you think you would
                             really be upset at yourself if you had to
                             re-type that lot back in.

Well - now, those are the basic concepts for backing up. Personally I
am getting tired of disk swapping for backups so I think I will go with
the trend of getting a tape drive for backups.  It makes sense. You could
do daily backups each night you go to sleep by just putting in the tape
and letting it fly. But remember to rotate your tapes and keep several
current backups. (I would say 5 versions would be okay. From a company
stand point we keep 5 years for legal reasons but you probably wont have to
do that. :)

 Oh - and one final note!  Keep an EMERGENCY copy of your WB version with
a RESTORE disk set up! NEVER use your origionals except for the first time
of copying them to your work copys.  Basically for me that is WB2.04 disks
with another disk being my BOOT disk with my SCSI controller info already
set up, and a copy of Quarterback 5.03 ready to go, and some other minor
software set for diagnostics.  You dont have to be fancy with this but at
least have it set for your ease.  Mostlike the only time you will change
this is when you upgrade your archive software and/or OS level.

Remember: To Plan for disaster is to get through a disaster.

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