Windows 7: Is this a good setup for backup and file storage?

Hello,

I just went out and purchased a Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex Desk 2 TB USB 2.0 hard drive for about $100 because I thought it was too good to pass up. Now I am having second thoughts, and wondering if I should return it, or if I got a good deal. I need to upgrade my Windows 7 OS to 64 bit from 32 bit because, I am told, the 32 bit version does not access all of the new 4GB of memory that I recently installed, but the 64 bit will. So, being the pack rat that I am with documents and files, I just wanted to dump all of my documents and downloads and pictures and videos onto a large Hard Drive and then deal with them later.

Then, I would reformat my notebook computer's HDD and install fresh Win 7 64 bit and Office 2010 64 bit. But, I also need a backup system for this setup. I have been using Mozy automated backup, but I would like to somehow get rid of that fee of $5 monthly. I know it is not a lot, but if I keep paying it forever, it will be.

The way Mozy works is that it automatically backs up changed files in the background, and even can back up open files. Then you go to their Website and choose files if you ever need to restore one or all of your files. I would like a system to run this way on my laptop.

What I was thinking is that the laptop could backup to the desktop thru my wifi network, using a Mozy type of system. Then the desktop would have the 2 TB hd connected, and that would automatically be backed up. So, the notebook, would have 2 back up sets, one on the desktop and one on the hard drive. But then what if I have pictures that are irreplaceable on the hard drive and it fails, how can I avoid losing them?

Supposedly, the GoFlex is good because you can replace the connector and have it connected as NAS, or to a Mac, or whatever -- firewire, etc. But is this a good buy? Also, For What it's Worth, I have 2 older Western Digitals that are almost full of 40 GB each, but I am thinking that, with the right system, their data could be moved onto the 2 TB drive, and then the photos and irreplaceble files could then be backed up to the 2-40GB drives...somehow...

I own Macrium, and the Seagate came with Memeo Backup, so I can use either, or if there is something even better, I am open to suggestions. Thanks for reading all this, and for any help you can offer!

I had Mozy for the last two years and it is a good backup system. Like yourself I got tired of paying and wanted to find a different way to backup. I kind of got lost in your explanation, but here is what I am doing. My HD has two partitions, one with Win 7 and my programs and the other has my personal data files. I also have a second HD divided into two partitions that I use for my backups. I use Macrium to backup my two partitions of one HD to the two partitions of the other HD. It automatically backsup each night and is as convenient as Mozy. You need to get the backup HD quite a bit bigger than the OS / Data HD as it backs up the complete HD each night so you have to delete the old backups every week or so. It works pretty good and is simple.

For online backup I have an account at adrive which is free and large ( 50Gb ). With the free account you can only upload via their java uploader (basic and unreliable). They have paid accounts which offer full ftp / webDAV functionality.

Here's the fast one I pulled: I tried adrive's free 14 day premium upgrade (webDAV, autoconnect on loss, etc). With Goodsync (available as free and paid app) I synced all of my 21Gb's worth of 'My Documents'. (Though you can just as easily do it through windows -> map network drive, then drag & drop files). Then I cancelled my premium sub after the fortnight, so the adrive account reverted to the basic free account, but with all my data intact. Now the odd backup of changed files can be done easily as & when.

For offline backup - Goodsync, though I hear good things of Microsoft's synctoy. I have several USB HDs - having lost my personal data once, I'm of the opinion "you can never have too little backup"! Goodsync has an option to backup/sync as soon as the original file is changed. Also can be scheduled.

Good luck, and let us know how you proceed.

Thanks, BigMck!

I am already having my data, most of it, on my data partition, and my system on a system partition. Then, once in a while, not as often as I should, run a system Image. The reason I don't run one every day is because I like to make sure that my system is not buggy or anything or if I am running something as a trial. I like to clean up everything, then run the system image, about once a month. Now I just got this 2 TB drive and I cannot believe that it is 2 TBs. I know it seems like a lot now, I wonder if it will in 5 years.

So, I will keep using Macrium for imaging periodically, and try to do it more often. I just need to figure out if it will do backups where it maintains complete files, but only backs up the ones that have changed (kinda like Mozy). I think that there is a name for this, perhaps it is 'differential'. More research needed...

Take care,

Well, i like this idea. I am just trying to figure out what I could do with 50GB online storage. I am sure that I will find a purpose for this, so I appreciate your input! I wonder if you mapped the drive during the 14 days, if it would stay mapped after the revert to free account...

Also, can you please explain to me what the heck this DAV stuff is all about? MobileMe tried to push CalDAV on me, and it was unuseable. It corrupted my data and just messed up my Outlook 2010.

And...is there a way to leave a mapped drive always connected? Because I have my MobileMe iDisk (only 10GB) mapped, basically so I can easily get stuff on iPhone, but before I can drag and drop, I always have to click on Ok in the connect dialogue box. Any way to default this to just DO it?

Thanks for the advice! I will let you know when I get it set up...

It stays mapped but rather uselessly you can't connect - something like "authentication denied by server".


From wikipedia:

"Web-based Distributed Authoring and Versioning (WebDAV) is a set of methods based on the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) that facilitates collaboration between users in editing and managing documents and files stored on World Wide Web servers ... The WebDAV protocol makes the Web a readable and writable medium, in line with Tim Berners-Lee's original vision.[1] It provides a framework for users to create, change and move documents on a server (typically a web server or "web share"). "

Macrium Free does NOT do incrementals.

That's just as well. Incrementals add a layer of complexity that you don't need.

My suggestions:

1: Use Macrium weekly or monthly to back up your Windows partition, realizing this is the entire C drive, not an incremental. I don't know where your personal data is--it may be on C with Windows or it may be on another partition. Imaging programs back up entire partitions---you can't image only portions of a partition.

2: Use a traditional file by file backup method (NOT imaging) to backup your personal files only, whether those files are on C with Windows or on another partition. I would run this backup every day. I would not use imaging for personal files precisely because imaging can fail--and then your valuable backups would be unavailable. You can exclude certain files, certain folders, etc. This method has a lot of control. Each day's backup only backs up that day's newly created files or modified files.

You can use Synctoy, Second Copy, Karen's Replicator, or any of several other applications to do this file by file backup on an automated schedule. Such backups normally take no more than 60 seconds to run daily.

the only problem with backing up 1 computer in your house to another computer in your house is that this solution offers absolutely no protection against fire, theft, or damage to both systems at the same time. Make sure that you keep at least 1 copy of your data offsite at all times.

Also, even if you go with 64-bit Windows...I strongly recommend (as does Microsoft) that you stick with 32-bit Office. The reason is that many add-ons and such expect and need the 32-bit version to run properly. If you are running the 64-bit version, you simply will limit your third party compatibility. And for most home users, there won't be any noticeable performance gain whatsoever from the 64-bit version over the 32-bit version to make the upgrade worthwhile.

Thanks to you both!