Backup or Copy/Paste of Photos??

[Mike4AU]

I finally got around to backing up my HDD that I use to store my photos. I used the backup program in Win XP Pro. After doing that it occurs to me that I would prefer to have the backup files in their native state (e.g., jpg and NEF). The backup program puts the entire backup in a "bkf" file.

Doesn't it seem safer to just use "copy/paste" than a backup program?

Thanks for any help.

Mike

[ben9732]

Acronis True Image and second hard drive.

[Mike4AU]

Jack, I have #3 HDD inside my PC that I use solely for the purpose of storing photos. I bought a 1 TB external HDD that I will use to store a backup of #3 HDD.

Does Acronis store the backup files in their native state?

Thanks

[Loophead]

I use Apple's Time Machine as well as never deleting images off the memory cards. I just keep buying new cards.

[HuskerOmaha]

I use Apple's Time Machine as well as never deleting images off the memory cards. I just keep buying new cards.

I used Apple's Time Machine until ours is apparently too full. We use the highest definition on all pictures, so after 2 years it was bound to happen. Bought a 1 or 2 TB (forgot) external HD, working great now! Easy program

[Mep]

I would say go with an external hd if you have that much data and back up with the copy/paste or drag and drop works fine. Might also want to think about a mirrored RAID if your data is important to you.

[HuskerOmaha]

+1 on Raid.

I think max space for RAID is 2 TB though, or at least my HTPC builder was going to run RAID and he said that....:hissyfit:(4 TB total on mine..)

[1BionicEar]

I like the ClickFree external drives if you want an easy automatic back-up process. www.clickfree.com

A little pricey if you look at it as just a drive, but it is the software that really makes a difference, IMHO.

[tthurman]

Cool!

This looks like a practical backup solution for people not wanting to run RAID or some other dedicated solution and doesn't require a lot of technical expertise. I am constantly amazed at how many people make backups only to find out they don't work when they need them. I've watched several of the videos about this product as well as reviews. Seems to get high marks overall!

[1BionicEar]

Click Free just saved the butt of one of my friends. Somehow he managed to lose all of the files in his My Documents folder on his business computer. We still haven't figured out how, or where they went. Took about 5 minutes restore over 6,000 files from the Click Free.

[Mike4AU]

Questions, please:

1. The video says that one jsut connects the HDD and they are done. That implies, at least to me, that it automatically backs up drive C. I want to back up drive E....I assume that can be done, correct?

2. Are the files backed up in their native format? Could I, for example, access a file (jepg) on the Clickfree HDD by calling it up in Photoshop or would I have to restore it first?

Thanks for any help and the suggestion.

Mike

[HuskerOmaha]

Questions, please:

1. The video says that one jsut connects the HDD and they are done. That implies, at least to me, that it automatically backs up drive C. I want to back up drive E....I assume that can be done, correct?

2. Are the files backed up in their native format? Could I, for example, access a file (jepg) on the Clickfree HDD by calling it up in Photoshop or would I have to restore it first?

Thanks for any help and the suggestion.

Mike

Mike,

I'm not a big computer genius, but I think it would depend on if there as any software installed re: autobackup.

It should be as easy as designating the external HD via your computer backup program to be "the" backup drive.

On a previous laptop (Dell) I had, I had an external drive with no software that I would just drag the files onto like moving in folders. This ended up being a pain, however, because when I wanted to backup every week I had to figure out what files were "new" on the Dell and transfer those ones only...

The files were stored in the exact same format.

When I would open them from the external HD they would open like normal and require no formatting changes. It just took a little while longer to open since everything was via usb. I could pull them up via programs as well, again identifying the drive it was in was the only change.

Utilizing some sort of backup program would be best I'm sure.

http://download.cnet.com/windows/backup-software/

Maybe look through that if you don't have one?



Greg

[Mike4AU]

Thanks for the info. I already have Acronis TI 2010 and Paragon, both of which are good. I'm just trying to find the *best* solution because I have a ton of photos (31K+) and I want to have a second copy in the native format.

I am giving thought, frankly, to completely re-doing my desktop to include a 3 disk Raid array. For reasons unknown, I cannot get an image of my "C" HDD (the OS HDD) with Ghost, nor Acronis, but I *think* I finally have one by using Paragon. That said, I don't think I have the energy right now to immerse myself into another PC build.

[ben9732]

Mike,

Sorry for not getting back to this thread sooner.

I just repetitively use TI to make a a complete backup on my main HD, OS, files and all after having a hard drive start to fail. I just physically switch back and forth to the other being the master every 6 months to insure everything is working OK. I've never tried selectively backing up certain folders or files only.

[Mike4AU]

Jack, really interesting procedure you use (the every 6 month swap). I can really see the value in that. Thanks for the tip.