From roots-in@roots-l.rootsweb.com Tue Apr 11 14:28:53 2006 Received: from mail.rootsweb.com (mail.rootsweb.com [192.168.65.34]) by admin.rootsweb.com (8.12.8/8.12.8) with ESMTP id k3BKSrjb025160; Tue, 11 Apr 2006 14:28:53 -0600 Received: from roots-l.rootsweb.com (roots-l.rootsweb.com [66.43.16.22]) by mail.rootsweb.com (8.13.4/8.13.4) with ESMTP id k3BKSqYf023142 for ; Tue, 11 Apr 2006 14:28:52 -0600 Received: from roots-l.rootsweb.com (roots-l [127.0.0.1]) by roots-l.rootsweb.com (8.12.10/8.12.10) with ESMTP id k3BHufFI020827 for ; Tue, 11 Apr 2006 13:56:41 -0400 Received: (from roots-in@localhost) by roots-l.rootsweb.com (8.12.10/8.12.8/Submit) id k3BHuf7T020826 for roots-approved@rootsweb.com; Tue, 11 Apr 2006 13:56:41 -0400 Received: from lists5.rootsweb.com (lists5.rootsweb.com [66.43.27.41]) by roots-l.rootsweb.com (8.12.10/8.12.10) with SMTP id k3BG84FI020569 for ; Tue, 11 Apr 2006 12:08:04 -0400 Received: (from slist@localhost) by lists5.rootsweb.com (8.12.8/8.12.8) id k3BIe4XM015798 for roots-in@roots-l.rootsweb.com; Tue, 11 Apr 2006 12:40:04 -0600 X-Envelope-From: sue.nyc@att.net Tue Apr 11 12:40:04 2006 Received: from mail.rootsweb.com (mail.rootsweb.com [192.168.65.34]) by admin.rootsweb.com (8.12.8/8.12.8) with ESMTP id k3BIe4jb015789 for ; Tue, 11 Apr 2006 12:40:04 -0600 Received: from mtiwmhc11.worldnet.att.net (mtiwmhc11.worldnet.att.net [204.127.131.115]) by mail.rootsweb.com (8.13.4/8.13.4) with ESMTP id k3BIe25H026127 for ; Tue, 11 Apr 2006 12:40:03 -0600 Received: from host (75.new-york-31rh16rt-32rh15rt.ny.dial-access.att.net[12.75.174.75]) by worldnet.att.net (mtiwmhc11) with SMTP id <20060411183957111004cig5e>; Tue, 11 Apr 2006 18:39:57 +0000 Message-ID: <002601c65d97$29a59480$4bae4b0c@host> From: "SueNY" To: , References: <041120060254.2377.443B1A4B000B6A9B000009492160466648039F970A040EB5@att.net> Subject: Re: [ROOTS-L] Backup of Computer Data Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2006 14:38:38 -0400 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2800.1437 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1441 X-Scanned-By: MIMEDefang 2.52 on 192.168.65.34 X-Scanned-By: MIMEDefang 2.52 on 192.168.65.34 Sender: roots-in@roots-l.rootsweb.com All computers will eventually fail. I don't believe your friend's solution is totally viable. What if there is a fire, flood, or other such event? The back up computer won't be any help. The part about storing backups in a safe deposit box is excellent however, providing he makes timely and regular backups from the computer. He could just as easily do the same from his main computer though. I back up my data to a USB flashdrive that fits on my keychain. I also make a copy on CD and keep it in a safe deposit box. I do the same with all my family photos, many of which are over 50 years old. I've also given a copy of my data to my parents for safe keeping and yet another copy stored online on my website. Sue ----- Original Message ----- From: To: Sent: Monday, April 10, 2006 10:54 PM Subject: [ROOTS-L] Backup of Computer Data > In recent weeks, there have been numerous messages about the problem of computer data backup, how to, personal catastrophies, etc. I read all of these with great interest as I had a total failure about 18 months ago and lost everything: favorites list, letters, files, and the beginning of a genealogy data base. I use Windows XP Home edition. > > The cause was a "corrupted" harddrive. I had Windows Sp #1 and Sp # 2, updated them regularly, and also Nortons full system for protection. My tech rep said I could erase everything and start over, or pay him $50.00 and hour to find the corruption. I did have the Windows recovery disks, so I elected to start all over again. > > I have studied this whole issue, kept copies of msgs which subscribers to this site have kindly sent in, bought several manuals in bookstores, and done many Google searches on the matter. > > I recently discussed his problem with a friend who is retired from managing data systems for banks. He said the system he uses personally is to have his "main" computer on the internet, stores all his data on Iomega Zip Drives, then transfers the data to computers that are never on the internet (no chance of corruption). His second set of computers store his data until he then downloads the data to other zip drives and he stores them in a safe deposit box at a bank (away from his home). > > When asked about the cost of these secondary computers, he states new computers can be purchased for $300.00, or a used one for $35.00 and buy the software to insure its harddrive has been cleared of all data. > > He does not believe in external hard drives (they can fail), nor does he use on-line back-up systems due to the cost and their systems can fail too. > > I have plenty of written and downloaded material on CD's, Flash drives, Zip drives, External harddrives, network backup systems, and more, I'm sure. Much of it was obtained from this Roots site. > > Question: Is my friends solution viable and reasonable? Is it a good solution? > > Thanks for any comments. Peter in Colorado.