Posted by Dennis Batchelor on Thu, Sep 09, 2010
What is the best method of back up for a Windows computer? This question reminds me of the question “What is the best form of exercise?” While there may be any number of responses, it does depend a bit on the circumstance. To a person that does not exercise, any form of exercise done regularly is the best. To a person that exercises regularly, the time available, equipment cost, and risk of injury may be the factors that matter most.
When it comes to backing up a Windows computer, it goes without saying that any form of backup is better than none. When I talk with business owners and self employed people, it is never a question of should it be done; the questions are what gets backed up, when, where, and how? There are 3 main backup storage options for backing up a Windows computer, and the advantages and disadvantages of each are shown below.
Cloud Backup
Common offerings in the cloud based backup include Carbonite and Mozy. For a monthly subscription, an application running on your computer will copy data files from your computer through the Internet to a facility with numerous hard disk drives. The security and privacy of your data are addressed by encrypting the data both during transfer through the Internet and as files stored in the facility.
Advantages
- Convenience – files are copied through the Internet automatically
- Low upfront cost – billed monthly or annually
- Safety – offsite storage of data ensures disaster recovery options
Disadvantages
- Performance – large amounts of data require significant time
- Cost – subscriptions for multiple computers add up
- Security – data encryption is good, but what if the company folds?
For more reading, see Should You Use a Hosted (Cloud) Backup Solution?
Local Media Backup
Traditional backup involves copying data files to local media, such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, external hard disk drive, or even tape backup devices. The methods for copying files to these media range from very manual means (copying a folder or folders to the external media) to highly automated methods (Rebit SaveMe fits in this category). While local media can be the simplest in terms of setup and usage, backup applications vary in terms of configuration and ease of use. Typically, this form of backup requires scheduling or some form of procedure to carry out the backup process.
Advantages
- Cost – hard disk drives continue dropping in price, and are purchased once
- Security – data that never leaves your possession is safe
- Performance – data stored locally is readily accessible and fast to transfer
Disadvantages
- Management – storing, organizing, and locking up physical items is required
- Durability – physical media are susceptible to damage by fire, dropping
For more reading, see Backup Strategies for Data, Multimedia, System Files
Private Cloud Backup
What if cloud backup and local media were blended in a manner yielding the best of both? Enter Private Cloud backup. The concept is simple; place a storage device on your network and use software to back up your computer to that storage. Similar in concept to the Apple Time Machine, Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices are readily available and allow you to place the NAS anywhere on your network, whether local or at a distance. A shared network drive may also qualify as backup storage in some cases, creating a variation of private cloud storage.
Advantages
- Convenience – files are copied automatically when the network is available
- Security – few people and computers can access data
- Performance – local network data transfer is faster than the Internet
Disadvantages
- Cost – NAS devices cost more than external USB drives
- Setup - configuring network devices is more complicated
While the best backup storage option varies in different applications, the best overall system is one that continues to protect your computer with minimal management. In some situations, a combination of two storage options may be the best solution for disaster recovery and local protection.
image by tipiro
Posted by Jesse Weissman on Wed, Sep 01, 2010
I found an excellent article on lifehacker addressing the question of what to do about personal data on a work laptop if a job transition (e.g. layoff) is on the horizon. As worker mobility increases, either due to telecommuting to simply due to the lower cost of laptops, it's easier to blur the line between work and home data. And as small to mid-size companies watch spending on IT support, the responsibility to protect data is shifting to the user.
Like many of lifehacker's articles, this example provides some clear steps to clear one's personal data from a work system. I think the most important piece of advice is at the bottom of the article:
"Preemptively image your disk. There's a strong chance your next job will involve a laptop too. Make things easier on yourself the next time around by making an image of your hard drive as soon as you get your laptop."
Sound advice...got a new laptop for the job? Check out our full system backup solutions today.
Posted by Jesse Weissman on Wed, Sep 01, 2010
September arrived this week with a collective sigh from neighborhood BBQs; the end of summer is near; school has started; take advantage of the longer days while they last. At the end of the summer I take a few extra days to take stock of all the little projects that need to be completed before the Back-to-School, Back-to-Work malaise reappears later in September.
Counting smoke detector batteries and spent light bulbs on my way out the door this morning, my eye lingered on the dusty Western Digital external drive (circa 2005) lying helplessly next to my PC tower.
And then I thought about what it takes for the average person (who doesn't work for a complete backup and recovery company like Rebit) to begin to tackle the challenge of building a real system backup and recovery solution.
I forgot about the smoke detectors and the light bulbs, grabbed another cup of coffee, and started to search Google for ways to backup a PC...
I read about services provided by universities such as Tufts and Brown for students to backup selected files. And I found a brief summary of backup options typically available from a university. Most of these services depend on a scheduled job and offer a file-only restore with limited storage capacity.
I found a decent overview of the different types of backup and recovery options for beginners. And I also found a detailed how-to for the backup and restore features in Windows 7...half-way through I needed to refill my coffee cup.
After wading through a number of technical case-studies, I realized that for the average person (or small business) learning about the available options is more complicated than implementing Rebit's complete backup and recovery solution.
For the average university student, small business or professional, details about the merits of differential vs. incremental backup, file filtering and compression, are not as important as simply starting a complete backup and recovery program that works quietly and continuously, and can restore everything quickly from a recover point with a mouse-click.
The Frog Days of Summer are here. Start your complete backup and recovery program today!
Posted by Jesse Weissman on Wed, Sep 01, 2010
We spend a lot of time evangelizing the need for a complete PC backup and recovery solution simple enough for a frog to use. Or maybe even that frog's grandmother.
We talk a lot about why the scheduled backup of data without applications or Windows configuration just doesn't work when the normal busy person (or business):
- Does not want a massive, scheduled job running during the day
- Forgets to leave the computer running overnight after rescheduling the job
- Has a lot of important data dependent on functioning applications...that need a functional Windows registry
- Does not have all day (and night) to hand-select each file to restore
- Really wants Time Machine for the PC
One of our executives was four hours away from one of these talks (to a rather large audience) when her laptop decided to test her resolve by turning a blue-screen up to the daisies.
An hour was wasted on the phone with the laptop manufacturer.
5 minutes were spent locating the most recent recovery point on her Rebit drive. And then she pressed the recover button.
Within two hours her entire system was automatically restored and ready to go.
At Rebit we eat our own frog food.
Posted by Dennis Batchelor on Thu, Aug 26, 2010
Sometimes, viruses infect computers even with Antivirus software installed. And sometimes what seems like a virus is not really a virus at all, but a software update or a Windows Update gone bad. This can sometimes result in the dreaded "Blue Screen of Death," or BSOD.
Restore from Backup System
The price tag of a good backup system is easily justified and greatly valued when you need it. With certain full system backup solutions, Windows can be restored or reverted to the condition it was in prior to a virus attack or failed software installation. Such is the case with image based backup products (like Rebit SaveMe) that provide full system protection for your digital work as well as the operating system and applications. Restoring a computer in this manner typically involves booting the computer from a CD-ROM, which permits the transfer of necessary data to the system hard disk drive.
If you are not able to restore from backup, you may need to rely on Windows System Restore. Periodically, Windows creates a Restore Point, which is a checkpoint for the Windows operating system. If a software installation goes poorly or if Windows update fails, it may be necessary to rely on a Restore Point to back out the changes. Typically, this can repair a newly introduced problem with minimal effort and time.
Restore Points in Windows
Assuming Windows is able to boot and you can see your Desktop, you may use System Restore to utilize the Windows Restore Points. To launch System Restore, do the following:
1) Click “Start” -> “All Programs” -> “Accessories” -> “System Restore”
2) For Windows XP users, a window like the one shown below will appear; Click “Next”
3) Click to select a recent Restore Point and “Next”
4) Click “Next” and the changes will be applied
Restore Points in Safe Mode
Sometimes, Windows fails to boot. If this is the case, you may need to start Windows in “Safe Mode” which disables all but the necessary items for Windows to run. To start Windows in “Safe Mode” do the following:
1) If the computer is on, turn it off; if pressing the power button does not shut down the computer, press and hold the power button until the computer shuts down completely
2) Turn on the computer
3) As the computer starts up, press and release the ‘F8’ key repeatedly until a menu of choices appears
4) Select “Safe Mode” and press Enter
Once Windows starts up, follow the steps above in “Restore Points in Windows” to perform the System Restore procedure. If Windows was unable to start, follow the steps below to perform the System Restore utilizing a Windows installation CD-ROM or DVD-ROM.
Restore Points from Installation Disk
When starting Windows in Safe Mode fails, it is necessary to use the installation disk for your Windows operating system.
1) If the computer is on, turn it off; if pressing the power button does not shut down the computer, press and hold the power button until the computer shuts down completely
2) Turn on the computer
3) Insert your Windows Operating System installation CD-ROM or DVD-ROM
4) If the computer does not automatically boot from the disk, it may be necessary to press ‘F12’ or a similar key to start windows from the disk
5) Not all installation disks have a repair function for System Restore; determine if there is a feature for repair that subsequently shows the option to restore a prior Recovery Point
6) If there is a restore feature, select it and follow the on-screen prompts
If there is no feature for System Restore, you may choose to perform the operation manually using the information at this link http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545 to revert the registry to a prior Restore Point.
Conclusion
While System Restore is capable of reversing many issues related to Windows Update or application installations, it is not 100% effective. We of course recommend backing up your Windows computer to protect your data. We also recommend backing up your computer to enable full system recovery when issues prevent Windows from booting.
Posted by Dennis Batchelor on Sat, Aug 07, 2010
So many times I have wanted to rewind the clock to undo the damage of a mistake. It reminds me of child’s play and the phrase “let’s have a do-over.”
Have you seen the fake antivirus application gimmick while browsing the web? The one that claims you have a virus and that you should pay money to run a scan that eliminates the virus? Peter Schmalzle of Small Systems in San Diego sees the results of this malware periodically. He told me that to remove this type of malicious application, he does the following:
- Browse to the folder “C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\Application Data” and find the most recent item (sort by details and date) that appears “suspicious” – likely a series of numbers and rarely a recognizable name. For example, “5818103902.exe” was the name of a recent infection.
- Inside the suspicious folder, delete any file with a “.exe” extension. Try to delete the item, and if it cannot be deleted, it is likely the malware in question. Rename the executable to something like “5818103902.exe.bad” and restart the computer.
- Also browse to the folder “C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Local Settings\Application Data” and look for similar items as described above.
- Delete temp files in “C:\WINDOWS\Temp” and “C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\temp” to ensure nothing is able to run and re-infect the computer.
- Finally, run ComboFix (found at http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/combofix/how-to-use-combofix), and then MalWareBytes, Spybot and SuperAntiSpyware (found at http://www.download.com).
With unintended actions, damage can be wrought on a computer. Open an attachment in an Email, install a questionable free application or game, or visit a “friendly” website (see "Google Acknowledges YouTube Hack" for an example) and you could spend the next day attempting to undo the results of that single, seemingly benign decision. Despite your antivirus or spyware application, some actions defy even the best safeguards. Let’s face it; there are intelligent, crafty, and downright nasty people working to rout the best intentions of the intelligent, crafty, do-gooders trying to block the bad stuff. It is like a tug-of-war, and sometimes the bad guys get a leg up on the good guys.
“Even my business partner picked up some malware one day when reading about a World Cup player,” said Schmalzle. “Maybe it came through a Flash or ActiveX thing, but we aren’t sure. That was a site you wouldn’t expect would have viruses.” Pop-up ads may be involved in the malware, perhaps even ads from reputable companies with compromised content.
Even Windows Restore Points can become compromised by some viruses – attacking the information in the folder where Restore Point information is stored. Windows Restore sometimes can only replace a portion of the registry information backed up. The result could be that the infection remains even after utilizing the Windows Restore Point. In some cases, Windows can become so unstable that starting over with a fresh installation of Windows is the only option. Unless you have a backup.
Why Disk Image Backup is Key
Beyond antivirus, antispyware, and other defensive applications, there is a need to further protect your computer. Even a laser guided defense shield fails to deliver the value and protection of a disk image back up system that can restore the computer hard disk drive back to its digital condition from yesterday or the day before yesterday. Think of full-system disaster recovery as the “do-over” for your computer.
Wipe away whatever nasty virus or problematic download infected your computer and get back to a known good status with disk image backup. What is disk image backup? In addition to files, Windows stores information in file-like structures as well as non-file structures. What this means is that typical backup applications fail to back up the information necessary to perform full-system recovery. This process is also known as bare metal recovery, and involves replacing the binary information required to make the computer start up just as it did previously. Not only does this save time, it saves you the trouble of finding the install CDs and downloaded items collected on the hard disk drive.
File backup is great. It keeps your digital work stored in two places. But when has disaster ever hit at a convenient time? With disk image backup, you can be productively back at work in a much shorter time.
image courtesy trekkyandy
Posted by Dennis Batchelor on Mon, Jul 19, 2010
If you have not lost files (yet), you are fortunate. A common form of data loss is a hard drive failure, but even losing a picture due to accidental deletion is frustrating. If you are unable to get the file back out of the Recycle Bin, you have to rely on your backup.
There are several ways to back up and recover deleted files. These include: 1) Plain old file copies; 2) Backup applications; and 3) Full image backup. Below, the process to recover pictures for each type of backup is described.
Recover Pictures from Plain Old File Copies
The most rudimentary and fundamental backup comes in the form of files copied to an alternate location. This location could be an external hard disk drive, a CD-ROM, or even a separate partition (i.e. the "D:" drive) in your computer.
- Open a "My Computer" window and locate the folder in your backup (i.e. the "D:" drive or other location where the files were copied previously)
- Navigate to the location of your pictures. For example, in Windows XP, you might navigate to "Documents and Settings" -> "Owner" -> "My Documents" -> "My Pictures" (replace "Owner" with the name of the user for the computer)
- Find the picture of interest, and then Click-and-Drag the file icon to a location on your computer
Recover Pictures from a Backup Application
Backup applications vary, but they typically provide a means to access the backup data. For example, to recover pictures from the Windows Backup application in Windows 7, you would follow the steps below.
- Click "Start" (round graphic in lower left corner of the screen) and then "Control Panel" -> click "Back up your computer". In the lower right area, click "Restore my files"
- Click "Browse for files"
- Double-click the appropriate icons displayed to access the pictures in the backup. For the example shown above, I double-clicked "Backup of C:" -> "Users" -> "Public" -> "Pictures" -> "Sample Pictures". Click to select the item desired, then click "Add files" (you may continue to click file icons and "Add files" to include several items). Click "Next" to accept the list of files created in the previous step
- You may have the application place the files into the folder from which they were copied initially. To change the location where the file(s) will be copied, click to navigate the folders on the computer.
- Once the destination folder is selected, click "OK"
- Windows Backup will place the selected file(s) in the location selected
Recover Pictures from a Full Image Backup
Typically, image backups require that you restore the full image to a location before you will be able to extract files. Some image-based backup products make it possible to access the data through an application.
The process of restoring a full image to a location such as an external hard disk drive is beyond the scope of this article, but once achieved, the steps to locate the pictures are similar to the steps described above.
Location of Pictures in Windows XP, Vista and 7
The default locations for pictures vary for Windows XP, Vista and 7. These differences are shown below.
Windows XP Pictures
"C:" -> "Documents and Settings" -> [username] -> "My Documents" -> "My Pictures"
Windows Vista Pictures
"C:" -> "Users" -> [username] -> "Pictures"
Windows 7 Pictures
"C:" -> "Users" -> [username] -> "Libraries" -> "Pictures"
Using Rebit SaveMe to Recover Pictures
Recovering pictures from your Rebit SaveMe backup is as easy as using Windows to copy files from one folder to another. If you have used Windows to Drag-and-Drop a file from one location to another, you already know how to recover photos from the Rebit SaveMe backup.
Follow these simple steps below to find and copy your pictures (or any other type of file).
- Open the Rebit SaveMe browser: Right-click the small Rebit SaveMe icon in the lower right tray and select "Open"
- Double-click the "My Documents" folder icon and then double-click the "My Pictures" icon.
- Select and Copy the files to your Desktop. You may Click-and-Drag on a selected file icon and move the icon(s) to the Desktop area or to any other folder visible on your screen.