Advice Request How do you back-up your files?

[Darlene]

I manually back-up, encrypt the "needed" files and store them physically disconnected. I always make two copies. In case of an infection or corruption, I format and perform a clean install.

 

[FrankS]

I manually back-up, encrypt the "needed" files and store them physically disconnected. I always make two copies. In case of an infection or corruption, I format and perform a clean install.

Nearly the same here. My needed files, setups and confidential data are stored on second partition of my system storage. Additionally I copied the content of my second partition to my external storage. Confidential files are encrypted with Steganos Safe.

 

[DardiM]

I use Acronis True Image 2016 to make encrypted backups to an external USB3 HD (System + useful tools, and data separately).
In case of infection (that didn't occurs for several years) : system back-up restoration ( < 10 min)

 

[frogboy]

I use Macrium Reflect and Aomei Backupper and always make a backup with both just to be sure i am covered.

 

[Deleted member 178]

I use Windows built-in image backup software , then do 2 system backups. Those are in case Rollback Rx fail to rollback to my baseline (which rarely happen under normal conditions).

 

[_CyberGhosT_]

Agreed Frog, have to have my Macrium, I clone and securely store my cloned drive, and Another spare HDD for software keys and important legal and family documents.

 

[LASER_oneXM]

I'm synchronizing (using FreeFileSync) my data every 2 or 3 days on an external USB-drive (2.5 inch): then i unplug it.
Additionaly once a week i'm sychronizing every machine on 2 other external drives and store them in different places.
The result: i have 3 separate backup drives for/with personal data....
Every 4-6 weeks: i'm using Acronis image software (Acronis true Image free (Western Digital edition)) to make full system
images of my machines. Then i store this images on 3 external 3,5 inch HDDs.
I'm also using "O&O disk image 10.5" (paid version) to make images of my system drives.

 

[DardiM]

I'm synchronizing (using FreeFileSync) my data every 2 or 3 days on an external USB-drive (2.5 inch): then i unplug it.
Additionaly once a week i'm sychronizing every machine on 2 other external drives and store them in different places.
The result: i have 3 separate backup drives for/with personal data....
Every 4-6 weeks: i'm using Acronis image software (Acronis true Image free (Western Digital edition)) to make full system
images of my machines. Then i store this images on 3 external 3,5 inch HDDs.
I'm also using "O&O disk image 10.5" (paid version) to make images of my system drives.

You forgot to write about the safety-deposit box where you put you externals drives

 

[hjlbx]

• USB Flash drive
• OneDrive via browser (manual) instead of system sync (actually, I uninstall OneDrive from my system as you don't need it to use OneDrive manually)

 

[broughie]

I sync my files every few days using synctoy on external hard drive ,(extremely simple to use and reliable) having lost files years ago when a backup prog failed.Financial and personal folders & files I encrypt with axcrypt & sync as such. I disk image every month or so with easeus todo and alternate with macrium freeware .

 

[tonibalas]

I do a manual back up of most important files to a usb or/and to external HDD.

 

[FrFc1908]

I have all my important files backed up to an encrypted external hdd. for my machine I use Aomei One Key Recovery Professional. I voted for paid software , but I was one of the many lucky ones , to get this fabulous program free from their giveway the held a while back

 

[Overkill]

I manually copy my important files to an external drive

 

[LASER_oneXM]

You forgot to write about the safety-deposit box where you put you externals drives

.. i stor all external backup drives in four different places in stable plastic boxes. The boxes are filled
with soft materials like soft plastic bags, polystyrene...., ......, .... i think i'm quite paranoid but i 've
never "lost" a backup drive ....so far....

 

[LASER_oneXM]

• USB Flash drive
• OneDrive via browser (manual) instead of system sync (actually, I uninstall OneDrive from my system as you don't need it to use OneDrive manually)

i also wanted to use USB flash drives for backups. But i found the information on the internet that
USB flash drives have a much higher risk of losing data (all data or parts of stored data) than hard drives.
Therefore i decided only to use HDDs for backups: 2,5 inch drives are very fast/easy to use (USB 3.0, no external power supply needed)
and of course cheaper and much faster than average USB-sticks. The main disadvantage of HDDs: if they fall down then it's
(in most cases) over.....

 

[hjlbx]

i also wanted to use USB flash drives for backups. But i found the information on the internet that
USB flash drives have a much higher risk of losing data (all data or parts of stored data) than hard drives.
Therefore i decided only to use HDDs for backups: 2,5 inch drives are very fast/easy to use (USB 3.0, no external power supply needed)
and of course cheaper and much faster than average USB-sticks. The main disadvantage of HDDs: if they fall down then it's
(in most cases) over.....

I save very little data. Perhaps a word document here and there until I print it out and do whatever I need with it. I save no video, music, etc. That's why I can clean install OS without any concern of losing anything...

 

[DardiM]

i also wanted to use USB flash drives for backups. But i found the information on the internet that
USB flash drives have a much higher risk of losing data (all data or parts of stored data) than hard drives.
Therefore i decided only to use HDDs for backups: 2,5 inch drives are very fast/easy to use (USB 3.0, no external power supply needed)
and of course cheaper and much faster than average USB-sticks. The main disadvantage of HDDs: if they fall down then it's
(in most cases) over.....

I think all you have described makes your personal data well "protected", if any problem occurs on your PC
It worth to be "paranoid", because nobody is 100 % free from been infected

 

[simbelmayne]

I copy the data manually, on the external media, and keep it disconnected. I think, that's more than enough to cope with any infections.

 

[jelson]

Currently, I'm using SyncFolders to do my data backups (Note: I moved my user data off the system drive):

• does versioning
• create custom rule sets
• it's free!
• and a huge thing for me, it's portable!!

I regularly mirror all my data files to an extra HDD (USB 3 dock) and periodically I archive them to another HDD