How do you back up your ebooks? - Page 2

Thrasher · 08-11-2010, 12:49 AM

Clintbradford has some interesting points. To be absolutely shure, you should have at least 3 copies of your ebooks. One on the computer, one back-up on an external storage media, such as an archival grade DVD-R, and one off-location backup, such as at your mom's house, who lives far away (in case your house burns down). You might also consider placing a backup in a safety-deposit box in a bank.

If you are backing up Adobe Digital Editions files, make sure you copy them from your "Documents / My Digital Editions" folder. DO NOT backup the .acsm file.

Chosing the right storage medium might be a hard task, but a reputable USB flash drive or archival grade CD/DVD media should do the trick. One example: https://www.blankmedia.ca/proddetail3.asp?id=1114

sabredog · 08-11-2010, 01:01 AM

Offline storage such as dropbox is another option worth considering.

The ISP I am with has just introduced an online backup facility that does not incur any loss of quota to use and I have just signed for the 20Gb option. More than enough space to store important files.

Pookeysgirl · 08-11-2010, 08:36 AM

I keep all my important stuff (like my SD cards, USB flash drives) in a fireproof safe and I also have a USB flash drive on my key chain. Its a real pain in the rear-end to update all of them but it's my only option right now since I cant afford an external backup yet.

>>Where do you keep 'em? If at your desk, you're at risk.

A friend of mine makes weekly backups onto archival DVDs, and mails them to a friend. Not quite as painless as the automated systems (like Carbonite), but it works.[/QUOTE]

zoran · 08-11-2010, 11:16 AM

People still consider tapes to be the best medium for storage.
As going out of fashion, they, including tape recorders, become
expensive. Personally, I use usb hard drive to keep it available.
CD/DVD optics are hard to trust, since they change over 5 years
or so. For ones with deep pocket, do what banks do: buy vms
node, get tape recorder, hire guy with glasses and have incre-
mental back up. Everything once a week and partial every day.

just_jeepin · 08-11-2010, 11:59 AM

I've also been using DropBox to backup my Calibre library for awhile and am happy with it.

wrenn1 · 08-11-2010, 12:14 PM

Cannot save/backup DRM protected files.

KjellM · 08-11-2010, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrenn1

Cannot save/backup DRM protected files.

A DRM protected ePUB, or PDF, file is just a standard file that is encrypted. Adobe Digital Editions (PC or Mobile) is required to read (decrypt) it. You can backup these files like an other file using standard backup or file copying utilities.

wrenn1 · 08-11-2010, 02:10 PM

I have added these books to disk and to Calibre and in both instances was unable to open them. Therefore, I assume if all crashed and burned in my system and I put the disk on a new computer it would still not open....making saving a waste of time.

I am lost in this thread frankly.

Pookeysgirl · 08-11-2010, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrenn1

I have added these books to disk and to Calibre and in both instances was unable to open them. Therefore, I assume if all crashed and burned in my system and I put the disk on a new computer it would still not open....making saving a waste of time.

I am lost in this thread frankly.

I buy all of my books from Kobobooks, so they all have DRM. I can copy the book to an SD card or USB flash drive and take them to another computer and as long as that computer has Calibre (or whatever you prefer to use) and my ereading device is "authorized", I can read my books.

I've seen a couple of your posts mentioning that you are unable to read/save your books, where do you buy them from? Maybe there's a problem with your books that somebody here can help you fix? I wouldn't want you to lose your library because you think you can't save your books.

3d0g · 08-11-2010, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrenn1

I have added these books to disk and to Calibre and in both instances was unable to open them.

Opening is not the same as backing up. You can copy the epub files anywhere you like. To open them you must use your copy of Adobe Digital Editions.

wrenn1 · 08-11-2010, 02:51 PM

I buy my books at Kobo so I am not understanding the need to backup since you can always pick up the books again from your library on the Kobo account.

The reason I tried to backup was in case Kobo went belly up. If they do then the ADE account would belly up with it wouldn't it?

AnemicOak · 08-11-2010, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrenn1

I buy my books at Kobo so I am not understanding the need to backup since you can always pick up the books again from your library on the Kobo account.

The reason I tried to backup was in case Kobo went belly up. If they do then the ADE account would belly up with it wouldn't it?

If Kobo closed down today the Adobe DRM'd ePub files folks have downloaded them will still be readable on any device activated with the same Adobe ID the copy of ADE used to download them was activated with.

The potential problem come in if/when Adobe changes their DRM, they've done it before (some folks lost books when Adobe stopped supporting Content Server 3).

I wouldn't trust any retailer to always keep a copy of my books for me.

wrenn1 · 08-11-2010, 03:17 PM

Thanks for your patience. I assumed the ADE authorization would disappear if Kobo did.

Not fun getting old and stupid.

AnemicOak · 08-11-2010, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrenn1

Not fun getting old and stupid.

Old? Maybe, I don't know what you consider old.

Stupid? Nope, it's DRM that's stupid (and often confusing).

polli · 01-16-2012, 04:59 AM

I know this is an old thread But just found it.
Know you need maybe 3 backups of most important things

But my question is, how do you back up when you have added new books to your main EBooks folder without deleting the back up (on external pen drive whatever) before copying across the updated EBooks folder
As just to pen drive it takes forever
Is there a way to just add the new books (in calibre folder) to the backup?

08-11-2010, 08:36 AM	#18
Pookeysgirl Wizard Posts: 1,705 Karma: 12696746 Join Date: May 2010 Device: K3, Kobo Mini	I keep all my important stuff (like my SD cards, USB flash drives) in a fireproof safe and I also have a USB flash drive on my key chain. Its a real pain in the rear-end to update all of them but it's my only option right now since I cant afford an external backup yet. >>Where do you keep 'em? If at your desk, you're at risk. A friend of mine makes weekly backups onto archival DVDs, and mails them to a friend. Not quite as painless as the automated systems (like Carbonite), but it works.[/QUOTE] Last edited by Pookeysgirl; 08-11-2010 at 09:07 AM.

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08-11-2010, 12:49 AM	#16
Thrasher Groupie Posts: 156 Karma: 1003934 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Canada Device: Nook Wifi	Clintbradford has some interesting points. To be absolutely shure, you should have at least 3 copies of your ebooks. One on the computer, one back-up on an external storage media, such as an archival grade DVD-R, and one off-location backup, such as at your mom's house, who lives far away (in case your house burns down). You might also consider placing a backup in a safety-deposit box in a bank. If you are backing up Adobe Digital Editions files, make sure you copy them from your "Documents / My Digital Editions" folder. DO NOT backup the .acsm file. Chosing the right storage medium might be a hard task, but a reputable USB flash drive or archival grade CD/DVD media should do the trick. One example: https://www.blankmedia.ca/proddetail3.asp?id=1114

08-11-2010, 01:01 AM	#17
sabredog Geographically Restricted Posts: 2,629 Karma: 14933353 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Device: Sony PRS-T3, Kindle Voyage, iPad Air2, Nexus7v2	Offline storage such as dropbox is another option worth considering. The ISP I am with has just introduced an online backup facility that does not incur any loss of quota to use and I have just signed for the 20Gb option. More than enough space to store important files.

08-11-2010, 11:16 AM	#19
zoran himself Posts: 576 Karma: 11226 Join Date: May 2010 Device: Kobo	People still consider tapes to be the best medium for storage. As going out of fashion, they, including tape recorders, become expensive. Personally, I use usb hard drive to keep it available. CD/DVD optics are hard to trust, since they change over 5 years or so. For ones with deep pocket, do what banks do: buy vms node, get tape recorder, hire guy with glasses and have incre- mental back up. Everything once a week and partial every day.

08-11-2010, 11:59 AM	#20
just_jeepin Addict Posts: 306 Karma: 1010848 Join Date: Oct 2005 Device: Kobo Libra 2	I've also been using DropBox to backup my Calibre library for awhile and am happy with it.

08-11-2010, 12:14 PM	#21
wrenn1 Addict Posts: 259 Karma: 48576 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Kobo	Cannot save/backup DRM protected files.

08-11-2010, 02:10 PM	#23
wrenn1 Addict Posts: 259 Karma: 48576 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Kobo	I have added these books to disk and to Calibre and in both instances was unable to open them. Therefore, I assume if all crashed and burned in my system and I put the disk on a new computer it would still not open....making saving a waste of time. I am lost in this thread frankly.

08-11-2010, 02:51 PM	#26
wrenn1 Addict Posts: 259 Karma: 48576 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Kobo	I buy my books at Kobo so I am not understanding the need to backup since you can always pick up the books again from your library on the Kobo account. The reason I tried to backup was in case Kobo went belly up. If they do then the ADE account would belly up with it wouldn't it?

08-11-2010, 03:17 PM	#28
wrenn1 Addict Posts: 259 Karma: 48576 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Kobo	Thanks for your patience. I assumed the ADE authorization would disappear if Kobo did. Not fun getting old and stupid.

01-16-2012, 04:59 AM	#30
polli Zealot Posts: 123 Karma: 714 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: uk Device: Kobo Touch, LG G Pad. Asus 7.0	I know this is an old thread But just found it. Know you need maybe 3 backups of most important things But my question is, how do you back up when you have added new books to your main EBooks folder without deleting the back up (on external pen drive whatever) before copying across the updated EBooks folder As just to pen drive it takes forever Is there a way to just add the new books (in calibre folder) to the backup?