Tangential discussion about backups

NSILMike · 02-13-2019, 02:41 PM

If you backup your system regularly, a separate Calibre backup is unnecessary. If you don't back up your system, you're at significant risk....

ilovejedd · 02-13-2019, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NSILMike

If you backup your system regularly, a separate Calibre backup is unnecessary. If you don't back up your system, you're at significant risk....

Depends on what's on the system. I don't need a complete system image on my PCs. As long as I have copies of my PortableApps and data folders, I'm good.

Specific Calibre libraries, I have separate, more granular backups prior to massive reorganization. In any case, I use the portable version so I just use FreeFileSync/Robocopy for those, too. The import/export function is blocked on Calibre Portable.

NSILMike · 02-13-2019, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

Depends on what's on the system. I don't need a complete system image on my PCs. As long as I have copies of my PortableApps and data folders, I'm good.

[snipped]

Actually, no. There is a lot you could lose if your disk died beyond PortableApps and data folders. Setting up a new disk can be intense and if you are missing or can no longer get certain updates, etc. you can be blocked.

BetterRed · 02-13-2019, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NSILMike

If you backup your system regularly, a separate Calibre backup is unnecessary. If you don't back up your system, you're at significant risk....

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

Depends on what's on the system. I don't need a complete system image on my PCs. As long as I have copies of my PortableApps and data folders, I'm good.

Specific Calibre libraries, I have separate, more granular backups prior to massive reorganization. In any case, I use the portable version so I just use FreeFileSync/Robocopy for those, too. The import/export function is blocked on Calibre Portable.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NSILMike

Actually, no. There is a lot you could lose if your disk died beyond PortableApps and data folders. Setting up a new disk can be intense and if you are missing or can no longer get certain updates, etc. you can be blocked.

Moderator Notice
This is not the place for discussing alternative approaches to general systems management issues, if you continue the discussion I'll move it to the Lounge.

Nor is the Calibre forum a place for reposting links to non-calibre related media articles - try Twitter.

BR

NSILMike · 02-13-2019, 04:29 PM

BetterRed-
I disagree. This thread is completely relevant to both Calibre users and users in general.

Deskisamess · 02-13-2019, 05:08 PM

We back up important data, photos, bank info, Calibre, etc. We do not do full system backups, and haven't for a long long time. Our experience is that if something goes wrong with the computer, the best way to deal with it, should formatting be necessary, is a format and reinstall of the OS, run all updates, then, and only then, restore the backup data.

This scenario has not been needed for over 10 years at this point, and probably longer.

BetterRed · 02-13-2019, 05:28 PM

FYI - this thread was spawned from here A question about backingup Calibre library.

BR

ilovejedd · 02-13-2019, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NSILMike

Actually, no. There is a lot you could lose if your disk died beyond PortableApps and data folders. Setting up a new disk can be intense and if you are missing or can no longer get certain updates, etc. you can be blocked.

That's why I said it depends.

For me personally, there's nothing mission critical on my home PCs so I don't need a system image. If I ever experience a motherboard failure, all I need after a fresh Windows install is to install Microsoft Office (plus a few other programs), restore my PortableApps backup, install Dropbox and I'm up and running. No complicated dev environment or tweaks. No games, even.

Mind, I have a copy of app installers, software license/registration/activation codes and Windows updates (wsusupdate) on the NAS.

PeterT · 02-13-2019, 09:19 PM

A few months ago I decided the time had come to retire my Windows Home Server which while it still worked had hard drives that were beginning to fall, and had limited memory. I replaced it by a QNAP NAS and purchased Macrium Reflect as a backup tool. With it in doing monthly full backups, weekly differentials (since last full) and incrementals (since last backup).

I also finally built myself a new PC and if course all was going great with it. One day though I noticed the backup had failed with a message that $MFT$ (or one of the internal NTFS files) was corrupted. No problem I thought let's just do a chkdsk. With the error being on the C drive this of course many doing it during the boot process.

Horror oh horror, the process failed with the PC rebooting during the chkdsk

I tried rebooting and the same thing happened.

Luckily I'd made recovery media which nervously I tried. WOW. It booted into Windows PE, loaded Macrium Reflect and listed the backups on the NAS!

Recovery was trivial but unfortunately the PC still continued to randomly power off

I tracked the issue down to the RAM modules being loose. How I don't know.

At least I can say I have working backups!

Sirtel · 02-15-2019, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

That's why I said it depends.

For me personally, there's nothing mission critical on my home PCs so I don't need a system image. If I ever experience a motherboard failure, all I need after a fresh Windows install is to install Microsoft Office (plus a few other programs), restore my PortableApps backup, install Dropbox and I'm up and running. No complicated dev environment or tweaks. No games, even.

Mind, I have a copy of app installers, software license/registration/activation codes and Windows updates (wsusupdate) on the NAS.

I'm in the same boat. While I have never experienced a total system crash or disk failure, I've changed my computers several times. All my important data, installers, activation codes, even descriptions of a few important customizations are backed up, in Dropbox and on external drives. I don't need every tiny detail on my devices backed up.

timebug · 02-17-2019, 04:56 AM

I backup anything that is important to me, on an external hard drive and/or USB stick. The rest, as a few have already said, is just 'stuff' that can easily be recreated or rebuilt!

wodin · 02-19-2019, 01:29 PM

A cloud based backup service has served me well through several hardware tech refreshes. I use Carbonite, but there are several competitive services available. Just Google "backup services"

02-13-2019, 02:41 PM	#1
NSILMike Guru Posts: 735 Karma: 35936 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Shrewsury, MA Device: Lenovo Android Tablet	Tangential discussion about backups If you backup your system regularly, a separate Calibre backup is unnecessary. If you don't back up your system, you're at significant risk.... Last edited by NSILMike; 02-13-2019 at 02:57 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Discussion - Backups, Synchronisation, Networks etc	stumped	Library Management	30	10-12-2018 03:27 PM
Marvin 3.0 and Backups	RedRaccoonDog	Marvin	5	06-22-2016 02:06 AM
Save backups to SD	Purple Lady	Calibre Companion	10	08-30-2015 03:01 PM
Help with a disaster and backups!	SusieQ100	Calibre	24	08-09-2015 03:43 PM
How many backups do you have?	Sydney's Mom	General Discussions	23	04-03-2010 11:53 PM

02-13-2019, 04:29 PM	#5
NSILMike Guru Posts: 735 Karma: 35936 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Shrewsury, MA Device: Lenovo Android Tablet	BetterRed- I disagree. This thread is completely relevant to both Calibre users and users in general.

02-13-2019, 05:08 PM	#6
Deskisamess Wizard Posts: 2,609 Karma: 42697471 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Ohio Device: iPhone 7+, iPad mini, 2021 iPad Pro 12.9",Paperwhite 6.8"	We back up important data, photos, bank info, Calibre, etc. We do not do full system backups, and haven't for a long long time. Our experience is that if something goes wrong with the computer, the best way to deal with it, should formatting be necessary, is a format and reinstall of the OS, run all updates, then, and only then, restore the backup data. This scenario has not been needed for over 10 years at this point, and probably longer.

02-13-2019, 05:28 PM	#7
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 20,565 Karma: 26954694 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	FYI - this thread was spawned from here A question about backingup Calibre library. BR

02-13-2019, 09:19 PM	#9
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 12,166 Karma: 73448616 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Nexus 7, Clara, Touch, Tolino EPOS	A few months ago I decided the time had come to retire my Windows Home Server which while it still worked had hard drives that were beginning to fall, and had limited memory. I replaced it by a QNAP NAS and purchased Macrium Reflect as a backup tool. With it in doing monthly full backups, weekly differentials (since last full) and incrementals (since last backup). I also finally built myself a new PC and if course all was going great with it. One day though I noticed the backup had failed with a message that $MFT$ (or one of the internal NTFS files) was corrupted. No problem I thought let's just do a chkdsk. With the error being on the C drive this of course many doing it during the boot process. Horror oh horror, the process failed with the PC rebooting during the chkdsk I tried rebooting and the same thing happened. Luckily I'd made recovery media which nervously I tried. WOW. It booted into Windows PE, loaded Macrium Reflect and listed the backups on the NAS! Recovery was trivial but unfortunately the PC still continued to randomly power off I tracked the issue down to the RAM modules being loose. How I don't know. At least I can say I have working backups!

02-17-2019, 04:56 AM	#11
timebug Ancient Sage Posts: 14,585 Karma: 15493448 Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Derby U.K. Device: Kobo Reader	I backup anything that is important to me, on an external hard drive and/or USB stick. The rest, as a few have already said, is just 'stuff' that can easily be recreated or rebuilt!

02-19-2019, 01:29 PM	#12
wodin Illiterate Posts: 10,279 Karma: 37848716 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: The Sandwich Isles Device: Samsung Galaxy S10+, Microsoft Surface Pro	A cloud based backup service has served me well through several hardware tech refreshes. I use Carbonite, but there are several competitive services available. Just Google "backup services"

Advert

Advert