It's been tough

[div]

And I seriously dislike computer issues, mine crashed big time, don't know what virus I got, but it ate my operating system, so bye bye vista and hello windows 7. Apparently I didn't backup my favs...so rebuilding as I go. But I have my music and photos, so thats good. And while I'm doing all this....I pull out good old hopscotch and vaping away...otherwise I'd be going bonkers.....feels good to be back on line though, lol. ok back to work.

 

[FeistyAlice]

What a drag. I have RAID network storage and RAID on two of my computers but the two computers keep wanting to rebuild. So I purchased a couple of external TB drives, about $60 each, and doing daily backups of docs and mail, pic, etc. on each computer, backing up to the Network Storage, and then a full image of each computer, once a week to the NW storage, and a full Image of the Network storage weekly onto the external drives. That way I have an image of most stuff I can store off site, which, in my case, is a small, fire resistant, box (safe) in the tack room of my small barn, down the hill from my house. No one goes there except for me because of our security dogs and we are way back in the woods.

One of my computers, with RAID, has been sitting for months, as I haven't had the time to pull the drives yet to check them out.

It may seem like over doing it but by having an image of the drive on each computer I can just re-image the drive and then restore the daily docs and stuff.

The RAID Network storage has been running for about three years but I still don't trust it because of the issues I have with the two computer that have RAID.

Sorry for your hassles. Alice

 

[vaporgalinfla]

And I seriously dislike computer issues, mine crashed big time, don't know what virus I got, but it ate my operating system, so bye bye vista and hello windows 7. Apparently I didn't backup my favs...so rebuilding as I go. But I have my music and photos, so thats good. And while I'm doing all this....I pull out good old hopscotch and vaping away...otherwise I'd be going bonkers.....feels good to be back on line though, lol. ok back to work.

Oh no! I had a really bad virus on my last desktop, but managed to back up most of my files before it died. What virus protection program do you use?

Glad you have your hopscotch though and are back online.

 

[div]

Vapor- All my files are backed up, just not my favorites and other links, bummer. I had avg, defender...so definately going with something else that does a better job and not too much of a resource hog. really didn't see this one coming, I scanned/ran it all the time.

West- haven't heard of RAID (not insect spray either) and not overkill if that's what works for you. If you can reimage the drive and restore...then it's worth it. Will check into it, thanks!

 

[maureengill]

Sorry to hear that div....the plus is that you're back up and running. I've always found that I have a crapload of favorites, but once they are gone I realize I never really used them anyway. Usually things that I go to are memorized anyway. PC's are what I deal with all day long at work and I really slack at home....

RAID is definitely overkill, but I'd probably have overkill at home if I didn't deal with it at work all day.

 

[Celebran]

^^ exactly what Maureen said.

For years I'd build my home computers, I'm finally at that stage where I'm buying pre-built just because I don't want to deal with it any longer at home. It's so bad that I took 2 of the 21" monitors from my garage into the office to use just to get them out of my house.

As a way to not lose fav's, probably the easiest way to keep them and have them handy is to copy them to a thumb drive. I keep a copy of my favs, some recovery utilities, a virus scanner and some of those other files I just "can't" risk losing.

 

[FeistyAlice]

Vapor- All my files are backed up, just not my favorites and other links, bummer. I had avg, defender...so definitely going with something else that does a better job and not too much of a resource hog. really didn't see this one coming, I scanned/ran it all the time.

West- haven't heard of RAID (not insect spray either) and not overkill if that's what works for you. If you can re-image the drive and restore...then it's worth it. Will check into it, thanks!

RAID, an acronym for Redundant Array of Independent Disks. See Wiki article RAID - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Several of my computers have the capability and connectors built into the mother board. For an old IBM I just added an add in card. I use RAID 1 which is mirrored. The main drive is constantly copied to the second drive, mirrored, so that if one goes out or has an issue you still have the info on one drive. My main issue is that I need to update the firmware for two of the controllers. At least that's what I think is going on.

Speaking of building computers..... back in the old days I built everything. Now days I buy refurbs, or re-certified, which are usually just returns and not even used. Saves a lot of money. And I don't stay on the "leading" edge any more except for OS. We don't do gaming but like to have a mid-range video card in all so that's usually the main upgrade I do to our computers along with max memory, and sometimes larger hard drives. Prices are so cheap, now days, for most parts.

I have data going back to the late 80's that we keep stored on Network storage. Cheaper, faster, and more stable than tape backups. I use email programs, heavily, as data storage for invoices and such so I need to keep it really secure.

Norton 360 is a good security program and has an integrated backup program that you can schedule,multiple different jobs. It may be standard but we use the 360 that can be used on three computers. That's what I use for daily backups to the Network Storage, email, docs, pics, etc. It's really easy to set up. You, also, get some online storage for a year which is renewed when you renew your subscription. I've been using Norton products since DOS days. We've never had any issues with virus or malware on our computers, including the ones we carry on trips and use at hotspots and in hotels.

I keep all photos on the Network Storage and use Picassa (free) for organization. You could do CD or DVD burns of your photos, email, favorites, docs too, if you don't have too much info. DVD would be best as CDs don't really hold a lot of info.

For images I use Acronis. There are a lot of specials on external USB hard drives which would be the easiest, cheapest way to go with backups. Check out NewEgg and Tiger Direct. At one point I was keeping the backup drive in DH's car. At one time I did DVD backups but it is just too time consuming for so many computers. If one wants Network storage, if you search around (paying attention to reviews) you can find good deals on bare enclosures and install your own drives.

Another thing to do, on a daily basis is to do a restore point. I just recently did a registry clean (which really is okay most of the time but has the potential to corrupt your registry- I've stopped doing them now because they really aren't needed.) and corrupted the registry. It was really nice to have a recent restore point to take it back to just before the reg clean.

Alice

 

[FeistyAlice]

Another thing to keep backed up is your music library. We've been transferring loads of CD and DVDs to iTunes for years. I would hate to have to do all of that over again.

Alice

 

[FeistyAlice]

One more thing. I have a G4 12" Powerbook that I adore. The drive went out on it about a year ago. It is really time consuming to get to the drive for replacement and I never made the time to do it or purchase a drive. In addition, I can't put my hands on the original OS and programs and updated OS DVDs. So I purchased a refurb from NewEgg for $230 or so last week. And it has a bit faster CPU, one step up OS, and all I needed to do was take the extra memory out of my other one and set to go. A hardrive and OS would have cost me more than that. Some day I'll get around to putting a new hard drive in the old one when I lay my hands on the original OS discs.

Alice

 

[Automaton]

Oy. That sucks so hard!

The last time Windows ate my computer, I went to Linux. Had enough. I was just so, so done with Windows. Bloated OS's and programs, viruses and trojans are just a reality of life, and once in a while it just throws a fit and borks everything. I'm not a careless computer user. I was raised by a geek. There's no reason my OS should just be imploding every so often.

I went to Linux Mint, and that was a year and a half ago. No problems. It's a true "average user" desktop Linx (I swear, it really is!) and it's dead-easy to use. If you've had bad experiences with other "desktop Linux" systems (*cough* Ubuntu *cough*), I swear, this is actually a desktop OS. Cross my heart. A 6-year-old could install this.

Everything's set up (FireFox, Open Office, etc), it's very intuitive and easy for someone coming from either Windows or Mac, it's pretty, very fast, and is compatible with most hardware. It can have minor problems with speakers and mikes, like all Linux OS's do, but stick to popular maufacturers and you probably won't have issues.

Oh, and it's free. Open source FTW.

Since then, no crashes, no viruses, nothing. My computers just work. All the time. Every time.

Unless you're a gamer there's just no reason to keep dealing with Windows anymore.

Ok, done with my geek rant now. Just thought I'd share, since Linux Mint is the thing that made me stop wanting to lob my computer off the roof.

 

[jimmy2x]

Like MistressNomad the last time I got a virus I lost EVERYTHING. Finally (after 25+ years) went to a MAC and will never go back. No more Norton or McAfee, virus cleaners, registry cleaners, etc. Should have made the move many years ago.

 

[Automaton]

I was lucky to be able to save a lot of my stuff. But a lot of pictures and videos got permanently destroyed.

I'm not a big fan of Mac. It's the contrarian in me - I don't like being told and locked in to how to do things. I also don't like having to pay that much for my machine. But if you don't mind how Mac does things, or the price tag, it certainly has its advantages.

Like Linux, no virus cleaners/protectors needed, and it doesn't bloat itself until it explodes.

 

[maureengill]

Now now...no picking on ubuntu...

I also wanted to add that I love how the vendors started putting their recovery disks on the hard drive...and don't tell the people to dvd-r a copy....so when your hard drive goes bonkers you're screwed..../rant

Oy. That sucks so hard!

The last time Windows ate my computer, I went to Linux. Had enough. I was just so, so done with Windows. Bloated OS's and programs, viruses and trojans are just a reality of life, and once in a while it just throws a fit and borks everything. I'm not a careless computer user. I was raised by a geek. There's no reason my OS should just be imploding every so often.

I went to Linux Mint, and that was a year and a half ago. No problems. It's a true "average user" desktop Linx (I swear, it really is!) and it's dead-easy to use. If you've had bad experiences with other "desktop Linux" systems (*cough* Ubuntu *cough*), I swear, this is actually a desktop OS. Cross my heart. A 6-year-old could install this.

Everything's set up (FireFox, Open Office, etc), it's very intuitive and easy for someone coming from either Windows or Mac, it's pretty, very fast, and is compatible with most hardware. It can have minor problems with speakers and mikes, like all Linux OS's do, but stick to popular maufacturers and you probably won't have issues.

Oh, and it's free. Open source FTW.

Since then, no crashes, no viruses, nothing. My computers just work. All the time. Every time.

Unless you're a gamer there's just no reason to keep dealing with Windows anymore.

Ok, done with my geek rant now. Just thought I'd share, since Linux Mint is the thing that made me stop wanting to lob my computer off the roof.

 

[div]

Wow, lots of options and learning as I go. Windows is ok, not going to complain much as hubby got it to someone fast and back next day. I'm on a computer all day, I don't mind it, after my evening walk that is and then power up. My music and photos most important is backed on another seperate drive and cds/dvd also. Getting my fav back, well that will take a while. Most of them though, I haven't used in a while, so just as well starting over. I made it here, now that IS important.

 

[fcitrolo]

I use nod32 try it. It's much better than Norton or McAfee by a country mile.

 

[vaporgalinfla]

I use nod32 try it. It's much better than Norton or McAfee by a country mile.

What is nod32? Who is it made by? Also, why do you think it's better than Norton. Sorry for all the questions.

 

[div]

Ditto VG, wondering also. I don't know what is nod32 either.

 

[mauisun]

that's very unfortunate. a good inexpensive usb drive and some autobackup software is very handy. once a week i backup my personal machines to it just in case

 

[div]

I hear ya mauisun...and I have it, but my fault for not backing up as often as I should have. Nothing major gone, but still lesson learned. Like I said before, I made it back HERE...that's important, lol.

 

[maxy007]

Nod32 is awesome!! I've used it for years.
It's made by ESET ESET - Antivirus Software with Spyware and Malware Protection
it comes as either an antivirus standalone or a security suite. It's not bloated like Norton or Mcafee.