a word about backing up images

[moxi1]

Hi all,

I suppose everyone has a different method backing up images - some don't and that is bad.
Anyway, I thought I was very safe doing a synchronisation of all my files onto an external hard drive until...
I deleted accidentally a whole file and of course after I synchronised my computer hard drive onto the external one I did delete it there as well

In my case all was well as I had this particular file on a USB key - which was only good luck and not good management.

How do you safe and back-up your treasures?

Cheers Moxi1

[william1872]

Originally Posted by moxi1

Hi all,

I suppose everyone has a different method backing up images - some don't and that is bad.
Anyway, I thought I was very safe doing a synchronisation of all my files onto an external hard drive until...
I deleted accidentally a whole file and of course after I synchronised my computer hard drive onto the external one I did delete it there as well

In my case all was well as I had this particular file on a USB key - which was only good luck and not good management.

How do you safe and back-up your treasures?

Cheers Moxi1

Hi Moxi1,

I to sync my backups, I use two internal seperate hard drives. Not sure how you sync yours, but I can use the option to create an archive or simply use the --delete, (which will sync like a mirror).

I use Linux at home for all my data and use a program called rsync, for example:

# rsync --progress /disk1/data /disk2/data (archives and doesn't remove deleted files on the second disk)

If I want to do a true sync then I would use

# rsync --progress --delete /disk1/data /disk2/data (will remove erroneous files on the 2nd disk i.e. files that no longer exist on disk 1)

There is recovery software, which can help recover deleted files in error, you could always add another external drive and use that as a master copy of the original before deletions or employ backup software, which could archive deleted data for x amount of days before deleting?

[swampler]

I use a program called syncback to synchronize between a 1TB internal drive and a 1TB external drive. Syncback is configured (by me) to not remove anything from the external drive, this way, whenever I run the backup, nothing is deleted from my 2nd copy. Best part is, they have a free version.

[ohenry]

I use a synch program (SynchBackPro) to synch between my internal and an external harddrive. I employ an online service (Mozy) to back them up, again.

[L. Robinson]

I also use Mozy and like it alot. I don't sync, I have a two internal hard drives and all images from my camera go into my RAW folder on the 2nd internal drive, all edited images get stored on my 1st internal hard drive and both are backed up every day at 1:am

[kriesel]

I have two raded 250 g hard dives a stand alone 250 g drive and I burn everything to dvd's
but then again i'm just paranoid

[TimBlodgett]

I have lightroom make a backup of my files to an external hard drive.

[swampler]

Originally Posted by TimBlodgett

I have lightroom make a backup of my files to an external hard drive.

I didn't know LR would do that. I thought it only backed up its catalog file.

[aam1234]

Have an external HD with dual drives, it automatically copies the same photo to both disks.

Have no idea if that's a reliable method, but it sure gives a (false?) sense of security.

[TimBlodgett]

Originally Posted by swampler

I didn't know LR would do that. I thought it only backed up its catalog file.

Ya. When you import in lightroom 2.5 there is a box to check that says "Backup to:" and allows you to specify where your backing up your photos too.

[swampler]

Originally Posted by TimBlodgett

Ya. When you import in lightroom 2.5 there is a box to check that says "Backup to:" and allows you to specify where your backing up your photos too.

Cool, thanks. Learn something new every day.

[moxi1]

Thanks guys for your valuable input,

I certainly will try syncback, that sounds like a great program.

Cheers Moxi1

[Mike_PEAT]

Those who only rely on internal drives, leave their internal drive always plugged in and on, or only have one extra backup drive are asking for trouble!

Internal backup drives only, if you get a spike it could kill all the drives in your computer (just heard of someone with multiple internal 3 terabyte drives losing years of work due to a power spike.

External left on all the time, not only is there mechanical wear but again it's susceptable to the same power spike that kills your internal drive at the same time.

Only one external, again if a power spike happens when you are backing up you can lose both your internal and backup drives at the same time.

If you have multiple externals, only hook up one at a time...yes it takes longer to do two sets of backups, but it's worth it.

[hoddo]

import to my harddrive using TransferNX and at the same time copy to first external HDD. Then sync 1st HDD to 2nd HDD. Now I have three copies and nothing runs automatically just in case oh and I've transferred all files onto DVD's.

Then I start sorting and throw out the rubbish...after this phase I back up all drives to mirror the main working folder, if I make a mistake I still have the DVD's to refer to. Now I'm left with absolute Keepers and maybes which have their own folders. more deletes from within the maybes, re-sync and within an hour I'm left with images that are keepers and require little work and keepers that have more work to do like b&w conversion, etc.

These remaining files I re-sync across all HDD and then send all the files to an off-site once all the corrections and/or conversions have taken place. I use Mediafire as my off-site storage and I also create two further DVD's of all keepers which I send to family members to archive for me.

[Mike_PEAT]

I just realized I made a mistake in my previous reply...I should have said:

Those who only rely on internal drives, leave their EXTERNAL drive always plugged in and on, or only have one extra backup drive are asking for trouble!

[Joves]

I just backup on my external once a month my new images. Then the external goes into my fireproof safe. I lost 20+ years of negatives in a fire at the storage place so, now I use the safe. It also doubles up as an improtant document storage as well.

[Mike_PEAT]

Originally Posted by Joves

I just backup on my external once a month my new images. Then the external goes into my fireproof safe.

And if your computer gets a power spike while that single backup external is connected to the computer, and both the internal and external drives get fried, what are you going to do?

I've been computing since the 80's, and I've seen a LOT of hard drives go bye-bye in that time.

[swampler]

Originally Posted by Mike_PEAT

And if your computer gets a power spike while that single backup external is connected to the computer, and both the internal and external drives get fried, what are you going to do?

I've been computing since the 80's, and I've seen a LOT of hard drives go bye-bye in that time.

I think those odds are pretty low. I know alternating, dual backup drives would be better, but there is always going to be an acceptable risk. Seriously, someone could steal the safe and the computer...nothing is 100% foolproof.

[Joves]

Originally Posted by Mike_PEAT

And if your computer gets a power spike while that single backup external is connected to the computer, and both the internal and external drives get fried, what are you going to do?

I've been computing since the 80's, and I've seen a LOT of hard drives go bye-bye in that time.

This is why I have line conditioners on all of my eletronics. I got in the habit after living near the Smokies in E.Tn. That place had a problem with surges and, drop offs but, that is what you get when it is a government run operation. Here in N.Az we dont have that problem as much fact, is I can count the down time on one hand. If you run your electronics without any form of backup power or conditoning is plain nuts. Especially since it is relatively inexpensive compared to the cost of replacing components.

[freddepp]

Originally Posted by Joves

This is why I have line conditioners on all of my eletronics. I got in the habit after living near the Smokies in E.Tn. That place had a problem with surges and, drop offs but, that is what you get when it is a government run operation. Here in N.Az we dont have that problem as much fact, is I can count the down time on one hand. If you run your electronics without any form of backup power or conditoning is plain nuts. Especially since it is relatively inexpensive compared to the cost of replacing components.

Power conditioning is sound advice. A lightning hit near by will walk right through a UPS or ultra isolation transformer. Backups to removable media resolves that issue. Storing copies at a different location resolves the fire issue. It is a matter of what value you put on your data.