Backup Plan! - Ask Dotto Tech #21

You Need a backup plan, and it should be mulitayered
The first should be local, and if possible (Mac Users) a Cloned, bootable system, so you can immediately get back up and running if (or when) a drive crashes.
The 2nd layer is cloud-based syncing and backup of your documents and folders.
3rd is an offsite full backup, for loss of computer, fire, major disasters.

Links:
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[PrashanthAkunuri]

Way back in 2009, I lost a partition and lost all our first abroad trip family photos except for 10-20 photos which I uploaded to flickr. I should have uploaded the entire album but thanks to my laziness I didn't (In those days flickr used to allow us to upload 100 photos per day I guess, for a free account). Later when I tried to recover those 10-20 photos flickr told me that I can't recover them with a free account.

So, I signed up for a premium account and I use it as backup for all my photos now, especially because I bought a DSLR and the photos are of huge sizes. I still delay uploading stuff and backing up stuff. This video is a good reminder.

Thanks Steve!

Greetings from India!! :)

[dutchwebb]

You did a nice job on this segment. For some, this can be a tough thing to wrap your head around until you have your first failure.

Some folks may ask why would you want multiple backups. This illustrates it well. Quite a few years ago, a medical office supporting 5-6 surgeons, had an issue with their Unix system. Their vendor came in and had to rebuild the computer. After rebuilding, they restored from their data from tape only to find the data was corrupt. They got similar results on their 2nd, 3rd, & 4th tapes. Fortunately, the 5th and last tape they had worked. They had to re-post a few days data but it was certainly better than recreating the entire thing. Shockingly, they 'magically' found the funds to go from a 5 tape rotation to a 30 tape rotation.

I always tell folks, the more important it is, the more copies of the data you should have. Again, thank you for the great job you do. Not just on this but all. Blessings!!

[sLegoFan]

How about this strategy?: First, perform backups to two external USB hard drives. Keep one local. Then store the other in a fireproof safe (preferably on a shelf to avoid water damage from a flood) or offsite in a safety deposit box.

[CPSLondon]

Hey Steve! Great video. I would suggest that anyone with using Apple Time Machine to either a local drive, time capsule or another Mac on their network create a USB thumb drive for OSX (there are loads of tutorials on it in YouTube and also on Apples web site). It's often referred to as an install disk. Takes a few minutes. Keep a few around in different locations. If your local HD drive with your OS fails you can boot Mac OS into recovery mode from the USB thumb drive. One of the options available is to restore from Time Machine. This can be either a local disk, Apple time capsule or another Mac. Select it, and go through the menu and your machine will be restored to the very latest version available, including OS, account settings and prefs and data. As time machine automatically backups up file level changes throughout the day you are more likely to only loses perhaps 20 minutes worth of your history, so although it's not the fastest as it has to restore, its handy.

[nunziobianco]

I use sync toy for my PC . I m using two of the three points steve suggests . I have a local NAS set up at home for photos and video I use drop box for documents and one drive for business docs . Thanks Steve great video cheers Nunzio

[DeryckBurnett]

Great show Steve. This something for years I have been trying to explain to our clients.
You just nail it in like what 13:52. I tried emailing you because I need to talk to you on a business level in terms of classes you offer etc.

[CPSLondon]

Also on Time machine you can backup external disks to your Mac and when you restore using this method if you want to you can choose which folders you want to get back. I have used this successfully on a few occasions and when I get a new Mac, I use this method to restore my machine with all customisation so have made. But having been burnt, i have all of my data on a Raid disk connected by Thunderbolt, this is backed up to a local NAS running a Time Machine Service and the NAS is backed up to a clone at my sisters house. A 321 method, never going to loose all my business documents and personal files again. Recovered them once before I implemented this and it took months to get everything back.

[WmR]

ARQ is a great online backup for Mac. One advantage is the your files are encrypted before they leave your computer.

[mrluigiproduction]

BOOM CHACHA BOOM! Sumptuously informative video. Thank you Sir.

[ediethesalsafreak]

Steve, just signed up with you aff link. .:)
Can you do a comparison between Google Photos and Apple Icloud photos? If you're a Mac user, you would think that you would promote the Icloud for photos? Just curious as to why you to Google photos instead.

[JonBushell]

I have just that. A local usb drive always up to date. Another documents and photos copy in c drive in case of user error. A drop box copy of all. And two off site back up sub drives. The trick is it have it conclusive enough to be secure but also simple enough so it's easy to manage and be regimented with. I know people who have it too complicated and too much that they can get out of sync and out of date. It's easy to go over the top and lose track of and basically get out of control and out of date back ups can be as bad as data loss.

[financialevolution]

I'm not sure I understand the difference between an "in the cloud" backup vs "off-site" other than the ability to have a disk of data sent which transfers quickly... once it is delivered (several days?)

[nicholaskingsbury]

Hey Steve. I really like your videos. Keep up the good work.

[Drostvideo]

You mentioned you have a virtual windows system on your mac. I use an IMAC and am wondering if I should run parallels on it..what are the pros and cons? I still run my Win XP Pro next to my MAC because some programs/software only run on Windows.

[francisraveneau]

Steve, I am using one single computer for both work and personal stuff. As we're running everything Google at the office, including the Google Drive tool, I'm wondering if I can have 2 Google Drive accounts on the same computer? Thanks...

[SteveWish]

I am not certain as to WHY - but - I have always found BackUp procedures, systems, and methods to be somewhat confusing. I will rewatch this and hope that I can follow the path to safety! Thanks

[mikeblackburn]

Hi Steve - Google Forms Q. - We have a google form for people to fill in - there is a long paragraph box that they fill in with quite a lot of text. How can we print out the form for our records - print it as it is - including ALL the text ( not just a scrollable box). If this printout feature is missing it is a real shame! Keep Stormin the Castle!

[crystalemeralddiamond]

Is there a backup plan that doesnt cost money?

[alphacenturion]

Hi Dotto Tech

I'm using iphone 6 with 10.2.Can u suggest me the new must have app in 2017 for iphone 6. Because most of the new app is mainly for iphone 6s and iphone 7 both having the "3D" touch function. so am having trouble finding new app that work well for iphone 6. No specific category anything new or a must try can do

Thanks In Advance .

[pedroj.albertos]

Buenos dias Steve,
Talking about local disasters and having back up, some years ago my wife and I have recently moved from States because of jobs reasons and a few months in the new job someone broke into my wife's office and took her laptop and an external hard drive with her back up, you can imagine all the information all the research data gone. Fortunately before moving I had backed up all her info and mine as well in another drive plus in DVDs (took forever) but having that second backup was a great plan now I'm looking for an online system now that in Mexico the internet service is more reliable . thanks for your suggestions.
Nos vemos.
PJ. Albertos