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Archiver > RESEARCH-HOWTO > 1999-11 > 0942514825


From: WENDY <>
Subject: System backup
Date: Sat, 13 Nov 1999 11:40:25 -0600


Mark and all...
Program and system crashes are a everyday occurrance, not a random
thing. You will be better off acting as if you expect it to happen
tomorrow. Besides having lost my own files, I worked on a support line,
talking people through restoring their computer system. 99% of the
problems came not from hardware or viruses, but from (1) program
conflicts/pushing computers to the max, and (2) people failing to back
up their data files.
The easiest way I know of for backing up your genealogy files is a
gedcom file, just as if you were going to share it with someone else.
ALL my backups go onto floppy disks, due to the time I relied on a tape
backup, only to find that my cousin's tape system would not read mine.
If your computer fails, you may also have a hard time getting your tape
drive (cd rom, etc) to run. With a gedcom file, you have the option of
reading it from any system with ANY genealogy program.
Don't rely on posting your gedcom on a web site, even your own. Total
system crashes mean that you won't be able to run your computer, never
mind the possibility of not being able to get online. Your gedcom will
normally contain info about living people, which should NEVER be posted
online anyway.
All your research info will not be in your gedcom, if you have text
files or email. If your system uses one version of backup, you may not
be able to restore those files on someone elses system. My solution is
to keep files in an ascii format, and COPY (not backup) them to floppy
disks.
When you install your mail program to the computer, you are copying the
'program' files, and as long as you have the disks to reinstall the
program, you can retrieve those. the mail itself is known as a 'data'
file, these are the ones that contain your information. Learn how to
find those files, and keep a copy of those files too. If you don't know
how to find them, bribe your local geek to show you.
If you rely on programs that you have downloaded from the net, OR if you
have a system bought from someone else, and they did not also give you
the program installation disks (including windows, dos, etc), if you
'borrow' a program from a friend and rely on it, ... you face a world of
hurt if you need to restore your system.
How much time have any of you invested in research? What would you lose
if your computer failed, or if a disaster struck your neighborhood? A
copy of my gedcom (on floppy disk) was sent to my cousin in another
state, but I still would lose a lot.
Email me if you need more help.
Wendy

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