PC's hard drive constantly making noises?
- Thread starter Toby@ToyTuning.com
- Start date
Toby@ToyTuning.com
Banned - DO NOT BUY FROM TOYTUNING
Ah right I see good idea though, knowing my luck I need two!
I back up the other PC's on a network which a friend made for me so may be wise really.
T
I back up the other PC's on a network which a friend made for me so may be wise really.
T
davehart
Member +
Better way of doing that is having a RAID setup and one external back up drive. Same solution and saves you having too many external HD's.
davehart
Member +
smythy75
Member +
What kind of hands on help is that then smithy?
Toby knows all to well...haha...was waitin on a smart comment
theres more than toby in the office now oj...lol
Dub-Se7en
Lifer
definately, but not all that practical on an already loaded and in-use machine as chances are you'll have to re-install windows again after you've created the array
davehart
Member +
Very true, RAID arrays do have their flaws.
One method if your storing a lot of data, one thing as with my DJ work and the whole host of trickery you use these days, is to have a storage server to pull your data from and have that on cycled back ups.
One plus with RAID arrays is if they do break you can get the data back, its just a real painful process doing so.
Backing up to a USB/Firewire hard drive isn't the best way to back up files as your only backup. I just spent the best part of 3 hours waiting for a recovery program to get my files off one because it was 'corrupt'. Using a RAID1 setup would be ideal, but if your already set up and working in Windows, personally I'd either:
A, Place a 2nd internal HDD in your machine and just drag drop the files (or get automatic backup software) to the 2nd HDD. This way is really simple. Although your original and backed up data are still vulnerable to viruses. Also the external HDD should have a backup stored on it as well and obviously taken home (in case of fire).
B, To make sure your backed up data is secured from viruses. Get a 2nd internal HDD, install Ubuntu Linux (this is an OS, which is free). Install a relevant anti virus on the Linux box. Go back to windows, make sure you have a good Anti virus and firewall on there as well. Then download the relevant tools to mount a Linux drive within Windows. After that you can backup up your data to your Linux box, which should be extremely reliable and pretty damn impervious to viruses and the like. Then an external HDD that is to be taken out of the office (should there be a fire, you'll be glad you took it home. Makes a good disaster recovery solution).
For your application though, I'd go down route A.
Even better again get your Data backed up through an online Data backup website. Although you have to pay for this service if you need high capacity storage.
A, Place a 2nd internal HDD in your machine and just drag drop the files (or get automatic backup software) to the 2nd HDD. This way is really simple. Although your original and backed up data are still vulnerable to viruses. Also the external HDD should have a backup stored on it as well and obviously taken home (in case of fire).
B, To make sure your backed up data is secured from viruses. Get a 2nd internal HDD, install Ubuntu Linux (this is an OS, which is free). Install a relevant anti virus on the Linux box. Go back to windows, make sure you have a good Anti virus and firewall on there as well. Then download the relevant tools to mount a Linux drive within Windows. After that you can backup up your data to your Linux box, which should be extremely reliable and pretty damn impervious to viruses and the like. Then an external HDD that is to be taken out of the office (should there be a fire, you'll be glad you took it home. Makes a good disaster recovery solution).
For your application though, I'd go down route A.
Even better again get your Data backed up through an online Data backup website. Although you have to pay for this service if you need high capacity storage.
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Dave.
Member +
Also, Defragging a hard disk regularly will shorten its lifespan immensely. Bad idea for critical info Toby!
As said, the best way to keep files safe is to have two copies, I personally would use a mirrored RAID array as said above, but that can be pricey. Alternatively, keep everything of value in one folder (My doc's?) and back it up very regularly.
But don't defrag frequently, the constant movement of the discs (rotating) and the head moving in and out to get the fragments and re-arrange them is a time consuming and extremely wearing process...
If you defrag weekly/daily that will shorten the lifespan and reliability of a drive greatly.
Differing opinions on this exist, but I'm definetely right I never defrag my computer (mibbe once/twice a year, and only if I feel it has to happen). This kind of stuff is my speciality lol
Additionally, if you're using Vista or an NTFS filesystem (rather than a FAT variant) you're doing much more harm than good, as NTFS avoids fragmentation, as does Vista. Some fragmentation is inevitable and can't be avoided
Dave
As said, the best way to keep files safe is to have two copies, I personally would use a mirrored RAID array as said above, but that can be pricey. Alternatively, keep everything of value in one folder (My doc's?) and back it up very regularly.
But don't defrag frequently, the constant movement of the discs (rotating) and the head moving in and out to get the fragments and re-arrange them is a time consuming and extremely wearing process...
If you defrag weekly/daily that will shorten the lifespan and reliability of a drive greatly.
Differing opinions on this exist, but I'm definetely right
I never defrag my computer (mibbe once/twice a year, and only if I feel it has to happen). This kind of stuff is my speciality lolAdditionally, if you're using Vista or an NTFS filesystem (rather than a FAT variant) you're doing much more harm than good, as NTFS avoids fragmentation, as does Vista. Some fragmentation is inevitable and can't be avoided
Dave
Toby@ToyTuning.com
Banned - DO NOT BUY FROM TOYTUNING
God I am confused now but appreciate the help ten fold.
I like the idea of online backup, sounds much easier. Any recommendations on who we can use? How about if I do one back up to the external hard drive and one online? The PC does have a second hard drive but it's really small, only 7.88GB?
I got Vista Ultimate as you can do a full PC backup, not just the normal things you backup but the entire PC so if it does go you can literally get it back to exactly what it was before, apparently.
Thanks all top help.
Toby
I like the idea of online backup, sounds much easier. Any recommendations on who we can use? How about if I do one back up to the external hard drive and one online? The PC does have a second hard drive but it's really small, only 7.88GB?
I got Vista Ultimate as you can do a full PC backup, not just the normal things you backup but the entire PC so if it does go you can literally get it back to exactly what it was before, apparently.
Thanks all top help.
Toby
Big_Daddy
Member +
Ive upgraded from XP to vista, what i noticed, it uses the hard disc alot more and simitanusly, get a screeching sound (like scraping nails on windows).
I have netdisk hard drive linked to the router, every thing is backed up on there and runs files from there instead of saving it to main drive (stops it from clogging up)
I have netdisk hard drive linked to the router, every thing is backed up on there and runs files from there instead of saving it to main drive (stops it from clogging up)
I would of thought the 7.88gb would just be small partition on the hard drive (partition is when you separate your hard drive, say if I had a 400gb HDD, I could partition it to 200Ggb which gives me a 200gb/200gb split. This lets you "dual boot" which is just having 2 operating systems). I wouldn't see why you would have a 2nd hard drive that small to be honest, but then again it is possible, just unlikely.
As for online storage, how much information do you back up? 50-100-200Gb? This website could start you off http://www.icebackup.net/ Whether or not you can justify the monthly payments or not is up to you (personally I think it's a little steep! But then again I don't have business data to worry about at home). There's plenty around, try searching for 'online data backup' or 'online data storage'.
To be honest having a copy of the data, that you can hold in your hands and then a backup that you could retrieve from online would be ideal. You just have to ask yourself, is the Data your protecting important enough and what if you lost it all? How would it effect your business (rhetorical question for yourself lol)
Then again you could just use 2 external hard drives. Although then you'd have to take one home and leave the other somewhere else safe (not in the office! Otherwise you'll have 2 backups lost if there's a fire). If you have a fire safe at the office though you could leave one in there... If you don't have one this could be a worthwhile investment for storing other items as well.
If you need anymore advice don't hesitate to ask buddy.