Has any one heard about Lifeguard Professional Backup Suite? I am thinking about geting it, but don't know if it's good.

Lora

nope never heard of it. if you got a dvd burner just back up to a dvd disk. better yet a second hard drive.

I'm sorry but I'm not familiar with this program. I have used Retrospect, which I like.

Depending upon your needs, just backing up your personally created data to a CD may be sufficient for your needs. In the event of a major crash like a hard drive failure you would have all of the files that you created backed up.

When you get a new hard drive installed, you would use the System Restore CD provided by the manufacturer of your computer. Then once the system is running, you would copy over all of your backed up files into the My Documents folder.

This could include all saved Email messages, both incoming and outgoing, your Address Book, and your Email settings.

Also, using the Internet Explorer Import/Export tool, you can save your Favorites.

You can also save any preferred Desktop Themes in the Display Properties / Themes window.

The advantage to doing your backup in this manner is that no special software is needed. The only real disadvantage is that it will take a bit longer to restore everything. You would need to reinstall all third-party programs from their installation disks.

And most importantly, you will need to remember to backup your data frequently.

I hope something here will be helpful!

Dwight

I am not very good with back up. I have tried, but it had never worked. I need something that is very user friendly.

1. What are you doing now?
2. Can provide the detailed steps that you are taking?
3. What media are you backing up too?
4. What kinds of files and where are they stored?
5. Are they mostly in the My Documents folder?
6. What email program do you use?
7. What Web browser program do you use?
8. Are you using any financial records software, like Quicken, Quick Books or MS Money?
9. Do you have any special software like bird view records like: Any of these.

If you like, we can provide a detailed step-by-step manual process that you can use.

But if you would prefer to purchase software that does the job for you, let us know and perhaps we can make some suggestions based on user experience.

Dwight

I was trying to mack a zip folder and save it to DVD+R. When I need it the files I backed up there was nothing there. What I want to back up is music, any new software I download (including new updates, and bookmurks in my Internet Explorer and Firefox. I don't relly understand anything about back up or how it works. Maybee I am just doing something wrong or maybee I am using wrong DVD+R. I don't relly know. I had tried to follow instruction, but I just don't understand them.

If you're going to use a DVD, you problably don't need to zip (compress) the data. more about .zip files A DVD can hold just under 8 Gb of data and that is a lot.

A standard CD can hold about 650 Mb.

How much total data do you have, in terms of file size?

You can right click on a folder and click on "Properties" to see the file size.

While we're on the subject, what is the file size of the .zip folder that you attempting to burn to the DVD?

The backup plan I'm, proposing for you is as simple as it gets. Just make a copy of the folders that contain the files that you want to backup.

Save those folders onto some form of removable media (like a CD or DVD). If a CD will handle the total file size so much the better because most computers can read that. But if you need a DVD, then that is acceptable, too as long as you can DVD disk reader installed.

In addition, you can buy a removable hard drive for about $80 - $100 that will connect with your machine via a USB connector and will include backup software.

What Operating System are you running?

Dwight

I do not remamber the size of a file I was trying to back up it was a while ago. I am using Window XP SP2. What is the best way to back up bookmarks? What is the best way to back up new sotware and updates?

Well I don't have the details I asked for to give you the step-by-step backup process.

Outlook Express & Windows Address Book This is some information that you may find useful.

Bookmarks (Favorites) in Internet Explorer can be backed up using the File --> Import/Export tool. Select the export option and export the file to your My Documents folder. If you're using some other Web browser program, the procedure would be similar in most cases, though the menus would of course be different.

Software is backed by the original installation disks. In the event of a system crash, you would just reinstall the program file from the installation disk. If you have a system recovery disk or disks, you use that to recover your system back to the condition that was in orginally. Once that process is complete, you copy your backed up data files into the new My Documents folder. Mail, Addresses and Favorites can be imported into their respective programs from the My Documents folder.

All of the files that you have created should be stored in one central location, like the My Documents folder. Then you do an Edit --> Select All in the folder and copy all data files to your backup media (DVD / CD etc.)

Any files not saved in the My Documents folder can be copied to that folder, before backing it up. Or you can just copy the files directly to the backup media.

I hope something here is useful. I don't know if you're aware of how many different Operating Systems and individual computer setups there are. When attempting answer a question like this, one could write an entire book in an attempt to provide an adquate answer. Having your system information makes it much more likely that the answer will have some meaning for you.

I numerically listed the information that I needed above. It would be helpful if you would answer them numerically as well. An easy way to do this is to copy paste the numberically listed questions into your reply box. Then just type in your responses to each request.

You can use an Italic font or something to make your responses stand out. And of course add any additional information that you want help with.

Dwight

You may wish to print out this to have as a handy reference. I suggest you use the "Printer Friendly Format button" in the AP Tools menu...see this picture: Printer Friendly Format .

Highlight this post, and then in your print window, check the Selection option under "Print Range". See a picture of this.

Now, for the backup procedure:

1. What are you doing now? I don't use anything for back up right now.
With this procedure, we're just going to copy over those data files that you have created.

2. Can you provide the detailed steps that you are taking? I haven't backed up in a while as I don't understand it.
OK, we'll just not worry about previous attempts and focus on this one.

3. What media are you backing up too? I am backing up to DVD.
Have you been able to successfully write to DVD's? If not, may I suggest that you use CDR's instead. If you've successfully written to DVD's go ahead and do that. Where I say CD, think DVD instead.

4. What kinds of files and where are they stored? I want to back up my pictures they are in my Document folder, bookmarks in my IE and Firefox, and newly downloaded programs and updates to Window XP don't really know where it's stored.
A. My Pictures: By "document folder", I presume that you mean the My Documents folder. You will burn the contents of the My Documents folder to your CD. Before doing that, right click on it (click Properties) and see if the total folder size exceeds about 620 MB. If you're using a CD to burn to, you will need to burn only about 600 MB's of data for the first backup CD, then the second one about the same and so forth. If you have more than about 3 CD's worth of data, then perhaps you will want to pursue the DVD route since it can hold such a larger amount of data.

B. Favorites: Internet Explorer and Firefox: Bookmarks (Favorites) in Internet Explorer can be backed up using the File menu--> Import/Export tool. Select the export option and export the file to your My Documents folder. For the Firebox browser program, the procedure is shown here.

C. Your operating system and programs as well as updates are backed up by the installation disks. I assume that you have the disks that came with your computer, and any other software that you purchased and would want reinstalled.

You would restore your computers operating system from those disks, then redo any OS updates like the Windows Updates. Once that is complete then install the software from their disks.

It would be a good idea to locate these disks and insure that they are in a secure location protected from fire damage, etc. One way to do that is to make copies and store the copies of the disks at a friend’s house.

Also, it is a good idea to locate your computer manufacturer's technical support Website dealing with restoring your system and print out their instructions. In case you can’t run a computer to get the instructions later, having the print out available now will simplify these steps should you be required to reinstall everything.

Finally, add back your data files.

5. Are they mostly in the My Documents folder? I think so.
Any files that you want to backup than are not in My Documents can be moved to that folder before backing it up. Also, you could just copy that folder onto your CD, too.

6. What email program do you use? I don't need to back up my email. I use web based email.
Ok, no need to back this type of email up.

Questions 7, 8, & 9 are not applicable

Put a blank CD into your CD writer. Open your CD writing software and add in the folders and files in your My Documents folder. When you have reached your CD writer size limit, stop and burn that one, then come back and write anothe one until all data has been successfully burned. Generally writing software will show you the amunt of data you have set to write and how much remaining space you have. This is usually at the bottome of the window, but it will vary between the various different software applications.

You can do this every month or so depending upon how much personal data that needs to backed up is created. If you want to simplify this a bit, you could create a folder where all new data is stored and then just backup the new stuff plus important bookmarks, etc.

I hope this will help!

Dwight

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dwight,

Thanks. I just hope it works when I try it.