Tony,
Sounds good, but I'd have to first learn what you are talking about and how
to do it :)
After reading your response and Mike's this thought occurred to me:
Everyone who seems to know much about computers seems to advise that
everyone regularly back up their computer. The same for running antivirus,
spyware, adware and whatever else I'm leaving out or not aware of. Yet I
believe I've heard the stat that only a fairly small minority of users (not
speaking of businesses) actually back up regularly, not to mention doing the
other important security things (spyware, etc.) The figure 20% of users
doing regular back ups comes to mind, though not sure where I heard this or
how accurate it is.
Nevertheless, if regular backing up is something that everyone who owns and
uses a computer should be doing, regardless of their technical expertise,
why isn't backing up - the hardware and the software - a built in function
of the computer itself? Or are there some computers that actually do this?
I envision a modular set up with a back up drive that could easily be
removed, which could also maybe make extra copies for separate storage at
the same time onto DVDS, CDS. I also envision the back up function running
automatically as a default (or as automatically as possible, say, every day
at least) and that before each back up, built in anti-virus software,
spyware, adware, whatever-else ware software would be run on the info to be
backed up, so a clean backup would be likely. Maybe even some diagnostic
exam to see if one is about to back up corrupted or damaged files, etc. If
backing up or checking for spyware are important if not essential functions
that should be performed regularly, they should be built in as part of the
computer to the extent feasible, IMO.
Is this asking too much or somehow unrealistic? It just seems to me that if
something should be done as a regular part of using a computer, why not
build it in and make it as easy and as automatic to use as possible, for all
levels of users? So if someone wants, take my idea and go make millions on
it; just remember me and send me a small royalty if you don't mind! I
realize most PC makers don't usually also develop software for their
computers, but maybe Apple could do this or maybe more PC makers could and
should start producing an integrated, whole product.
Could the fact that Apple develops both its software and its hardware be
part of why it is generally considered a better product? Knowing little
about the technical aspects of any of this, it intuitively seems like it
designing an integrated product - hardware and software (including my back
up module :)) - would more likely avoid glitches and produce a better
product. Just wondering.
I wonder if companies like Apple, Microsoft or PC developers ever hire
novices or average users to give them feedback on what is needed or
desirable in their products or if they basically only get the perspective
and feedback of techies, programmers, and experienced users? From my
perspective, computers and everything about them (still) seem unnecessarily
complex and complicated, though admittedly this is based just on PCs.
I do realize it is the American way to have endless choices and options for
each of these things - ways of backing up, spyware, anti-virus, firewalls,
adware, ISPS, email program, this program, that program, etc. However, for
myself, and I suspect many, maybe most, average or novice users, all these
choices simply add too much complexity, too many decisions, too many things
to think about as far as whether they work with each other program or each
piece of hardware, leading to the requirement of spending too much time and
energy (mental and otherwise). Perhaps those who are much more
knowledgeable about all of this like having so many options, but I think
many users, myself included, would simply like a computer that works
reliably, with as much of this stuff being pre-packaged and automated as
possible. We would like it to be more like buying a new car, where what you
need and want, as much as possible, comes with the car, not programs or
hardware that you have to make decisions about and purchase subsequent to
purchasing the car. The goal should be an integrated product and
simplicity, not unnecessary fragmentation and thus unnecessary complexity.
I also realize such complexity does create jobs for some who like and have
mastered much of it, but I'm speaking as a simple user who wants to spend
more time using the computer as a tool or a means than time, energy and
money making sure this tool is working properly. Of course all tools need
to maintained, but the maintenance shouldn't equal or exceed the utility of
the tool in the first place! And, of course, we could say much the same
thing for all the other ever-changing technological gadgets and gizmos that
are out there and which are being constantly developed.
Okay, rant over.
Randall
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tony B" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2007 10:06 PM
Subject: Re: [CGUYS] back up question: what to back up and what doesn't need
backing up?
I do daily incremental ghosts of my small C: partition. Also to a
second hard drive, but I mounted mine internally. Additionally, a
monthly full image is put on alternate DVDs and one is kept
off-premises.
I can restore the image and get back to where I was the previous
evening, and I've done that once.
On another occasion I had reason to suspect a trojan, so instead I
formatted C:, installed WinXP clean, then just restored personal files
from the image as I needed them.
Obviously, to pull off this scheme you need to partition your C: drive
small, like 10-15G. That's enough to hold all your Documents folder
(if you don't cram junk videos/music in there), and many commonly used
apps.
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