Why don't you back up your computer?

Most computer users know they should back up the files on their computer, yet many don't. Why not?

Leo Notenboom raised this question recently, see "Why don't people back up?"

No computer techie can answer this question, which is why both Leo and I have to ask. We're computer nerds and, as such, backup is part of our DNA. Techies can't put themselves in the shoes of the millions of computer users who don't back up their computers. We're different.

So, those of you who don't back up your computer, but know full well that you should, tell me what the obstacle is. Send an e-mail to dontbackup at michaelhorowitz dot com.

Organization

One obstacle to any backup scheme is organization. Regardless of the hardware or software involved, you need to be able to point to the files you wanted backed up. This requires some understanding of the file system and I don't see a way around that. It also requires some organization on your part, which may be the fatal flaw for some people. If you save files that you care about all over the place, your only backup option is to copy the entire computer, which is always a pain in the neck.

Back in the days of MS-DOS, I got in the habit of saving all my personal files in a folder called "Mikelet" reflective of the fact that folders could only have eight character names and that my initial PC use was for writing letters. To this day, I keep all my personal files in a folder with the same name (although I have added subfolders for segregating specific types of files). In the years since, Microsoft invented "My Documents" to serve the same purpose. Linux users know this concept as the home folder.

I never liked the name "My Documents." First, having a space in a folder name is asking for trouble. Second, it's meant as a repository for all your personal files, not just "documents" a term normally used to refer to word processing files. So, if you're not yet organized, and your name is Harvey, you may want to start off by creating a folder called "HarveysFiles" to simplify your backups.

But there are likely to be other important files, such as e-mail, that you want to back up. Do you know where your e-mail is on your computer? Some backup programs are smart enough to know the location of e-mail for handful of popular programs, but many of us have to find it the hard way. If you exclusively use Webmail, then your e-mail does not reside on your computer at all. In some ways this is good, but if your e-mail is important, and you want to make a backup copy, you need a totally different scheme than the one employed for files on your computer.

Is it too much to get organized or to take inventory of where the files that you care about reside? Is this what's preventing you from backing up?

Other Reasons

My best guess for why people don't back up their computers is that they haven't found a simple, short introduction to the topic. Many of the comments at ask-leo.com were from computer users who simply didn't know where to begin.

Other people noted that they tried to read the documentation for their backup program but were confused by the terminology and/or jargon.

One person suspected that computer users with no training are afraid that they may accidentally screw up the computer and they'll have no idea how to fix it. I feel like that when driving a car--what I know about engines could fit on the head of a pin. Fortunately for me, cars are much more reliable than personal computers. Is the fear of screwing things up holding you back?

Is picking a backup program too much for you? There are, after all, hundreds to chose from. Is deciding on the backup media too difficult? Or, is the choice of local backups vs. remote off-site backups the stumbling block? (Mozy users may want to read "Everybody likes Mozy--except me, Part 1").

Those of you who do back up, please don't tell me what your backup scheme is. There are so many combinations of needs, software, and hardware that there is no one right answer for anyone. There isn't even one right approach for me. I use one scheme for my main desktop computer and another for my laptop which I take when traveling.

Perhaps you've heard this before: there are only two types of hard disks--those that have failed and those that will.

See a summary of all my Defensive Computing postings.

[silvarbullet1]

I'm going to do exactly what you asked us not to do and tell you what my backup scheme is. Because if Apple ever did something well, it was to integrate time machine into OSX 10.5
I plug my external hard disk in, click time machine...... and do nothing else.

If you have a mac, there is only one way to back-up and time machine (add a time capsule if you like) is it. Job done.

Sorry I don't have a nice solution for windows :S

[mhinnewyork]

I am not familiar with Time Machine, not being a Mac user. Ease of use is one criteria for any backup scheme, but far from the only criteria. Even more important, to me at least, is that the computer user understand what the backup scheme does well and what it does not. I hope to cover the various criteria for evaluating any backup scheme soon. Michael Horowitz

[kelmon]

While I'm also using Time Machine as my sole backup at present, I am also aware of its shortcomings. Principally, Time Machine is not a silver-bullet solution but the user may think that it is. By this I mean that they may think that Time Machine is all that they need but if the backup drive is lost (theft, fire, etc.) then you are (technically) screwed. Time Machine is best used in tandem with other backup solutions to ensure that you have a backup of at least your most important information stored securely somewhere where your computer is not. This could me data on disks (probably a hard drive) located elsewhere or possibly even on an online solution (something like Amazon's S3 service, for example).

The only problem that I can see with Time Machine itself is that you can only have one Time Machine drive at a time. You cannot, for example, keep a drive for day-to-day backups and another that is stored offsite but is backed up to less often, say once per week, for security. So in order to provide better protection you need to use another solution in tandem with Time Machine, such as the online backup systems or perhaps an application that duplicates your drive (e.g. SuperDuper).

[joshstanman]

I also use Time Machine. The ONLY way to back up. So simple. Why would anyone still be using a Windows machine?

[solitare_pax]

I routinely back up mission-critical files at work weekly on a ZIP, and do a complete backup of everything once a month on a DVD. This is on a Windows box. The problem: It takes a ton of time that could otherwise be used productively on the machine - try working on something and you wind up with a DVD platter. But, its Windows 2000, and its slow anyways. I expect it to die someday soon anyways, and I certainly don't want to be left holding the bag when it does.. Besides - I'm paid hourly, - well, you get the picture.

[mhinnewyork]

Zip disks used to be very popular, and for good reason. However, their time has come and gone so I would be worried about finding a working Zip drive when it came time to restore files. Also, not every Zip drive and read every Zip disk, there are capacity issues. Michael Horowitz

[Ord3s]

Out of my own experiences (restoring, installing, a lot of other people`s systems).
1. A lot of people dont have a clue about the meaning of backup. -> Backup to a second medium
2. When i try to explain the backup routine, most of them getting bored when its about to choose the backup files (OS, Data, etc). And find it anoying
3. Even more are bored when trying to explain the meaning of profiles, default safe locations. etc, and the use to set up this folder on a different partition than the OS. (e.g Mails, Broswer profiles, addons, etc)
4. A lot of them dont know how to handle partitions (which when understood can prevent a lot of data loss, as long as the hard drive is still ok)
5. Backups need to much space.
Which could be reduced when using partitions and getting a external drive


My Documents, i dont like it neither. The Name nor the concept. Never use it except for those applications that have to safe there.Got my own "My DocX" somewhere else on a different partition. Cuz when you actually have to make a complete format of C. My documents is pretty much gone too.

When people asking me about backup, my advise.
1. Try to understand the Computer structure a bit. The basic is not that hard. And when understood, it can help you a lot.
2. Have separate Partitions for OS and Rest (makes the Main backup much smaller)
3. Backup OS regualry when changes are done
4. Keep regular Backup of important files as needed
5. Get a external drive for backup (arent that expansive anymore)
6. Make a boot disc, or the backup boot disc as soon as possible
7. To be really safe, have a backup of the backup (using Raid, or manually). At least for the really important files.

[mhinnewyork]

I agree completely about keeping data files in a different partition than the OS and do it myself. However, I think it's too optimistic to bring this up with non-technical computer users. Michael Horowitz

[the Otter]

I?m another person that uses Time Machine. However, it is a bit underpowered for my needs. The most basic flaw is that it can only back up to a single disk, which doesn?t help if you have lots of stuff to back up and/or want to have multiple backups. Secondly, it can only create a single repeating backup, so I can?t tell to back up my system RAID to my system backup and my files RAID to my Files backup.

Great conception, seamless integration, wonderful implementation, but too few features to be my only backup software (even if it is my favorite).

[Riquez-001]

I didn't used to back up, but I do now.
My problem was that I had a laptop as my main computer & its inconvenient to keep plugging it in to a usb drive. I had a spare 120GB drive & the backup software, but rarely used it for actual backups.
Then my hard drive failed - oOps!
After that I made a more concerted effort, but still the plugging-in issue was a pain.
Now, I have Time Machine also, as others have mentioned, & it works wirelessly ...my worries are over.

[thedreaming]

Once a month I backup my data files to a second hard drive on the system as well as an external drive. For that added sense of paranoia, I also back mission critical data stored in "The Cloud", so if worst came to worst, at least that data can get me up and running in minutes.

[lenrooney]

Time Machine! Backup has never been easier.

[jag0]

I'm going to laugh at all you people when the HDD your Time Machine back ups are on fails and you loose your data. LOL

My backup setup? External HDDs for ALL my OS images, docs, images, personal projects, music, etc....THEN...I have my REALLY important stuff (docs, pictures, music, personal projects, etc.) back up again using Jungle Disk (which I just signed up for.)

Once the upload is done I'll be backing up stuff on optical discs as well. Sorry but Apple's Time Machine is the end-all-be-all for backup.

[kelmon]

While I agree that Time Machine has its flaws, it must be said that using it, and even depending on it, is much better than depending on your local disk only. The probability that both your local disk and Time Machine backup disk fail is much lower than the probability that just your local disk fails. I do believe that an off-site backup of data is also required (even if I have yet to do this myself), but Time Machine at least has got people doing backups and its implementation is absolutely stella at times (for example, it doesn't need to search for changes in the disk each time that it runs because the OS notifies it of a change when the change occurs). In this respect I don't think that this is anything to laugh at.

[InsiderOut]

Never backed up my computers at home until I got Time Capsule/Time Machine. Now I'm backing up, without doing anything. It has already saved me once!

[BrodieB]

More people would do regular back ups if it were easier to do. Apple has the right idea with Time Machine and Windows needs to develop a similar system as soon as possible. PC's and laptops are expensive enough without having to add the expense of an external drive or other means of back ups - it should be built in to the system to begin with! I do not pay for software (other than the OS that comes with the computer) and there are no good free backup utilities that I have ever found.

[dadsgravy]

I don't backup my computer because I don't have anything important on it. My life will still go on without the 9000 pictures I have and never look at, the 80 gigs of music and whatever else I can try and fool myself is important. Everything can be replaced.

The common user doesn't have anything worth saving or preserving. You're the only one who cares about the pictures from your kids first birthday or that novel or song you're working on. You really have nothing of value or importance. And that's why you backup, so you think you do.

[chris11-1]

If you're the only one that cares about that stuff, then thats the perfect reason to backup! Sure, nobody else may care, but when it all boils down, you could be left without something to remember a really important event in your life by. You may not care now, but in a few years you will.

Chris

[Sewwolf]

I back up mine with disks and an external hard drive. I do machine embroidery and with thousands of designs would be rather sad if they all were lost. I think a lot of people don't back up cos they don't understand the file system that a computer uses. To me that's on of the first things you should learn upon getting a computer is the file system, that way you will always know where things are and how to find them and how to back them up. If you paid attention in 9th grade on how to do outlines, that your basic principal to how a computer is laid out. And yes it will happen to you, one day somewhere your computer will die and le'ts hope you backed up your files. My laptop died a month ago, but I backed up my music and all my data files. So plug my external drive into any computer usb port and I'm good to go.

[Jon N.]

After much trial, error, and lost data (and with Windoze this is a constant problem), I have found that using an external drive is a necessity. I have a 1 GB SD Flash drive hooked up now, but I would rather have a 1 TB external HD. Any way you slice it, If you're a Windoze user, you can count on your M$ Windoze to eventually fail. That its nature. M$ wants it to fail, so when you have to re-register its registration key for the 6th time, you have to go and buy another copy of Windoze. I started to use Linux in January, and I love it. If you already have a x86 system, and are not planning to buy another one in the near future, then go with Linux. I really like my Ubuntu Linux 8.04. Get either a flash drive, a USB drive, or another external hard drive, and save all your data, pictures, etc. on to it on a weekly basis. If your a business, do it daily. make sure that you have some sort of satellite storage system hooked up and in use to save your data. It's just that important.

[jag0]

Wow how original! Did you think of the "Windoze" and "M$" comments all by yourself!

Your ignorance and Linux fanboyism makes it obvious that no one should take you seriously.

[chris11-1]

Linux may be the ideal solution (used it on one of my machines for a few years now), but unless you're comfortable working with the command line, it may be difficult for you to troubleshoot errors. Also, Microsoft probably doesn't want their software to fail. If the idea that their products are unreliable gets out to everyone, people will simply stop buying i their new OS's. Combine that with a large reduction in command line use with Linux, people will start flocking.

I intentionally left out Apple as their OS is only released on one brand of computer. Not everyone would be willing to take the jump and buy a Mac.

[Stormspace]

I'm a techie, and I don't back up. well, I did. But since my last file server went belly up and my new one wouldn't support more than a few drives I haven't had the room I needed to house my redundant back up. backing up 60GB of music and a another 30GB of files has just not been possible. Yes, I look longingly at the external drives in the window, but just haven't been able to muster up the cash for one of them. Yes, I am living on the edge and my nature is being being torn to shreds over it, but in the end it'll be my own damn fault when I loose everything. :)

[Alimasm]

I'm a techie and I used to back up regularly, but my drives have grown in size exponentially, as has my data to back up. I maintain a small 160GB to store disc images and installation backups (this allows me to tear through program installs if Windows crashes without having to bother with discs).
But about 300GB of user data is hard to backup, DVDs don't cut it anymore and I don't have an extra drive to do it.
I'm eyeballing the 1TB drives and when I'm able to grab a few, my backup schedule will resume. And I'll feel much better then it happens.

[markforstneger]

Actually, I DO back up my computer, so I found it offensive that you would accuse me of doing otherwise. ;-)

[markforstneger]

Actually, I DO back up my computer, so I found it offensive that you would accuse me of doing otherwise. ;-)

[open-mind]

Time Machine is a great great backup program. It's a plug&play solution that does hourly/daily/weekly backups, yet is very space-efficient since it only stores what's changed. Requires almost zero setup or maintenance. Simply brilliant.


To the Time Machine nay-sayers ... of course Time Machine does not eliminate the need for off-site storage of your super-critical data. Duh.

[jag0]

Then tell that to all the people so far who seem to be insinuating otherwise...they seem to think Time Machine is the end-all-be-all for secure backup.

[groonk]

i grabbed a 120gig WD Passport hdd from best Buy last year. i use it's sync abilities. i haven't been disappointed yet.