DATA BACKUP Backup is the act of copying files to a second medium (a diskette, zip drive or tape) as a precaution in case the first medium fails. You can back up files using operating system commands, or you can buy a special-purpose backup utility. Backup programs often compress the data so that backups require fewer diskettes than the original data.
Even the most reliable computer is apt to break down eventually. Many professionals recommend that you make two, or even three, backups of all your files. To be especially safe, you should keep one backup in a different location from the others.
Full Backup: Is the starting point for all other backups and contains all the data in the folders and files that are selected to be backed up. Because the
full backup stores all files and folders, frequent full backups result in faster and simpler restore operations. Remember that when you choose other
backup types, restore jobs may take longer.
Full backups are often restricted to a weekly or monthly schedule, although the increasing speed and capacity of backup media is making overnight full backups a more realistic proposition.
Advantages: 1. Restore is the fastest
| Disadvantages: 1. Backing up is the slowest 2. The storage space requirements are the highest (compared to incremental backup or differential backup)
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Hardware requirement: Magnetic tape, Hard disk, Optical storage, Floppy disk, Solid state storage
Speed:Cost:Daily Backup: Daily backup copies all the files that you select that have been modified on the day the daily backup is performed. The backed-up files are not marked as having been backed up (in other words, the archive attribute is not cleared).
Advantages: Daily Backup saves files according to your specification into a zip archive before shutting down.
| Disadvantages: It is time consuming. Uses up a lot of disk space.
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Hardware requirement: Magnetic tape , Hard disk , Optical storage , Floppy disk , Solid state storage
Speed:Cost:Incremental Backup: A "normal" incremental backup will back up only those files that have been changed since the last backup of any type. This provides the quickest means of backup, since it makes copies only of files that have not yet been backed up. For instance, following a full backup on Friday, Monday's tape will contain only those files changed since Friday. Tuesday's tape contains only those files changed since Monday, and so on. The downside to this is that in order to perform a full restore, one needs to restore the last full backup first, followed by each of the subsequent incremental backups to the present day in the correct order. Should any one of these backup copies be damaged (particularly the full backup), the restore will be incomplete.
Advantages: It takes the least amount of time to perform the backup and low storage space to store the backed up files.
| Disadvantages:
Files can be difficult to find, because they can be on several media.
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Hardware requirement: Magnetic tape , Hard disk , Optical storage , Floppy disk , Solid state storage
Speed:Cost:Differential Backup: Differential backup backs up files which have changed since the last normal backup. Files are not marked as having been backed up and the archive attribute is not cleared.
The recovery of backed up files from a differential backup needs the most recent normal backup and the differential backup to recover backed up files to a previous state.
Advantages: Recovery requires only the last normal backup medium and last differential medium. Less time-consuming than normal backups.
| Disadvantages: Recovery takes longer than if files were on a single medium. If large amounts of data change daily, backups can consume more time than incremental backups.
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Hardware requirement: Magnetic tape, Hard disk, Optical storage, Floppy disk, Solid state storage
Speed:Cost:Remote Backup: A remote, online, or managed backup service is a service that provides users with a system for backing up and storing computer files. Online backup providers are companies that provide this type of service.
Online backup systems are typically built around a client software program that runs on a schedule, typically once a day. This program collects, compresses, encrypts, and transfers the data to the remote backup service provider's servers. Other types of product are also available in the market, such as remote continuous data protection (CDP).
Providers of this type of service frequently target specific market segments. High-end LAN-based backup systems may offer services such as near-real-time transaction-level replication or open file backups. Consumer online backup companies frequently have beta software offerings and/or free-trial backup services.
Advantages: Remote backup does not require user intervention. The user does not have to change tapes, label CDs or perform other manual steps. Unlimited data retention. Most remote backup services will use a 128 - 448 bit encryption to send data over unsecured links (i.e. internet) Most remote backup services will maintain a list of versions of your files. | Disadvantages: It is possible that a remote backup service provider could go out of business or be purchased, which may affect the accessibility of one's data or the cost to continue using the service. If encryption password is lost, no more data recovery will be possible. However with managed services this should not be a problem
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Hardware requirement: Remote backup service, broadband internet access.
Speed:Cost: The most current popular backup system is
Incremental backup.http://www.backup4all.com/http://technet.Microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc938473.aspxGet a new phone and what to transfser contacts from old mobile to the new one? or want to import mobile contacts to computer program, such as outlook, gmail, etc.Here I found an application called "GodswMobile Contacts Transfer" for Windows Mobile phone to transfer mobile contacts to your computer or to other mobile phones, such as iPhone and android phone. So you could transfer hundreds of contacts to new mobile in 5 minutes.GodswMobile Contacts Transfer is a simple program designed for mobile phone running Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 or 6.0/6.1/6.5.It can transfer contacts from cellphone to PC;Transfer both sim card contacts and outlook contacts;Transfer contacts customizer photos and ringtones;Manager contacts on PC.In a word, you can backup and manage mobile contacts easily on your PC with GodswMobile Contacts Transfer.GodswMobile Contacts Transfer V2.0Key Features:* Transfer both sim card contacts and mobile outlook contacts;* Including an app for PC to view,add,delete,modify and print contacts;* Restore contacts to any other windows mobile phones;* Export contacts as txt, csv,vcf(vCard) format;* Backup contacts pictures and ringtones;* Support unlimited contacts backup/restore;* Support VGA and WVGA Screen (such as HTC Touch HD/2 and Diamond/2).Google "GodswMobile Contacts Transfer" to free download a Contacts tool.