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Re: New Message Board

Posted: 15 Aug 2001 4:17PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 17 Jun 2003 3:18PM GMT
Thanks! I hadn't studied the CD-RWs enough to know that they were portable. I'll have to do some thinking on that price, though. I was hoping for something more in the range of $150-$200; but it may be worth the extra bucks in the end. I hope they aren't too complicated!

I had changed from my previous software program to Legacy because Legacy Deluxe offered so much more and it seems to be more user friendly, which I definitely appreciate! Master Genealogist (from what I had read) sounded way over my head...more for the super intelligent, long time genealogy-pros and not at all made for someone like me. Genealogy is a hobby for me...and I'm only working on my husband's and my own families. I see your point about the value of two seperate programs installed...great idea! Yes, I will look into PAF, since Legacy Deluxe does intertwine and mesh with it so well. Thank you, again for all your help; I appreciate it very much!

Re: New Message Board

Posted: 12 Oct 2002 5:17AM GMT
Classification: Query
I suffered a hard disk crash in the year 2000 after a couple of weeks of strange noises emanating from my computer. I eventually bought a new computer using the $400 rebate offered by CompuServe.

I found a firm in New Hampshire that salvaged all the data from the damaged hard disk at a cost of about $525.00. I liked their service.

Now I back up on zip disks---the smallest size available. My zip disk drive is permanently connected to a USB port on the back of my computer. I do not keep the electric power cord from the zip disk plugged in constantly.

I make no attempt to use proprietary backup software or compression software. I want the material on my zip disk to be readable by WordPerfect, which is the format for everything I back up. Actually I am backing up bits, so I don't see why genealogy software needs a special type of backup.

Reg Niles
RegNMINiles@cs.com

Re: New Message Board

Marsha Mott (View posts)
Posted: 13 Oct 2002 6:39PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: N/A
Thanks! I'll consider that. We now have a new computer with a CDRW drive and this is what I plan to use for back-up purposes. I'm not very knowledgable about the process yet but it seems to be a good place to keep my data until the day I decide I've done enough...then, I plan to just write it to a permanent disc.

Thanks for your interest and for sharing your own technique with me.

Marsha

Re: New Message Board

Dan Holben (View posts)
Posted: 9 Jan 2003 8:01PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Holben
Hi John,

I have been reading the threads about backing up genealogy files with great interest. My father has been building his genealogy data for over 40 years and, of course does not want to risk loosing his data. He uses an online service that I have created specifically for this type of backup. Since this is a board for requesting information, I do not want to say what my service is unless I am given permission. I do not want to be flamed for advertising, so do you have an appropriate place for me to tell you what my service is?

Thank you!

Re: New Message Board

Posted: 2 Feb 2005 12:29PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 7 Sep 2006 10:27AM GMT
If you are worried about cost, just think of it terms of the amount of hours you spent entering all the information: apply a working wage, even at minimum wage, and it quickly pays for itself.

There are generally two kinds of geneology data: the unchanging, such as scanned photos, certificates etc and regularly changing such as your family tree etc. I back up the latter every time it gets altered.

There are numerous options for backup, but you really need to make sure you keep them separate from your PC if possible, in case of any real world problems (fires/magnets etc. can happen as well as hard drive crashes). I have a second hard drive for immediate backups, but this will only ensure against a disk crash. I also back up onto CD/Zip.. Bear in mind that writable CDs degrade after a few years (quicker if they are cheap quality) so that any data you've backed up, such as photos etc, will not last indefinitely.

There are a couple of other options you may not have considered: online storage (you'll need a fast net connection though, but has the advantage of being offsite) and flash disks. The latter isn't much use for storing large quantities of data permanently (too expensive), but they are very good for backing up the tree every time it is altered and, being small with a USB plug, make transferring data between PCs extremely easy.

NickA

Re: New Message Board

Posted: 2 Feb 2005 4:49PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 26 Apr 2006 2:20AM GMT
Surnames: THIBAUT, APPELMAN
Thanks, Nicholas, for posting a reply. It's been a while since I posted the message to which you're replying...since then, I have been backing up to CDs from my desktop computer and I'm anxious to try the newer flash disks out now because they hold more data than earlier ones. However, I don't have a clue as to how to choose the right one for the job. Quality and endurance are important and I want to make sure the one I choose will do the job. Any advice you might have would be appreciated.

Re: New Message Board

Posted: 17 Aug 2007 7:35PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Roenigk, Rini, Lichtenberg, Sinram
I have not been able to backup to FTM even though I paid for that service. They cannot tell me why and just offer me my money back - big help. I have an external hard drive but would like something reliable off site. I cannot send my file by email to my son. Can anyone tell me why it will not go through?

Re: New Message Board

Posted: 3 Oct 2007 6:04AM GMT
Classification: Query
Now I am really confused. When using ancestry.com program isn't the information in that program..and not stored on your computer? Is there still the need to back up? If so, how do you do it? From where?
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