POLL: Which backup method(s) do you use?

[Frank Goebel]

BLS allows for backing up your league(s) to a .ZIP archive of all of the various files (that you don't even realize, I'm sure). An archive is also stored on LeagueSecretary.com for your convenience when you upload there.

Many other backup devices can be used, they including a flash drive (USB device), a digital camera (using the USB connection and the camera's built-in memory), a floppy disc, a CD and/or DVD writer of various formats, an external hard drive, the hard drive itself in the Backup folder where your BLS software resides, and some internet sites that allow storage.

So, here's a quick poll...yes, I realize it's not a secret ballot, but I'm curious what devices are used...and, if people use more than one type, or none at all. With that, here a battery of answers; you would reply with any or all that apply (there are listed in no particular order):

[ ] Floppy
[ ] Flash drive
[ ] Digital camera or other device with memory
[ ] CD and/or DVD
[ ] Internal Hard Drive (C:\BLS2007\Backup)
[ ] External Hard Drive (USB, FireWire, SCSI, etc.)
[ ] LeagueSecretary.com
[ ] Other internet storage site, including an e-mail server
[ ] I don't backup at all

[Frank Goebel]

To reply to my own poll:

I predominately back up to a flash drive, and routinely upload to LeagueSecretary.com, which has served as a lifesaver.

In addition, I did use floppies in my earliers years with BLS, and I did use CD-RW briefly. I've even used a digital camera in the past through a USB connection. I've had to use both floppies in a pinch this year when I couldn't locate my flash drive, and a camera bailed me out last season more than once.

[Kerry Federer]

I used to use floppies but have now changed to a flash drive. It is much faster than a floppy and I have had many problems with floppies over the years. I also upload to LS, so there are a few areas for backups in case of a crash.

[Bob Lanouette]

I also backup to a flash drive and to LS. Stopped using 'floppies' a couple of years or so ago. Like Kerry, I ran into too many problems since I routinely have to work with 3 or 4 machines. The floppy drives weren't always calibrated the same...

[Tom Dale]

Frank,

I'll echo Bob and Kerry.

I use LS and backup to a flash drive and I actually alternate between 2 flash drives similiar to how I used to alterate between 2 floppies in the past.

Tom

[Derrick]

I keep all my back-ups on my hard drive. That way, if I lose one, I lose them all!

But really, I do keep a ruuning series of weekly back-up on the laptop. I also upload to leaguesecretary.com and also upload the zip file to my web storage. I will download that zip file and keep a copy of it on one of my home PCs. I have used flash drives to transfer the copies, but not to store a back up. Only the current backup is keep, with the exception of the laptop, which has each weekly backup, sometimes as many as 6 backups for the week, from the early weeks whenI keep changing things around, I'd make another backup before I made changes. Now, it is just once per week.

[Lance Rasmussen]

Derrick,

its unfortunate that I have a lot of customers that "do" the same thing you do. Just keep the backups on the same hard drive.....

They backed it up... thats what's important, right... Not to where... right.

Grin.

[Kevin Nagle]

We back up to the hard drive (the same hard drive) 100% of the time (the program is set to automatically back up each league on closing). On a periodic basis we copy all of those backup files to a zip disk. In fact, thinking about that, I should do that today.

I know I'm taking a risk by mainly backing up to the hard drive, but in my experience hard drives don't just suddenly "go boom" -- they generally show many symptoms of failure prior to the point where they completely stop working. Not always, I understand, but a lot of the time.

...and with the computer that this is on, if the hard drive dies, I have bigger problems than just league records.

[Lance Rasmussen]

Kevin,

Doing like you do... sweeping the hard drive and backing up the backups themselves (and probably a good idea to sweep the BLS200x folder as well is fine too.

Only thing, like you implied, is to do it regularly. A lot of my more "savier" customers do that on a weekly basis.

[JoleenNorth]

I back up three times: floppy, flashdrive, and finally, hard drive.

[JoleenNorth]

Oops, forgot that I also upload to LS. Guess that makes 4 backups!

[Leon Fiebranz]

I use flash drives for most of my backups now, including winlabs & MYOB accounting. I have my leagues backed up on two different flash drives in addition to LS. I used to use Zip drive to transfer data between home & center, but with the advent of the thumb drives and getting the center upgraded to front USB ports we have just about all the Sec. using the little miracle drives to transfer data.

[Mike Tinney]

I back to a second internal hard drive initially, then copy that to another computer on the home network. Used to use floppies, but with newer computers floppy drives are now a luxury add-on device. And I've always used upload services, so that provides another backup, too.

Can't imagine anyone not ever doing a back-up, as mine have saved me more than once over the years.

Mike

[Pam Donnelly]

I use a floppy. I just last night heard about flash drives...but I think I will try that...seems more dependable.

[Lance Rasmussen]

One big thing to note about using Flash memory drives.

Many of these devices are not designed (or have a flaw) that will not update the TOC (table of contents portion) with what has changed (new files added, old files removed) until you use the Windows Eject Hardware (found in your system tray) before removing the key. Shutting of Windows before removing the key usually saves it ok too.

I've experienced issues when copying files to a flash drive, pulling the drive out without "gracefully" using Windows to eject the drive, plugging the drive into another computer, just to find out that it did not have any of my changes.

So... Just be aware of this. It is good practice anyways, to use the eject hardware feature.

Also...

As much as it is handy to use flash drives, it is still good practice to occasionally make a CD or DVD with your backup files (or copy the contents of your flash drive to a CD/DVD).

I always look at things this way..... Do I REALLLLLLLY want to re-enter my leagues and tournaments over again? So if I have stuff on a flash drive, CD / DVD backups in case I loose my flash drive (been there, done that), network hard drive (great little tools) and LeagueSecretary.com (for leagues)... I am WELL covered in the event of an emergency if I loose things, computer dies, computer is stolen, place burns down, am burglerized, etc.

[Keith Chambers]

Call me old fashioned, but I still back up each league weekly onto floppies, I also back up my systems monthly onto a CD-TW, and load to LeagueSecretary. I have recently started to use a flash drive to transport the league to and from the center.

Keith Chambers
San Diego

[Frederic Duray]

What is flash drive???

[Lance Rasmussen]

Flash Drive, memory stick, Jump Drive... The technical term is really flash drive.

According to the USB Flash Drive Alliance web site:

USB flash drives are compact and easy-to-use flash memory data storage devices integrated with a USB interface. The term "USB flash drive" is a generic term used to describe these products without specifying a particular manufacturer. USB flash drives are sold by many different companies under a variety of different proprietary product names such as JumpDrive, DataTraveler and Attaché, to name just a few. The term "USB flash drive" is used in the same manner that the term "DVD" and "CD-RW" are used; to describe the technology in generic terms. Other common names and terms are pen drive, memory stick and thumb drive.
They're virtually universally compatible with all Laptop and Notebook PCs running Windows 98SE and higher, as well as many MAC OS systems that have a USB port.
USB flash drives sales in 2006 are forecasted to reach 150 million units, with that number growing to 340 million in 2008, consisting of approximately 75% smart drives, according to Web-Feet Research.

There are many uses for a USB flash drive, including for personal data storage and for portable desktop computing. The small size of USB flash drives makes them ideal for personal, portable and powerful computing. From mom carrying around picture of her kids, to business travelers carrying their files and desktop with extreme ease and convenience, a USB flash drive is a personal, portable and powerful device.

[Frederic Duray]

Thank you Lance for that lesson great

[Joyce Lost]

I use floppy disks alternating between Odd and even weeks

Did think about using Flash drive - but think I'll stay with floppy- and of course I send into Secretary.com for the other bowlers to see. THat's great too