Backup software necessary?

Is backup software necessary?

 

Very important for me.

 

very much so for me as well

 

definitely

 

Do not forget, that it is also important to backup on a portable or on an online storage (or both) as well.

 

If data is important, or if time to repair/restore a computer matters, then backup is required. Which means nearly all of us need to backup our computers in some form or fashion...

 

Absolutely. Worth backing up to a separate hard drive & also to somewhere off site. There are quite a few companies that offer on-line storage, select wisely

 

Yes, and more necessary for most users than much of the subject matter obsessed about here and at other security oriented sites.

Blue

 

I'm only sorry that it was the last thing I have considered buying and learning out of all the security hype. It really should be the first priority with a new installation of Windows, a 100% recovery tool that will always get you out of troubles. One should make sure to restore an image as a test to see if it works, and this is another reason to back up and restore an image of Windows straight after the new install: if the restore doesn't work, reinstalling Windows would take less than an hour, no anxiety there.

 

From my perspective...

System backup's just a convenient way to get your system up and running in no time in case anything goes terribly wrong. And in that aspect, it is a gigantic convenience, as it saves a lot of time (and money in some cases). But system backup's not really necessary. You can live perfectly happy without a backup, while I do backup my machines (not all of them, I admit), I cannot remember when I last used/restored a backup as a last resort. Years ago probably.

If my system gets screwed and I don't have a backup, I would probably say "oh bummer" a few times, but in an hour or two, after a reformat and reinstall, I'll be up and running.

OTH, data backup of your personal stuff (all kinds of digital property you own - movies, music, books, images, documents, databases, etc.) is a double must.

If my data gets screwed and I don't have a backup, then I may as well throw myself off the bridge. There is no way I can repair that damage.

I almost missed this. You said it better.

 

Backup software is NOT necessary if you like to install the OS again and again.
For some its a hobby,i know for at least one person to get infected on purpose and then happy to install everything fresh !?!

 

A data backup is a must have. As far as for a system backup, you can live without one but it will take that much more time for you to get up and running again. There are a few good freebies out there for data backups. Depends on how and where you are going to back your data up to. Read the links that Blue Zanetti has provided. He goes into some detail on good backup strategies and it's well written and easy to understand.

 

If by backup you mean imaging, the answer is of course. If by backup you mean files like photos, documents, contacts, game scores, etc., it depends upon the importance of such files are to you.

Always, always have a clean offline image of your hard drive unless you enjoy reinstalling your favorite operating system and programs .

SourMilk out

 

Yes! If you happen to lose important files that cannot be recovered, you will understand for sure. BTW, it's sure way better if you act smartly and learn from others experiences: NEVER IGNORE/FORGET TO MAKE BACKUPS.

I use this combination:

- Mainly, my Win7's Windows Backup (Backup and Restore Center) on all its possible capabilities.

- GoodSync Pro for anything related to my RoboForm Pro.

- And finally, I maintain updated backup copies of some few very important files on two pen-drives and several free online storage/mail services.

 

Sure it is.
The first thing which I do after install OS is image backup, and I can't imagine security configuration without backup software it's a must have just in case...
It should be one of the part of Cure layer of protection - it's the last one security layer approach, last but not least!

 

100 % YES

Data - as everyone stated above, if its important - WHY NOT?

Operating system - Ask ANYONE who had to reinstall win XP, then get all the drivers, then get all the windows updates (or your OS updates ), it WILL takes HOURS

Most back up solutions take a MINUTES to "Restore" & a lot of them are freeware or close to free!

If you are retired, completely bored or have a ton of time you'd like to waste - disregard the "100%YES", you can live without it.

 

This has got to be a trick question!

 

Absolutely man you never know which button will accidentally kill you computer

 

i got so tired of doing a fresh install then adding drivers then adding the main programs i use.. i make a base image of just windows, another with drivers and yet another with the main programs i use like office 2007 photoshop etc. while they will not be fully updated after restoring them they can simply be updated after that.

 

You didn't really define what you mean by "backup". Backing up just certain information? Or doing an image of the computers drive for quick restore?

It depends on what information is stored on your machine, and it depends on how important that information is to you. And if talking about drive imaging for a backup, it depends on what you value as the amount of time needed to reinstall everything on the computer.

If you use your PC just for basic web surfing, simple online stuff, web based e-mail...backup probably isn't too important for you.

If you use your PC for some more important stuff, like school...and you have lots of homework/papers/research stored on your computer, or if you keep you home finances on the computer, or if you're part of a business and you have accounting information and lots of business information on a computer....or other information that is vital to your business..then yes, backup is important.

 

Goes hand in hand in using a computer whether you have that precious picture album, important work or able to recover your machine in minutes instead of starting over from recovery media.

 

If you're gonna backup your entire system (OS and all) then a backup software may be a good idea.

For just file backups though, nothing is wrong with copy and paste

 

It's always better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.


Alan

 

I just use SyncToy to syncrhonize my files, to another hdd.
I do not use any backup at all.
When somethig terrible happen, I just reinstall windows and synctoy will take care that the content of my data/files will be identical after.
All the time I would have to spend with backups, and maybe a restore, would take much longer than just installing windows.

 

Yes, backup software is important, but ultimately, not as important as restore software ...