HK wrote:
JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
wrote in message
...
On Thu, 10 Jan 2008 19:21:58 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:

wrote in message
...
On Thu, 10 Jan 2008 19:07:37 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:

"John H." wrote in message
...
I have a 160 GB external hard disk to which I tried to back up my
documents
and settings using the Windows backup system.

After about a half hour, I get a message saying there's not
enough room
for
the backup, and that if the hard disk is FAT 32, the backup can
be no
larger than 4 GB. So I checked, and sure enough, the external HD
is FAT
32.

Now what? I already have about 50 GB of stuff on the external HD
that I
don't want to lose by reformatting (if that's what's required).
--
John H

When you get this working properly, where will the external hard
drive be
kept most of the time?

One step at a time, Doug. That issue was part of why I suggested the
idea of buying another drive for this project to John. :')


Small enough to fit his safe deposit box at the bank, right? :-)

Probably, but that wouldn't be such a great spot for it. As I'm SURE
you know, the biggest failure of any backup plan is that if it is too
inconvenient, it won't get done. A backup stored onsite is 1000%
better than a backup that doesn't get done.

I do my backup onto an external drive and bring it to the office.


John doesn't have an office. So, when his "onsite" burns to the
ground, there goes his backup hardware, too. I'm in the same
situation. I have a choice to make: Two sets of media, one of which I
can't get to if the bank is closed. Or, no off-site media, and then
I'm phuqued if the place burns down.

Off site doesn't mean the backup doesn't get done. Use the one at home
for a week, then take it to the the safe deposit box and swap for the
other one. Or, someone else's house. Anything's better than storing
all your backup media in the same building. No sane corporation does
that, unless they have a storage arrangement like a bank's.



Feh.

I bought a used "two hour" fire safe at a bankruptcy auction to store
papers, valuables, guns and my computer backup drives. I also use an
"on-line" storage site to hold important data files.

The safe was a "steal," but it cost me mucho dinero to get it delivered
and brought into the basement. Damn thing must weigh at least half a ton.

Keep telling yourself that, Harry. Get better soon!