Online Backup vs. Cloud Computing

[Want-to-know]

Any advice as to what would be the most suitable for me. Assume I know virtually nothing about both systems.

I am a home user and need an uncomplicated system. Having one desktop computer, I need a system where I would be able to restore all my files, documents, emails, favourites, etc. to a new computer, should my present computer break down irrevocably.

Information on the pros and cons of both systems would be most helpful. I have Windows 7 and Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007.

Thank you.

[VHG]

Online Backup and Cloud Computing are pretty much the same thing. It is where you upload files to the internet for "safe keeping". This is normally personal files like Word files, digital photos etc.

However it is NOT suitable for restoring all your files in case of a catastrophe. (Think about it, if your computer has crashed and wont work how are you going to access the internet to retore your computer?).

What you need is software like Acronis True Image where you make an "image" of your computer software and store it something like an external hard drive.

The image really needs to be stored on an external hard drive so it is safe if your computer crashes. With product like Acronis True Image you make a "boot" CD or DVD which allows you to start up the computer and then access the external hard drive to do the restore.

Windows 7 (and I think Vista) have built in backup software that allows you to do this, but must admit I have never used it. Search the Windows help for words like "Backup" and see what it says.

[Want-to-know]

Thank you for your reply VHG. I know when I got my computer a few years ago, there was a facility to use Norton Online Back-up, which I did not use.

I get the point what you said regarding crashing. I thought that if I bought a new computer after a crash, I would go online, go to such-and-such back-up firm like Norton, where they would have all my stuff "in storage" and re-download it to my new computer. Obviously this is not what Norton does.

I am a bit confused a to what Norton's "safe keeping" is for, in that case. Can you explain fully, although I will look at Acronis.

I also want photos stored - sorry, forgot to mention that. When I got my new computer, I was able to save about 90% of my work on discs and before the old one died, copied my emails over to a hotmail account. I never want to go through that again.

Thanks also for talking in plain language since, as you may gather, I am not a computer geek.

[VHG]

There are two different types of files on any computer.

1) The files needed to "run" the computer (Windows, and all the programs you use etc)

2) Your personal files (photographs, office files etc)

The backup process for each of these is somewhat different.

1) For Windows and all the programs you use then normally on a new computer there is a built-in "image" hidden on the hard disk which allows you to restore Windows and all the programs to the way it was when you bought it. This is often called "return to factory settings" and the documentation that came with the PC will tell how to use it.

Many computers now also come with a program that you run to create some DVDs (usually 3 or 4) that will contain the contents of the hard disk and allow you to reinstall Windows and all the program in case your hard disk crashes. Again see the documentation thatcame with the PC.

So the combination of this "hidden" partition, AND the recovery disks you create, should allow you to reinstall Windows under any circumstances.

On top of that programs like Acronis True Image allow you to make an image of your hard disk to use for recovery.

2) For personal files like digital photos and office files then you need a different backup strategy where you basically copy those files to an external hard drive, or upload them to a "cloud" (or interent based) web site like Dropbox.

I assume that is what Norton safe-keeping is, an amount of web space they provide where you can store a certain number of personal files (photos, office files etc).

There may be a security check on their web site to stop you uploading programs (in case of viruses), so it is only photos and office type files (and maybe music and videos).

When saving personal files like photos then it is important to save them in at least 2 or 3 places in case a hard disk crashes, or gets stolen, or whatever.

Better too many backups than not enough.

[Want-to-know]

Thanks for clarification VHG. I will have to think over carefully what you have said. When my machine crashed, it was the hard drive that went - could not log on without the computer crashing but I at least saved some of my personal files, so when the computer crashed completely, all was not lost.

I think it is option 2) that I am looking at for the future - saving all my personal files, photos, emails, etc.

Re: Norton it says:

- Protects your valuabnle files in case of ht and unexpected disasters.
- Automatic backup lets you set it and forget it.
- Quickly restores lost or deleted files.

This seems to apply for personal files?

I presume that if I use this system and my hard drive goes, with a new computer, I can get in touch with Norton and ask them to download all my files on to a new computer??

Am I correct in this assumption? As mentioned, I am not that knowledgeable on this kind of thing.

Thanks for your help.

[VHG]

You dont get in touch with Norton.

They will give you a userid and password to logon to your space on their web site and that will allow you to download the files you have previously uploaded there.

[Want-to-know]

Thanks for the information. You have been extremely helpful. I appreciate the fullness of your answers and they are not full of jargon. I hope if I have further questions on IT - and there is always something that comes up that I do not know about - you can assist.

[James_Watson]

You should preferably choose cloud computing. Cloud computing backs-up the data at multiple places, so that, the data never gets lost. Cloud computing is both redundant and fault tolerant. Redundancy is the quality of a computing system or elements of a computing system that are backed up with secondary resources in order to guard the primary system from failure by acting as a backup system. Redundant components can include both hardware elements of a system, such as, disk drives, peripherals, servers, switches, routers and software elements, such as operating systems, applications and databases. Fault tolerance is the ability of a system to respond gracefully to an unexpected hardware or software failure. There are many levels of fault tolerance, the lowest being the ability to continue operation in the event of a power failure. Many fault-tolerant computer systems mirror all operations, that is, every operation is performed on two or more duplicate systems, so if one fails the other can take over.
For more information, click here –
http://www.myrealdata.com/cloud-computing.html

[James_Watson]

You should preferably choose cloud computing. Cloud computing backs-up the data at multiple places, so that, the data never gets lost. Cloud computing is both redundant and fault tolerant. Redundancy is the quality of a computing system or elements of a computing system that are backed up with secondary resources in order to guard the primary system from failure by acting as a backup system. Redundant components can include both hardware elements of a system, such as, disk drives, peripherals, servers, switches, routers and software elements, such as operating systems, applications and databases. Fault tolerance is the ability of a system to respond gracefully to an unexpected hardware or software failure. There are many levels of fault tolerance, the lowest being the ability to continue operation in the event of a power failure. Many fault-tolerant computer systems mirror all operations, that is, every operation is performed on two or more duplicate systems, so if one fails the other can take over.
For more information, click here –
http://www.myrealdata.com/cloud-computing.html

[dianahoward27]

Cloud computing is better. Try checking this site for more details.

http://www.atscloud.c...lutions-and-services/