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The Book - It Saved My Bacon!

By
Real Estate Agent with West + Main

 We have all been warned, we all know how important the data on our computer is to us, but what do we do to protect ourselves?  A couple of weeks ago I headed to Dallas, Texas and prior to packing up the lap top, I plugged in my book, and hit back up entire system.

Since my laptop is pretty close to capacity it takes a while to do a full and complete back up - I generally only have the system back up files that have been changed since my last back up.  When I am going to travel though, I create a full and complete back up and over write everything - I want one clean back up to make restoring a breeze.

I have never had to use my back up - but there have been times in the past that I did not back up like this and some little gremlin would come in and destroy everything on my computer.  No back up meant I had to start everything over, had to recreate the wheel and years of hard work.

Now, I back up all of my systems and do it regularly - and as is standard when you take precautions I have never needed my back up..... until this last week.  While in Texas I had a major malfunction - I was able to get my laptop back up and running and everything seemed great until yesterday - I lost it all...

I hit the on button and nothing - I thought the lap top was dead - after 3 years of abuse it would not have surprised me - I was amazed - I found the rescue disk - installed and loaded my backup with the restore - a couple hours later I was up and running. 

After completing a little maintenance the laptop is good as new - well maybe better - it has everything on it... my contacts, my programs, my documents and my photos -

If you do not back up your system please do so, there are so many choices today that are so much more affordable, easy to store and easy to use. 

Kris Wales
Keller Williams Realty - Lakeside Market Center - Macomb, MI
Real Estate Blog & Homes for Sale search site, Macomb County MI
Thesa, I bought my husband one for his birthday last month and I think I've used it to back up my computer more than he has used it.  I really should get him another gift :-)  
Nov 11, 2007 09:33 PM
Jennifer Fivelsdal
JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY
Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection
Thesa - Thanks for the reminded.  This  is something I do need to do a better job of.  I am glad you had your backup.
Nov 11, 2007 09:40 PM
Matthew J Blum - (retired from the business)
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Thesa, Thanks for posting this info. I am always learning new things and getting great advice on AR.
Nov 11, 2007 09:44 PM
Sandra Cummings
William Raveis Real Estate - Guilford, CT
Real Estate Agent, Guilford Connecticut
I also have the book, and I thought I was all set when my computer crashed in the spring....unfortunately could not for the cd to access the entire backup and reinstall. Lost quite of bit of data. Was not happy.
Nov 11, 2007 10:00 PM
Linda Scanlan
A Fan of AR - Burleson, TX
Thesa, I guess I never thought about it...need to get busy and get one! Thanks for the reminder!
Nov 11, 2007 10:12 PM
Ray Saenz
Exit Realty Laredo - Laredo, TX
Homes for Sale in Laredo, TX - Texas, Realtor
Thesa,

I have some of those :) and backups everywhere,  I will post a good blog for many of you to do a smooth back up about your Outlook , well the people who uses outlook to save everything, rules, templates and more. OOhh btw, if you did not miss me, I am back !

Ray Saenz
Nov 11, 2007 10:15 PM
Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate
Thesa, have you heard of Mozy ? It is off site back-up, free but I pay 5.00 a month and I don't worry about it. It takes a long time the first time because it backs up your whole computer, but then backs up nightly for me. I have been pleased.
Nov 11, 2007 10:19 PM
Neal Bloom
Brokered by eXp Realty LLC - Weston, FL
Realtor CRS-Weston FL Real Estate
Thesa, You just reminded me and I'm doing it as I type to you. I learned last time when I lost years of work. I have a pocket maxtor 166 gig. It works excellent.
Nov 11, 2007 10:29 PM
Susie Roscoe
Signature Realty Associates - Brandon, FL
Real Estate Specialist | Brandon, FL
Thank goodness this is a service that DELL now offers when you purchase a new computer!  Wahhoo!!  BUT...I still have to "use it" or I could again lose it!
Nov 11, 2007 10:54 PM
Todd and Danielle Millar
Glenn Simon Inc. - Edmonton, AB
Nineteen years of excellence!
Wow that was a lucky break!  We really have to back up much more often.
Nov 11, 2007 11:05 PM
Mehmet Met Dilsiz
FND Photography / M2 Real Estate Solutions - Midvale, UT
I'm so glad that I saw this post  :)  I forgot to take my backup this weekend, and I was getting ready to leave.  Well, now I have an extra few mintues while I wait for the backup, which means an extra smoke break  :)
Nov 11, 2007 11:34 PM
Joanne Hanson
Coldwell Banker Colorado Rockies Real Estate - Frisco, CO
Summit County, Colorado Realtor
Thesa, I am religious about backing up and virus protection.  Our network backs up nightly (all automated) and we have two external hard drives which we alternate weekly.  I take one home so we have a backup off site.  My laptop gets backed up on Monday nights.  Like you, I just do the changes, so it only takes a few minutes because all our contact management stuff is on the network computers at the office.  I learned the hard way, and was glad I had it recently when I had to replace the hard drive on my laptop.  Welcome back...are you?
Nov 12, 2007 12:15 AM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation
Big settlement tomorrow (thank you, ActiveRain), and I think a back-up system has to be at the top of my shopping list!  I wonder... do I need a separate one for each computer?  Same system, different dvd's?
Nov 12, 2007 01:26 AM
Candy Henthorne
Results Realty - Spring, TX
Spring Texas Real Estate
Thesa - Thank you for the reminder--I need to back up more than I do including my docs and photos.  I am interested in this "Book" you use.  Can you give me more info as well?
Nov 12, 2007 01:48 AM
Jason Sardi
Auto & Home & Life Insurance throughout North Carolina - Charlotte, NC
Your Agent for Life
I keep putting it off as well Thesa, I need to back up my system sooner rather than later.  Nice reminder.
Nov 12, 2007 04:34 AM
Fred Jaeger
High Lakes Realty and Property Management - La Pine, OR
Real Estate Connection - Central Oregon

Hi Thesa.. good point.  Backing up is essential.  Another alternative is taking advantage of some of the on-line backup resources available... like http://www.filesanywhere.com .

 

Nov 12, 2007 05:55 AM
Portland Oregon Real Estate | Alecia Barnes - Broker
Portland, OR
Thesa- great reminder - could you send me more information about the book?
Nov 12, 2007 06:23 AM
Rick Grand
nowhere - Eugene, OR
I'm glad you backed it up Thesa!! i learned my lesson from my laptop crashing. I now have it backed up in case anything happens :)
Nov 12, 2007 06:50 AM
. .
no thanks - Harlem, MT
Thesa, thank you for the important reminder to BACK UP our files. I think it is very timely since so many Realtors are heading to convention. I'm heading to NYC on Friday and was considering taking my laptop, but I might reconsider until I can get a tool to back everything up first. I'm so glad that you were back up and running within a few hours of your mishap. What a happy ending :)
Nov 12, 2007 10:57 AM
Linda Reynolds
Bradenton Real Estate - Linda Reynolds - Bradenton, FL
Bradenton Real Estate
Thanks for the reminder, I need to do a backup it has been a while.
Nov 12, 2007 09:49 PM