I have a question: When I do a backup I always go into Run Command dir a: to check what's on the disk. Is this not proof enough that I have a good backup if it tells me there was one made on this date? I also do two backups and store one in my file at the FHC. Pat At 10:13 PM 7/23/2005, Mike St. Clair/ST wrote: >When you make your backups to floppy diskettes, there is a danger many folks >ignore. If you use a single diskette or set of diskettes to do your backups >there are two catastrophes that can occur. > >1 - One that is guaranteed to happen over time is that the backup >diskette(s) can become "worn out" over time by the constant passing of the >drive heads over the diskettes. This can result in the failure to do a >successful restore when you need to. > >2 - A catastrophe that is "waiting in the wings" and could happen results >from a crash of the computer during the backup process. If you are doing a >backup and your hard drive crashes while in the process, you've just >overwritten your last backup, but haven't successfully created a usable new >backup. Thus you wouldn't have anything to restore. The same thing can >result from a power outage during the backup process, or a motherboard >failure during the backup, etc. > >I've observed that a great many PAF users follow the approach of using the >same backup disk over and over, and are thus susceptable to this sort of >problem. They feel comfortable that they are backing up their data, but >they don't really have solid protection. > >I teach an approach for folks using diskettes that get's around this >problem. > >First, assemble a set of diskettes for the backups - I recommend at least 5, >but it can be any number. A set is however many diskettes it takes to do >your backups - one being enough for most folks. > >Second, make labels indicating these are PAF backups and numbered from 1 to >as many sets as you have, and mark them with the date they went into >service. > >Third, organize the backup diskettes in numerical order (such as in a closed >diskette box or plastic diskette holder with a cover) > >Fourth, when you make a backup, take the set of diskettes off the back , >make your backup and replace them in the front. > >Fifth, at the end of each year, replace half of the diskettes. > >For some other comments about the backup process, see the following page at >PAF Review: > >http://www.paf-review.com/paf_backup.html > >Mike St. Clair > >-----Original Message----- >From: Stewart Millar [mailto:sm999@tiscali.co.uk] >Sent: Saturday, July 23, 2005 10:11 AM >To: PAF-5-USERS-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: RE: [PAF-5] Backup files > >John, > >What you are doing is absolutely fine - keep making those back-ups to your >floppy disc! > >The 3-steps I proposed are an enhancement to that process. > >Having a designated folder on your hard drive for backups (as defined in >Tools > Preferences > Folders) in combination with my second step of naming >each back-up with a date --- gives you your first line of defence - having >available on your hard drive, for immediate access and comparison a series >of dated past back up files. > >Your preference set-up for this setting most likely specifies the A-drive. > >It is of course only a first line of defence - each backup file should >subsequently be copied to an exterior medium and/or facility (floppy disc, >CD, memory stick, email attachment, ftp to internet site etc.). > >I find it most useful to have a series of past dated backups immediately >accessible for quick comparisons or testing/corrupting with some new >procedure - and, in common with a growing number of modern PC's and lap >tops, there is no built in floppy drive to my pc (although I do have an >exterior attachment which I only bring out when someone specifically wants a >floppy disk from me - becoming very rare now). > >Regards, > >Stewart > > > >-----Original Message----- >From: john burns [mailto:johnburns@telus.net] >Sent: 23 July 2005 00:30 >To: PAF-5-USERS-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: Re: [PAF-5] Backup files > >I've been looking at this post for a day and still can't make any sense of >it. I just make a backup of my PAF to a floppy disc. >Why would you "set up a specific folder for your back-up files"? >John >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Stewart Millar" <sm999@tiscali.co.uk> >To: <PAF-5-USERS-L@rootsweb.com> >Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2005 2:27 AM >Subject: RE: [PAF-5] Backup files > > > > Grace, > > > > Good Question! Despite backups being an essential safety net, over the >years > > I have seen great confusion and actual loss of data because of the way in > > which backups have been handled. > > > > The steps that I teach and advocate are as follows: > > > > 1. In Tools > Preferences > Folders set up a specific folder for your > > back-up files. This would be somewhere on your hard drive - mine are kept >in > > C:\........\My Documents\PAF\Backup. > > > > 2. When selecting or requested to do a backup - the suggested name of > > the zipped backup is your PAF database name - this should be changed to > > include the date of your backup - for example, my database is millar.paf, > > which for a backup (today) I would change the suggested name to > > > > millar-2005-07-21 (the .zip extension will be added automatically for > > you) > > > > This example of course is using the reverse European date system (Y-M-D) > > which is recommended for keeping a series of files in date sequence. > > > > For any time where you have multiple backups on the same day - for >instance, > > where you create a backup to take to a FHC or on a research trip - add >some > > data at the FHC - then create a backup at the FHC to take home - simply >add > > an additional version number at the end of the second backup file name, >for > > example: > > > > Millar-2005-07-21-2 > > > > 3. The backed-up file should then - for security reasons - either - be > > burned onto a CD - copied to a floppy disc (if your PC still has a floppy > > disc) - copied to a USB memory stick - attached and emailed to a friend - > > uploaded (ftp) to a secure internet site. Whatever suits your off-site > > storage arrangements. > > > > Using this approach you will then have a series of past backups - all date > > marked. > > > > Periodically you would delete the older backup versions. > > > > This way, any restored backup will create a PAF file with the same name >that > > has the date incorporated in it. From any restored backup, you can then >make > > the deliberate choice to rename the restored backup as your main file >(using > > Save-As). > > > > Backups are not only a safety net for restoring a lost file but used in >this > > way can allow you to open up (restore) a past back for a specific date and > > compare it with your current database to track any changes that you may >have > > made. > > > > Good luck, > > > > Stewart > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Grace Inman [mailto:Grace@eufaula.rr.com] > > Sent: 21 July 2005 04:03 > > To: PAF-5-USERS-L@rootsweb.com > > Subject: [PAF-5] Backup files > > > > Could someone please explain to me in real simple baby steps how to make >the > > best kind of backup files? When I click "Backup" on the File menu of >PAF.5, > > I always tell it to overwrite the current file. Is that the way I should >do > > it, or not? If not, how should I be doing it to provide the maximum > > protection for my file(s)? Please and thank you very much. > > Grace in Georgia, USA > > > > In God we trust. > > > > > > ==== PAF-5-USERS Mailing List ==== > > PAF @ FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service > > http://www.familysearch.org/eng/paf/ > > > > > > > > > > ==== PAF-5-USERS Mailing List ==== > > FreeBMD - Free Access to England and Wales Civil Registration Index > > Volunteer as a Transcriber Today! > > http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/ > > > > > > > >==== PAF-5-USERS Mailing List ==== >PAF @ FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service >http://www.familysearch.org/eng/paf/ > > >==== PAF-5-USERS Mailing List ==== >Replying to Posts >When quoting a post you're replying to, omit signatures and taglines that >are appended to the post.

The DIR just reads the directory and doesn't guarantee that the file is actually readable. Your second backup would give you additional assurance. But as the diskettes you are using age, they will become less reliable, and at some point you will find problems reading. This depends on a combination of the actual age, the environment (heat, humidity, dustiness, etc) that you store the diskette in, and the number of times it has been read or written. I've never seen data lost when someone is rotating 5 diskettes unless it was something like a fire (your offsite copy is a good plan for that reason). But I've seen many, many folks who were relying on a single diskette lose data when their hard drive crashed. -----Original Message----- From: Patricia J Weisshaus [mailto:patjw28@earthlink.net] Sent: Saturday, July 23, 2005 9:00 PM To: Mike St. Clair/ST; PAF-5-USERS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: RE: [PAF-5] Backup files I have a question: When I do a backup I always go into Run Command dir a: to check what's on the disk. Is this not proof enough that I have a good backup if it tells me there was one made on this date? I also do two backups and store one in my file at the FHC. Pat At 10:13 PM 7/23/2005, Mike St. Clair/ST wrote: >When you make your backups to floppy diskettes, there is a danger many >folks ignore. If you use a single diskette or set of diskettes to do >your backups there are two catastrophes that can occur. > >1 - One that is guaranteed to happen over time is that the backup >diskette(s) can become "worn out" over time by the constant passing of >the drive heads over the diskettes. This can result in the failure to >do a successful restore when you need to. > >2 - A catastrophe that is "waiting in the wings" and could happen >results from a crash of the computer during the backup process. If you >are doing a backup and your hard drive crashes while in the process, >you've just overwritten your last backup, but haven't successfully >created a usable new backup. Thus you wouldn't have anything to >restore. The same thing can result from a power outage during the >backup process, or a motherboard failure during the backup, etc. > >I've observed that a great many PAF users follow the approach of using >the same backup disk over and over, and are thus susceptable to this >sort of problem. They feel comfortable that they are backing up their >data, but they don't really have solid protection. > >I teach an approach for folks using diskettes that get's around this >problem. > >First, assemble a set of diskettes for the backups - I recommend at >least 5, but it can be any number. A set is however many diskettes it >takes to do your backups - one being enough for most folks. > >Second, make labels indicating these are PAF backups and numbered from >1 to as many sets as you have, and mark them with the date they went >into service. > >Third, organize the backup diskettes in numerical order (such as in a >closed diskette box or plastic diskette holder with a cover) > >Fourth, when you make a backup, take the set of diskettes off the back >, make your backup and replace them in the front. > >Fifth, at the end of each year, replace half of the diskettes. > >For some other comments about the backup process, see the following >page at PAF Review: > >http://www.paf-review.com/paf_backup.html > >Mike St. Clair > >-----Original Message----- >From: Stewart Millar [mailto:sm999@tiscali.co.uk] >Sent: Saturday, July 23, 2005 10:11 AM >To: PAF-5-USERS-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: RE: [PAF-5] Backup files > >John, > >What you are doing is absolutely fine - keep making those back-ups to >your floppy disc! > >The 3-steps I proposed are an enhancement to that process. > >Having a designated folder on your hard drive for backups (as defined >in Tools > Preferences > Folders) in combination with my second step of >naming each back-up with a date --- gives you your first line of >defence - having available on your hard drive, for immediate access and >comparison a series of dated past back up files. > >Your preference set-up for this setting most likely specifies the A-drive. > >It is of course only a first line of defence - each backup file should >subsequently be copied to an exterior medium and/or facility (floppy >disc, CD, memory stick, email attachment, ftp to internet site etc.). > >I find it most useful to have a series of past dated backups >immediately accessible for quick comparisons or testing/corrupting with >some new procedure - and, in common with a growing number of modern >PC's and lap tops, there is no built in floppy drive to my pc (although >I do have an exterior attachment which I only bring out when someone >specifically wants a floppy disk from me - becoming very rare now). > >Regards, > >Stewart > > > >-----Original Message----- >From: john burns [mailto:johnburns@telus.net] >Sent: 23 July 2005 00:30 >To: PAF-5-USERS-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: Re: [PAF-5] Backup files > >I've been looking at this post for a day and still can't make any sense >of it. I just make a backup of my PAF to a floppy disc. >Why would you "set up a specific folder for your back-up files"? >John >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Stewart Millar" <sm999@tiscali.co.uk> >To: <PAF-5-USERS-L@rootsweb.com> >Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2005 2:27 AM >Subject: RE: [PAF-5] Backup files > > > > Grace, > > > > Good Question! Despite backups being an essential safety net, over > > the >years > > I have seen great confusion and actual loss of data because of the > > way in which backups have been handled. > > > > The steps that I teach and advocate are as follows: > > > > 1. In Tools > Preferences > Folders set up a specific folder for > > your back-up files. This would be somewhere on your hard drive - > > mine are kept >in > > C:\........\My Documents\PAF\Backup. > > > > 2. When selecting or requested to do a backup - the suggested name > > of the zipped backup is your PAF database name - this should be > > changed to include the date of your backup - for example, my > > database is millar.paf, which for a backup (today) I would change > > the suggested name to > > > > millar-2005-07-21 (the .zip extension will be added automatically > > for > > you) > > > > This example of course is using the reverse European date system > > (Y-M-D) which is recommended for keeping a series of files in date sequence. > > > > For any time where you have multiple backups on the same day - for >instance, > > where you create a backup to take to a FHC or on a research trip - > > add >some > > data at the FHC - then create a backup at the FHC to take home - > > simply >add > > an additional version number at the end of the second backup file > > name, >for > > example: > > > > Millar-2005-07-21-2 > > > > 3. The backed-up file should then - for security reasons - either - > > be burned onto a CD - copied to a floppy disc (if your PC still has > > a floppy > > disc) - copied to a USB memory stick - attached and emailed to a > > friend - uploaded (ftp) to a secure internet site. Whatever suits > > your off-site storage arrangements. > > > > Using this approach you will then have a series of past backups - > > all date marked. > > > > Periodically you would delete the older backup versions. > > > > This way, any restored backup will create a PAF file with the same > > name >that > > has the date incorporated in it. From any restored backup, you can > > then >make > > the deliberate choice to rename the restored backup as your main > > file >(using > > Save-As). > > > > Backups are not only a safety net for restoring a lost file but used > > in >this > > way can allow you to open up (restore) a past back for a specific > > date and compare it with your current database to track any changes > > that you may >have > > made. > > > > Good luck, > > > > Stewart > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Grace Inman [mailto:Grace@eufaula.rr.com] > > Sent: 21 July 2005 04:03 > > To: PAF-5-USERS-L@rootsweb.com > > Subject: [PAF-5] Backup files > > > > Could someone please explain to me in real simple baby steps how to > > make >the > > best kind of backup files? When I click "Backup" on the File menu > > of >PAF.5, > > I always tell it to overwrite the current file. Is that the way I > > should >do > > it, or not? If not, how should I be doing it to provide the maximum > > protection for my file(s)? Please and thank you very much. > > Grace in Georgia, USA > > > > In God we trust. > > > > > > ==== PAF-5-USERS Mailing List ==== > > PAF @ FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service > > http://www.familysearch.org/eng/paf/ > > > > > > > > > > ==== PAF-5-USERS Mailing List ==== > > FreeBMD - Free Access to England and Wales Civil Registration Index > > Volunteer as a Transcriber Today! > > http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/ > > > > > > > >==== PAF-5-USERS Mailing List ==== >PAF @ FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service >http://www.familysearch.org/eng/paf/ > > >==== PAF-5-USERS Mailing List ==== >Replying to Posts >When quoting a post you're replying to, omit signatures and taglines >that are appended to the post.

The true test of a backup file, Patricia IS will it actually restore your files? The fact that they are showing when you check the contents of a diskette is immaterial. That doesn't indicate if the file is damaged in any way. That's why it always pays to use different mediums of saving backups so that you always have alternatives - diskettes; CD-R; DVD; another hard drive; external hard drive; etc. On 7/24/05, Patricia J Weisshaus <patjw28@earthlink.net> wrote: > I have a question: > > When I do a backup I always go into Run Command dir a: to check what's on > the disk. Is this not proof enough that I have a good backup if it tells me > there was one made on this date? I also do two backups and store one in my > file at the FHC. > > Pat > > > > > At 10:13 PM 7/23/2005, Mike St. Clair/ST wrote: > >When you make your backups to floppy diskettes, there is a danger many folks > >ignore. If you use a single diskette or set of diskettes to do your backups > >there are two catastrophes that can occur. > > > >1 - One that is guaranteed to happen over time is that the backup > >diskette(s) can become "worn out" over time by the constant passing of the > >drive heads over the diskettes. This can result in the failure to do a > >successful restore when you need to. > > > >2 - A catastrophe that is "waiting in the wings" and could happen results > >from a crash of the computer during the backup process. If you are doing a > >backup and your hard drive crashes while in the process, you've just > >overwritten your last backup, but haven't successfully created a usable new > >backup. Thus you wouldn't have anything to restore. The same thing can > >result from a power outage during the backup process, or a motherboard > >failure during the backup, etc. > > > >I've observed that a great many PAF users follow the approach of using the > >same backup disk over and over, and are thus susceptable to this sort of > >problem. They feel comfortable that they are backing up their data, but > >they don't really have solid protection. > > > >I teach an approach for folks using diskettes that get's around this > >problem. > > > >First, assemble a set of diskettes for the backups - I recommend at least 5, > >but it can be any number. A set is however many diskettes it takes to do > >your backups - one being enough for most folks. > > > >Second, make labels indicating these are PAF backups and numbered from 1 to > >as many sets as you have, and mark them with the date they went into > >service. > > > >Third, organize the backup diskettes in numerical order (such as in a closed > >diskette box or plastic diskette holder with a cover) > > > >Fourth, when you make a backup, take the set of diskettes off the back , > >make your backup and replace them in the front. > > > >Fifth, at the end of each year, replace half of the diskettes. > > > >For some other comments about the backup process, see the following page at > >PAF Review: > > > >http://www.paf-review.com/paf_backup.html > > > >Mike St. Clair > > > >-----Original Message----- > >From: Stewart Millar [mailto:sm999@tiscali.co.uk] > >Sent: Saturday, July 23, 2005 10:11 AM > >To: PAF-5-USERS-L@rootsweb.com > >Subject: RE: [PAF-5] Backup files > > > >John, > > > >What you are doing is absolutely fine - keep making those back-ups to your > >floppy disc! > > > >The 3-steps I proposed are an enhancement to that process. > > > >Having a designated folder on your hard drive for backups (as defined in > >Tools > Preferences > Folders) in combination with my second step of naming > >each back-up with a date --- gives you your first line of defence - having > >available on your hard drive, for immediate access and comparison a series > >of dated past back up files. > > > >Your preference set-up for this setting most likely specifies the A-drive. > > > >It is of course only a first line of defence - each backup file should > >subsequently be copied to an exterior medium and/or facility (floppy disc, > >CD, memory stick, email attachment, ftp to internet site etc.). > > > >I find it most useful to have a series of past dated backups immediately > >accessible for quick comparisons or testing/corrupting with some new > >procedure - and, in common with a growing number of modern PC's and lap > >tops, there is no built in floppy drive to my pc (although I do have an > >exterior attachment which I only bring out when someone specifically wants a > >floppy disk from me - becoming very rare now). > > > >Regards, > > > >Stewart > > > > > > > >-----Original Message----- > >From: john burns [mailto:johnburns@telus.net] > >Sent: 23 July 2005 00:30 > >To: PAF-5-USERS-L@rootsweb.com > >Subject: Re: [PAF-5] Backup files > > > >I've been looking at this post for a day and still can't make any sense of > >it. I just make a backup of my PAF to a floppy disc. > >Why would you "set up a specific folder for your back-up files"? > >John > >----- Original Message ----- > >From: "Stewart Millar" <sm999@tiscali.co.uk> > >To: <PAF-5-USERS-L@rootsweb.com> > >Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2005 2:27 AM > >Subject: RE: [PAF-5] Backup files > > > > > > > Grace, > > > > > > Good Question! Despite backups being an essential safety net, over the > >years > > > I have seen great confusion and actual loss of data because of the way in > > > which backups have been handled. > > > > > > The steps that I teach and advocate are as follows: > > > > > > 1. In Tools > Preferences > Folders set up a specific folder for your > > > back-up files. This would be somewhere on your hard drive - mine are kept > >in > > > C:\........\My Documents\PAF\Backup. > > > > > > 2. When selecting or requested to do a backup - the suggested name of > > > the zipped backup is your PAF database name - this should be changed to > > > include the date of your backup - for example, my database is millar.paf, > > > which for a backup (today) I would change the suggested name to > > > > > > millar-2005-07-21 (the .zip extension will be added automatically for > > > you) > > > > > > This example of course is using the reverse European date system (Y-M-D) > > > which is recommended for keeping a series of files in date sequence. > > > > > > For any time where you have multiple backups on the same day - for > >instance, > > > where you create a backup to take to a FHC or on a research trip - add > >some > > > data at the FHC - then create a backup at the FHC to take home - simply > >add > > > an additional version number at the end of the second backup file name, > >for > > > example: > > > > > > Millar-2005-07-21-2 > > > > > > 3. The backed-up file should then - for security reasons - either - be > > > burned onto a CD - copied to a floppy disc (if your PC still has a floppy > > > disc) - copied to a USB memory stick - attached and emailed to a friend - > > > uploaded (ftp) to a secure internet site. Whatever suits your off-site > > > storage arrangements. > > > > > > Using this approach you will then have a series of past backups - all date > > > marked. > > > > > > Periodically you would delete the older backup versions. > > > > > > This way, any restored backup will create a PAF file with the same name > >that > > > has the date incorporated in it. From any restored backup, you can then > >make > > > the deliberate choice to rename the restored backup as your main file > >(using > > > Save-As). > > > > > > Backups are not only a safety net for restoring a lost file but used in > >this > > > way can allow you to open up (restore) a past back for a specific date and > > > compare it with your current database to track any changes that you may > >have > > > made. > > > > > > Good luck, > > > > > > Stewart > > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: Grace Inman [mailto:Grace@eufaula.rr.com] > > > Sent: 21 July 2005 04:03 > > > To: PAF-5-USERS-L@rootsweb.com > > > Subject: [PAF-5] Backup files > > > > > > Could someone please explain to me in real simple baby steps how to make > >the > > > best kind of backup files? When I click "Backup" on the File menu of > >PAF.5, > > > I always tell it to overwrite the current file. Is that the way I should > >do > > > it, or not? If not, how should I be doing it to provide the maximum > > > protection for my file(s)? Please and thank you very much. > > > Grace in Georgia, USA > > > > > > In God we trust. > > > > > > > > > ==== PAF-5-USERS Mailing List ==== > > > PAF @ FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service > > > http://www.familysearch.org/eng/paf/ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ==== PAF-5-USERS Mailing List ==== > > > FreeBMD - Free Access to England and Wales Civil Registration Index > > > Volunteer as a Transcriber Today! > > > http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/ > > > > > > > > > > > > > >==== PAF-5-USERS Mailing List ==== > >PAF @ FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service > >http://www.familysearch.org/eng/paf/ > > > > > >==== PAF-5-USERS Mailing List ==== > >Replying to Posts > >When quoting a post you're replying to, omit signatures and taglines that > >are appended to the post. > > > ==== PAF-5-USERS Mailing List ==== > RootsWeb > http://www.rootsweb.com/ > > -- P. S. Check out Legacy Family Tree today! This full featured genealogy program can be downloaded FREE at http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Index.asp?mid=52583ii