"Delta" and Stuff (Maintenence & Backups)

[greengoose1]

Hi All, arty62 made this comment in the Feedback Forum.

"This site was always a must for me when the "Project Deltas" were running. I found it entertaining and educational...why did it go away? Why can't it be started again?"

Much of the "Delta" threads can still be found in the VirDr Archives. But alot of it is older information, not being used, and much of it never changes.

A bit of history. When these threads were started this Hardware Forum was very small - a couple of hundred threads or so and less than three thousand posts. A few of us got together to build computers on line, namely the Queen of Hearts, Bistro, Train, and myself. "Stuff" started to happen and we started the "Operation Delta" threads. Then the "Delta Crew" got started. And other "Deltas" after that all happened. Hardware was broken up into five manageable parts to handle the volume.

Yes, alot was accomplished along with having some fun.

We can try it on this forum and if there is enough interest, we can continue. There is much to talk about and questions to answer.

And we can start now with a new thread on a subject that can help everyone maybe. Then after that we will have a feel on where to go next.

Maintenence and Backups - In Depth How To's

First we need to get some input from you the reader.

How is the maintenence on your computer set up, what is done, how do you do it, in what order, and the same for your backups?

From this we can discuss ways to improve what each one of us does. (Remember - There ain't one us gonna learn all there is to know about our computers in our lifetimes. )

[richie259]

Ok. Since I'm probably the worst off as far as maintanence goes, I'll start, and you guys can tell me what I'm doing wrong

I run a full virus scan once a week (Friday nights, as I'm usually not home). I also scan any files that I download from untrusted sources. All email attachments are scanned as well.

I regularly clear my cookies/tif folders (about once a week as well).

I run Adaware just about any time I'm sitting online with nothing to do.

I run a scandisk and defrag whenever it occurs to me that I haven't done it in a while. Is there some sort of schedule I should be following with this?

As far as backing up goes....
I don't really do it.

What is a good practice as far as backing up my data? What sort of software would make a good investment?

I have an Athlon XP 2800+ running Windows XP Home.
So, what am I doing wrong? What can I improve? Is there something like a task scheduler in Win XP that I can set up to perform these things for me?

~richie

[TangZ]

Originally posted by richie259
I run Adaware just about any time I'm sitting online with nothing to do.
~richie

nothing to do NOTHING TO DO....with all this wealth of knowledge and theres nothing to do... I dont believe you

[SuperSparks]

Yes, I think it's about time the Delata threads were brought up to date.

Once a week I do a full virus scan and a defrag.

Every other week, or a few days after I've installed some new software and I'm satisfied there are no conflicts I will take a Ghost image.

I occasionally run Spybot S & D, but having never picked up any spyware at all I don't make it much of a priority.

I always make a System Restore point before I install any software or make any Registry changes on my WinXP machine.

I will occasionally make a ASR disk in XP and an ERD disk on my Win2000 machine, but I've never yet had to use them as Ghost has always rescued me if I ever got into serious trouble.

My PC's are networked and I use mirrored RAID on both machines, so what I mostly do for backups is to copy the Ghost images and all important data over the LAN, so that everything is stored on 4 hard drives. I'd have to be pretty unlucky to ever lose data from all 4. Even so, stuff that I really cannot afford to lose is backed up to CDR on a when I think of it basis.

[richie259]

Originally posted by SuperSparks

Every other week, or a few days after I've installed some new software and I'm satisfied there are no conflicts I will take a Ghost image.

What is Ghost?

I always make a System Restore point before I install any software or make any Registry changes on my WinXP machine.

How would I go about making a system restore point? Do you delete old ones after you make a new one?

[greengoose1]

To answer richie259 concerning backups. I use a redundant back up system. If today I do quite abit of work I will use Ghost (my preferance - others out there) and back up on another drive or another drive in another hard drive is even better. If I downloaded an app/program online or other files I have created for that matter, I immediately burn to disk using NTI. Otherwise, once a week I use Drive Image to burn "C" drive to a CD. Usually this is on Sat. morning when I perform my maintenence routine.

There is always more than one way to accomplish these things. And maybe working and sharing this information together we can come up with an even better way. But each person can accomplish the end result in a different way. Just so long as it is done.

Supersparks mentioned something else that I do with the maintenence routine and that is security, and we should include that here to cover any threats in this area. That will give balance to the effort. You need all three to have a happy machine.

[greengoose1]

Richie, Ghost is found on Norton's SystemWorks Pro CD that can be purchased most anywhere. I just got a copy of 2003 worth the money on an auction site. I use only Ghost on that CD as I prefer ZoneAlarm, AVG (Grisoft), and Spybot for my antivirus and adware efforts.

[SuperSparks]

Hi Ritchie, Ghost is Norton Ghost which is a program that can back up an entire partition to another hard drive, to another computer on a network, or to CD-R. Most of us use it to make a backup of the operating system when it's in a known working state. That way if Windows gets all flaky your working system can be restored in just a few minutes. It's much easier than having to re-install Windows and all the apps. PowerQuest Drive Image is a similar program, but I could never get on with it, and it let me down badly once when I needed it.

System Restore is in All Programs>Accessories>System Tools. When you open it a Wizard comes up that is simplicity itself to use. Type "System Restore" into Help & Support for more info. You don't need to delete old points, as new ones are created the oldest are deleted automatically. The amount of restore points that you get depends on how much disk space you allow it to have. I find 400MB is plenty.

[bistro]

Yes, I think it's about time the Delta threads were brought up to date.

Yes, I agree...we must bring the Delta threads up to date. Like those articles I wrote on "Modding Your 5.25" Floppy" and those unforgettable threads I started like "Formatting your 1 gig hard drive" and "8mb SIMMS are here to stay!"....

Let's do it....just need some input from the readers.

Maintenance:
AV scan every 3 days--update AV just about as often.
Adware/Spybot scan every time a program is downloaded/installed.
Once a month I use Drive Image to copy the hard drive to file; replacing the previous month's image.
On the last day of the month, I usually replace the filter in the AC/heater--so I clean/replace the filters on the computer fans and give the interior a quick clean on that same day.
I use Window Washer about every other day to clean out old internet files, temp files and bleach the index.dat files.

[SuperSparks]

Not to mention "Bistro's Guide to the correct use of duct tape and scrubbies". A true gold mine of information

[bistro]

Scrubbies are our friends....don't forget that.
And duct tape is the ultimate Modder's friend....

[greengoose1]

Did not take long for Bistro to show up. LOL. Thanks for your input.

As we get into this thread maybe we can give the how to step by step for each procedure used so readers can get a feel for what we are doing. There are alot of newcomers I have noticed and if we can help here by gettin them off to a good solid start we will have done something that the manuals that came with there first computer do not address properly. And that is helping their computer work with the software and internet so they don't have alot of problems as some people in the past have had. ME for one.
And had it not been for people here and people no longer here that helped me, I would not be at the point I am today. (Hard for me to give compliments too. )

So, reader of this thread, save yourself some time when you have a question and jump in. There are no dumb questions. Don't be shy. Shy does not gain you any knowledge.

[Sarrkazztic]

Well I am using the new kid on the block acronis true image...allows you to make the same type of clones that drive image and ghost do...but it allows you to make them while you are still using windows....no need to reboot to make a clone....also allows you to store clones on a firewire or usb drive...which is quite handy for me....maintenance....I defrag every 2 weeks or so....I anylyze every week and do it the next week whether it needs it or not.....I run norton 2003 antivirus every friday night and have it set to scan everything that comes into my computers...I clean the inside once a month removing any left over bistros...err dust bunnies.....as I am a neat freak I am always cleaning something around my machine...keyboard/ mouse, flat panel display or firewire drive.....gots ta be clean if its gonna be near me....

[Sarrkazztic]

Shy did not get GreenGoose1 and I anywhere when we started here...and for those who want to know...Delta stands for

Dedicated to
Excellence and
Long
Term
Acheivement

[greengoose1]

Nice to see you Sarkazztic. Rumor had it you were stuck to a Cholla somewhere between Phoenix and the desert.

Have not tried Acronis. Can you expand on it a bit for us less knowledgable types if you would.