Basic user - need backup entire h.d. or just important files?

This probably seems elemental, but I'm wondering whether as a basic user (I write, download some things from iTunes, etc.) I should be backing up my entire system or just keeping copies of my important files in several places (external media, online storage, etc.).
My instinct tells me that backing up the entire hard drive is overkill in my case. But perhaps I'm failing to visualize a possible disaster situation down the road...
Please shed some light. Thanks.

For a basic user, you need only backup the Home Folder as this contains all of that users documents, preferences, and settings and such. The rest of the volume is more easy to recreate in a complete failure -- the OS and apps can be reinstalled and then the Home folders restored from backup, which IMHO a lot more resource and time-efficient than backing up all of your apps and OS binaries repeatedly.
Also, I like to take periodic full backups (about once a month) and then take differential backups in between the full backups. Differential backups only takes copies of files that have changed since the last full backup. That way I can trash all the previous differential backups after a new full backup to save storage space.
Like this (for illustration purposes only):
Full backup 1, differential 1.1, differential 1.2, differential 1.3, Full backup 2, differential 2.1, differential 2.2...
After full backup 2 happens, I can optionally delete any of the 1.x differential backups since those changes are rolled into the new full backup. Old full backups can be kept or burned on to CD/DVD if you wish to be prudent.
Hope this helps,
Liz

Similar Messages

Help visual basic users need help with compiling a .dll!!

I just need someone to compile this .dll for me please since i dont have a visual basic. Thanks in advance!
link: http://shrib.com/1Lso3eMG
It's an online notepad I used to compile a little script for something. Please and thank you!

Hi,
Perhaps you can use this:
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vstudio/hh388573
As this question is not reporting an issue with the forums, I'll move this thread to the 'Where is the Forum For...?' forum.
Don't retire TechNet! -
(Don't give up yet - 13,085+ strong and growing)

Backup entire startup disk on a dmg file

Hi, I have two very simple questions. I'm going to make a full backup of my Mac OS X system disc: I would like to clone it in a .dmg image that I will store in an external USB drive. I don't care if the image will be bootable or not. I just wanna be able to restore my system disc from it in case of future crashes or bad errors. So my questions are:
- Do I need to follow a particular procedure while creating the image of my full system disc?
- Will it be possible to restore the disc from that image in case of future problems?

Using disc images to backup a startup volume is not a good idea. Just clone the startup volume directly to the external drive:
How to Clone Using Restore Option of Disk Utility
1. Open Disk Utility from the Utilities folder.
2. Select the destination volume from the left side list.
3. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (journaled, if available) and click on the Erase button. This step can be skipped if the destination has already been freshly erased.
4. Click on the Restore tab in the DU main window.
5. Select the destination volume from the left side list and drag it to the Destination entry field.
6. Select the source volume from the left side list and drag it to the Source entry field.
7. Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.
Destination means the external backup drive.
Source means the startup volume/drive.

Does migration asst copy entire directory? or just relevant files?

hello all.
I'm about to reinstall tiger to a clean drive. I'm wondering that if I use the migration assistant, if it will actually copy over the entire disk? including irrelevant files [orphaned prefs or temporary caches for example], or if it's a cleaner process which only brings the relevant data.
I guess I'm trying to figure out if it makes more sense just to reinstall everything , the apps, recreate the user folders and bring the library items etc over manually.
also when it brings everything over, does it just copy the directory? or does it do any optimization +/ defragmenting as it passes over?
thanks very much everyone.
s
G5 Mac OS X (10.4.3)

I'm wondering that if I use the migration assistant, if it will actually copy over the entire disk? including irrelevant files [orphaned prefs or temporary caches for example], or if it's a cleaner process which only brings the relevant data.The migration assistant has absolutely no way of knowing about "orphaned prefs" so those will be copied. Temporary caches are not copied.also when it brings everything over, does it just copy the directory? or does it do any optimization +/ defragmenting as it passes over?The copy is not bit wise, so defragmentation does occur as the files are written to the destination hard drive.

Phone needs restoring, but how do I transfer important files before?

iTunes cannot recognize my phone and says that it needs to be restored. The problem is that I have important iTalk recordings on my phone that will be erased if I restore it (I think). The files are too big to be emailed/dropboxed to my computer. Is there any way I can get them on my computer if my phone does not show up on iTunes??

Sorry for the confusion!
When I plug it in, it usually says Jennifer's iPhone and all of my data (apps/music/contents of the phone show up). When I plug it in now, it says Jennifer's iPhone for a few seconds, then a message pops up that iTunes cannot recognize the phone, and the phone becomes "iPhone" instead of "Jennifer's iPhone." The only "iPhone" options are restore, and summary screen. No other tabs are available to peruse.
I am trying to sync with the computer that I ususally sync with. Itunes understands that there is a phone plugged in, but my phone cannot communicate with itunes......

Need to find a way to convert mts files to aFinal Cut compatible format --

I hired someone to shoot something for me recently and he used AVCHD. However, he only copied the mts files and did not save the entire folder structure, which unfortunately is what Final Cut requires (at least that's my understanding of it). Basically I need to find a way to convert mts files into a Final Cut compatible file format.
Any ideas out there? Thanks in advance.

Forum search is your friend. The usual answer you'll find is ClipWrap, transcodes .mts to whatever flavor of ProRes you want.

HT4137 I need to format my computer, how do I backup entire itunes

I need to format my pc, how can U backup entire itunes.
Thanks

Backup the library with this User Tip.
Deauthorize the computer.
Format & rebuild your computer.
Restore the backup using the same tool used to back it up.
Install iTunes.
Keep your backup up-to-date in future.
tt2

Newbie mc user, needs basic .wmv and DivX file advice

Hi,
first post here, new mac user of only 1 month standing! Sorry to display such ignorance...
er... what software do I need to play .wmv (I presume that will need some form of conversion) and DivX media files on my mac??
sorry if this is totally basic stuff, but any help would be most gratefully received!

A company called Flip4mac makes a free WMV component for Quicktime. (Which means that after you install it, Quicktime can play WMV files.)
Divx has a similar component for Quicktime, which is also free.
A great source for finding this kind of thing is http://www.versiontracker.com/
A quick search there for divx and wmv will take you right to the programs you need.

Is this software for 'basic' users?

Hi,
I have been looking to purchase the Lightroom software, mainly because my friends have advised me to.
I am a painter and decorator in Stoke-on-Trent, so I aren't the most computer savviest of people. I am entirely comfortable with most software packages, Photoshop being an example.
Is there any experienced users out there which could advise me on this, the software looks really good and I'm on the edge of purchasing it!
Cheers.
[ link removed by moderator ]

Stoke Painter wrote:
I aren't the most computer savviest of people. I am entirely comfortable with most software packages..
I'm getting mixed messages here .
I don't have a lot to add to what Paige & John have already said, except:
What I like about Lightroom over Bridge/Photoshop is:
* Develop edit history (and photo comparison features..).
* Publish services.
* Plugins, which have completely automated my workflow.
* It looks cool, and the neutral gray means the only color comes from your photos.
(among other things).
But I know people who:
* Dont use develop edit history much.
* Dont use publish services at all.
* Avoid plugins like the plague .
* Dont particularly care for the gray interface (or think it's ugly).
(among other things)
Some of those people have *other* things in Lightroom they find compelling, and some are (or would be) better off sticking with Bridge/Photoshop.
So, you really need to download it and try it and explore to see whether you would make use of any of it's unique features or not...
I mean (for example), Bridge/Photoshop doesn't have a map module - if you want that, you need to use Lightroom, but if you dont care about "mapping", map-module is a "dont care"...........
But to answer the question posed in the thread title: No - Lightroom is not for 'basic' users (in my opinion). It takes a fair amount of learning to be proficient, and is aimed more at supporting fast editing of (and automated exporting of) large bunches of photos, after you have the experience to do so, than it is at being easy to learn. I'm sure some people disagree...... (and on the other hand, it's way easier to learn than Photoshop - again: that's just my opinion).
Cheers,
Rob

User-managed backups of a 10g DB using ASM

Is it possible to do user-managed backups of a 10g database which is using ASM?
When I run the following SQL command
SELECT NAME FROM v$datafile;
It returns
+DBDATA/db_test/datafile/system.256.617633575
+DBDATA/db_test/datafile/users.259.617633757
The ASM is setup in 'normal redundency' across 2 partitions, both of which are not formatted.
If there is anyone who has done user-mangaged backups on a 10g DB using ASM who could provide an insight I would be greatful.
Basically what I would like to know is how do I access the datafiles, so I can back them up to a location of my choosing?

I think it's a good product, we use it for many years now. A big advantage is Backtrack automates not only backups (that do all products), it also provides automatic restore/recovery in many cases (not in all!). That means the product detects what is wrong with the database and automatically performs all necessary steps to bring back the database to working. In case of trouble that's good for operators by night and also good for the DBA, who does not need to come.
Disadvantage (may be true for all 3rd party products) Backtrack is always behind Oracle's newest technology, so it took some time to support ASM and it's still not a full support.
There's no problem with online backups, Backtrack uses the traditional way (ALTER TABLESPACE BEGIN BACKUP .... END BACKUP), they don't use RMAN technology in the background.
We use both in our company, Backtrack and RMAN. Besides the technical point of view, there's also a license issue. Backtrack's license fee is due to amount of data, the larger your databases the larger the fee.
Werner

HT201403 It would be very helpful for Apple to re-instate the view as icon option for a pdf file in an email on the right click menu? As far as I can see no easy way for a basic user to get this back?

Would be great for Apple to reinstate the pdf as icon in mail - but using the right click menu. It seems to have gone - and as a basic user there seems to be no simple solution - I used the rich/plain text swap but it didn't work...
Apple - we need you to solve!

http://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html
It's highly doubtful that Apple will change this in Mac OS X 10.7 since that OS version has now been discontinued for quite some time. Whether they will change that in OS X 10.9 or a future version I can't say.
If this is a serious issue for you, you can look into Attachement Tamer:
http://lokiware.info/Attachment-Tamer
It's not free, but it addresses much more than the issue of PDFs appearing as images, not icons, so it might be worth the price.
Regards.

ITune sync is not well designed on PC for basic users

Hi,
I don't have a iPhone, I'm the guy people call when they have computer problems.
One of this person have lost all is iPhone contacts and agenda. He tried to sync with Outlook but did it the wrong way, replacing empty Outlook contact and agenda on the iPhone. Before this error, the sync worked well, but the problem is the way sync is done you can't recover from this bad manipulation.
Apple, you should do it this way:
- When user connect the iPhone, a wizard appear and ask if you want to sync, backup or restore the phone. Basic users never use right buttons. Advanced user can disable the Wizard.
- When backup is chosen the wizard ask where to save the zip file. Default directory should be My Documents\iPhone and default name iPhonebackup_YYYYMMDDHHMMSS.zip. Application Data is not a good choice because it's never backup apps default selection and it's hidden.
- When restore is chosen, user pick the zip file, confirm everything will be erased, and go.
This way, people should have correct iPhone backup because the wizard help them to think about it.
Cheer,
Remi

You are NOT addressing Apple here. This is a user forum.
If you are compelled to tell Apple how to design their products you can leave feedback at:
http://www.apple.com/feedback

Sflock: simple X screen locker with basic user feedback

There are several applications out there that lock the X display. On the one side of the spectrum you have xscreensaver and xlockmore which provide screensavers and on the other side you have slock which provides nothing. sflock is an application that is built as an extension to slock, which provides very basic user feedback.
The need for me arrived because I wanted a screen locker that was trustworthy and that looks ok. Because I have no interest in screensavers and the xscreensaver unlock screen is one of the most ugly things I have ever seen, I turned to slock. This works fine, but there is no real way to tell that the screen is locked. You just type a password on a black screen and if it's correct, the screen gets unlocked. fslock (at least the first version) shows a line on the screen and displays asterisks for every character entered.
The goal of the application is to be simple and small, but still look good. You can install sflock from the AUR under the name sflock-git or download it directly from github. Suggestions are of course welcome.

I've been trying to get this to use Xft for rendering the fonts, but this is essentially my first time doing anything in C. Sflock builds properly but segfaults when I try to run it.
diff --git a/config.mk b/config.mk
index 3a42077..b6a72ed 100644
--- a/config.mk
+++ b/config.mk
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ X11INC = /usr/X11R6/include
X11LIB = /usr/X11R6/lib
# includes and libs
-INCS = -I. -I/usr/include -I${X11INC}
-LIBS = -L/usr/lib -lc -lcrypt -L${X11LIB} -lX11 -lXext
+INCS = -I. -I/usr/include -I${X11INC} -I/usr/include/freetype2
+LIBS = -L/usr/lib -lc -lcrypt -L${X11LIB} -lX11 -lXext -lXft
# flags
CPPFLAGS = -DVERSION=\"${VERSION}\" -DHAVE_SHADOW_H
diff --git a/sflock.c b/sflock.c
index 72b076b..3c51823 100644
--- a/sflock.c
+++ b/sflock.c
@@ -12,10 +12,12 @@
#include <string.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <sys/types.h>
+#include <fontconfig/fontconfig.h>
#include <X11/keysym.h>
#include <X11/Xlib.h>
#include <X11/Xutil.h>
#include <X11/extensions/dpms.h>
+#include <X11/Xft/Xft.h>
#if HAVE_BSD_AUTH
#include <login_cap.h>
@@ -79,7 +81,10 @@ main(int argc, char **argv) {
XColor black, red, dummy;
XEvent ev;
XSetWindowAttributes wa;
- XFontStruct* font;
+ XftFont *font;
+ XftColor *xftcolor;
+ XftDraw *xftdraw;
+ XGlyphInfo *extents;
GC gc;
XGCValues values;
@@ -145,14 +150,14 @@ main(int argc, char **argv) {
XDefineCursor(dpy, w, invisible);
XMapRaised(dpy, w);
- font = XLoadQueryFont(dpy, fontname);
+ font = XftFontOpenXlfd(dpy, screen, fontname);
+ XftColorAllocName(dpy, DefaultVisual(dpy, screen), DefaultColormap(dpy, screen), "white", xftcolor);
if (font == 0) {
die("error: could not find font. Try using a full description.\n");
gc = XCreateGC(dpy, w, (unsigned long)0, &values);
- XSetFont(dpy, gc, font->fid);
XSetForeground(dpy, gc, XWhitePixel(dpy, screen));
for(len = 1000; len; len--) {
@@ -187,7 +192,8 @@ main(int argc, char **argv) {
if (update) {
XClearWindow(dpy, w);
XDrawLine(dpy, w, gc, width * 3 / 8 , (height + baroffset) / 2, width * 5 / 8, (height + baroffset) / 2);
- XDrawString(dpy,w,gc, (width - XTextWidth(font, passdisp, len)) / 2, (height+42) / 2, passdisp, len);
+ XftTextExtentsUtf8(dpy, font, (XftChar8 *)passdisp, len, extents);
+ XftDrawStringUtf8(xftdraw, xftcolor, font, (width - extents->width) / 2, (height+42) / 2, (XftChar8 *)passdisp, len);
update = False;
@@ -251,7 +257,9 @@ main(int argc, char **argv) {
XUngrabPointer(dpy, CurrentTime);
XFreePixmap(dpy, pmap);
- XFreeFont(dpy, font);
+ XftFontClose(dpy, font);
+ XftColorFree(dpy, DefaultVisual(dpy, screen), DefaultColormap(dpy, screen), xftcolor);
+ XftDrawDestroy(xftdraw);
XFreeGC(dpy, gc);
XDestroyWindow(dpy, w);
XCloseDisplay(dpy);

User Exits in entire BW and R/3

Hi all
Can anyone please tell me in how many places we can write user exits in entire BW and R/3.
I know two places where we can write user exits
1. While enhancing the datasources in R/3
2. For variables while creating reports
Apart from these two, are there any other places where we can write user exits.
Thanks,
Sabrina.

hi NB,
seems nobody knows your email you didn't mention nor maintain it in your business card.
you can try to download pdf 'enhancements in sap bw' from sdn
https://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/servlet/prt/portal/prtroot/docs/library/uuid/59069d90-0201-0010-fd81-d5e11994d8b5
also check following
/people/sap.user72/blog/2005/02/14/logistic-cockpit--when-you-need-more--first-option-enhance-it
http://www.ko-india.com/content/weblogs/weblog_custom_fields_1.pdf
Enhancement
User exit
to get better response, create new thread instead of replying closed/solved one

How can IT departments set up basic users to run Captivate with Administrator privileges?

As we all know, on WinVista and Win7 or later systems Adobe Captivate must be launched with Run As Administrator privileges in order to function correctly and not crash. But the problem here is that in many corporate environments general users are not allowed to have Administrator access to their own work PCs. This presents something of a dilemma for IT departments with Adobe Captivate users.
Some time ago on this forum one of the Adobe technical staff chimed in on a thread about the Run As Administrator command and explained the technical steps required to set up a Group Policy in WinVista/Win7 that would allow a basic user to always launch Captivate with the necessary admin privileges even though they did NOT have Administrator access to any other app on their PC.
I have searched in vain to find that particular thread and post, so I've started this thread in the hope that someone at Adobe can again chime in to detail the necessary steps again.
So is there anyone there that can help out?

DOH! my bad.....I/we run WinXP at present and no UAC.
However, all may not be lost, try some of these options as posted on teh MS Technet forums....An admin person may need t do this first to enable this for that user...
Apologies for misundeerstand situation. ;-( hate it when that happens!
Try these two options:
Using Compatibility Mode
NOTE: This will allow you to always have the program run as an administrator when you open it.
1. Right click on the program shortcut or program .exe file, then click on Properties, and on the Compatibility tab. (See screenshots below)
NOTE: If you are doing this while logged on as a standard user instead of an administrator, then you will need to also click on the Change settings for all users button and type in the administrator's password.
http://www.sevenforums.com/attachments/tutorials/12832d1243933304-run-administrator-compat ibility_mode1.jpghttp://www.sevenforums.com/attachments/tutorials/12832d1243933304-run-administrator-compat ibility_mode1.jpghttp://www.sevenforums.com/attachments/tutorials/12832d1243933304-run-administrator-compat ibility_mode1.jpgUAC, then click on Yes to apply permission to allow the program to run with full permission as an administrator.
2. To Always Run this Program as an Administrator
A) Check the Run this program as an administrator box, and click on OK. (See screenshots above)
3. To Not Always Run this Program as an Administrator
A) Uncheck the Run this program as an administrator box, and click on OK. (See screenshots below step 1)
4. Open the program.
5. If prompted by
NOTE: If you are doing this is while logged in as standard user instead of an administrator, then you will need to provide the administrator's password before the program will run as administrator.
Using Advanced Properties
NOTE: This will allow you to always have the program run as an administrator when you open it.
1. Right click on the shortcut of the program, then click on Properties.
2. Click on the Shortcut tab for a program shortcut, then cllick on the Advanced button. (See screenshot below)
http://www.sevenforums.com/attachments/tutorials/12834d1243933304-run-administrator-advanc ed_properties1a.jpghttp://www.sevenforums.com/attachments/tutorials/12834d1243933304-run-administrator-advanc ed_properties1a.jpghttp://www.sevenforums.com/attachments/tutorials/12834d1243933304-run-administrator-advanc ed_properties1a.jpghttp://www.sevenforums.com/attachments/tutorials/12836d1243933304-run-administrator-advanc ed_properties2.jpghttp://www.sevenforums.com/attachments/tutorials/12836d1243933304-run-administrator-advanc ed_properties2.jpghttp://www.sevenforums.com/attachments/tutorials/12836d1243933304-run-administrator-advanc ed_properties2.jpgUAC, then click on Yes to apply permission to allow the program to run with full permission as an Administrator.
3. To Always Run this Program as an Administrator
A) Check the Run as administrator box, and click on OK. (See screenshot below)
4. To Not Always Run this Program as an Administrator
A) Uncheck the Run as administrator box, and click on OK. (See screenshot above)
5. Click on OK. (See screenshot below step 2)
6. Open the program.
7. If prompted by
NOTE: If you are doing this is while logged in as standard user instead of an administrator, then you will need to provide the administrator's password before the program will run as administrator

Basic user - need backup entire h.d. or just important files?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for