Hard Drive Failure

[Chalenge]

I have no idea what the best is. I still use Windows Home Server, which you cannot find anymore. I have a system here that I was going to use to review Amahi Home Server, but time is an issue at the moment. Probably I'm headed into full blown server territory soon.

[715]

I use Acronis Home Backup  11.0 (can't remember the exact name).  Works very well to back up the entire drive or just certain directories.  The only part I don't like is one that is not wise to backup to a drive that is always connected to the PC since if the PC gets infected with a virus or trojan the backup might as well.  So you have to manually remember to attach the external drive and run the backup.  You can schedule automatic backups in Acronis but if the external drive isn't connected it just fails (i.e. it doesn't pop up a message telling you to connect the drive to continue).

[Randy1]

I just use the W7 backup.  It works fine for me since I don't use any special partitions.

[cattb]

I have been using comodo backup. It is free. I use for just a few folders. It is easy to use. For partitions I use paragon.

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/backup/tp/free-backup-software.htm

http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-hard-drive-backup-program.htm

couple web pages of free back up software

[save]

18TB is alot of data. if you compress it hard, how much would you win ?

[Skuzzy]

18TB is alot of data. if you compress it hard, how much would you win ?

I wish I could, but it is all raw video cuts needed to assemble the final footage.  Wait until 4K video is the standard.  Then that becomes about 65TB for the same amount of time.

Once the final is assembled, then I compress the raw down and archive it off on two copies.  One copy is DVD based, the other copy is Bluray based.

[Chalenge]

Yeah, if you find a UHD video burner then please share.

[Skuzzy]

Yeah, if you find a UHD video burner then please share.

I am adopting a 'wait and see' attitude towards UHD.  Most of the broadcasters are complaining they just spent millions updating (out of their own pocket) to be able to handle HD and are not in a hurry to move to UHD.

Streaming services are looking how to compress UHD down to less than 2Mb/s, which is going to make it look like crap.

There needs to be a paradigm shift in how content can be delivered or UHD may fade into the sunset. like 3D has.

I am waiting on this one.  HD was a no-brainer, but UHD,...not so sure about that one.

[Chalenge]

I understand, having survived the Betamax/VHS era, but I'm talking about storage rather than media playback. I'm pretty much in the same boat you are with Bluray/DVD archiving, but at this point once that's accomplished (and since I don't have clients) I just clear the disk space. In the future my kids may wish I hadn't had to do that.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

I am adopting a 'wait and see' attitude towards UHD.  Most of the broadcasters are complaining they just spent millions updating (out of their own pocket) to be able to handle HD and are not in a hurry to move to UHD.

Streaming services are looking how to compress UHD down to less than 2Mb/s, which is going to make it look like crap.

There needs to be a paradigm shift in how content can be delivered or UHD may fade into the sunset. like 3D has.

I am waiting on this one.  HD was a no-brainer, but UHD,...not so sure about that one.

Are you working two jobs or do you just like home movies a lot?

[Skuzzy]

I understand, having survived the Betamax/VHS era, but I'm talking about storage rather than media playback. I'm pretty much in the same boat you are with Bluray/DVD archiving, but at this point once that's accomplished (and since I don't have clients) I just clear the disk space. In the future my kids may wish I hadn't had to do that.

I do the same, right now.  Finish a project, archive it off, then clear the hard drives.  I have over 800 archive disks in storage.  At the moment they are in a temperature/humidity controlled cabinet lined to block any UV/IR radiation.

I have them tagged so I can make fresh copies once every two years and throw away the old ones.

[RotBaron]

Don't forget system board (motherboard) capacitor failure causing the need basically for a new computer   

Cheap SBs made in China to the lowest bidder. That is why I need a new computer. To upgrade the SB, find a new OS copy, buy a new HD (old one surely to go next) I was more than half way $ into a new computer...

I guess 4.5 yrs was a decent shelf life, although I still have win/95 era machines that will boot right up.

Interesting note, although my comp was purchased 7/2010, the AMD chip was made in 2008. Hmmm, HP marketing cheap to Costco or is that industry standard?

[Bizman]

Interesting note, although my comp was purchased 7/2010, the AMD chip was made in 2008. Hmmm, HP marketing cheap to Costco or is that industry standard?

Yet another reason to build by oneself instead of getting some brand PC.

[Skuzzy]

For years, HP shipped new computers with video chips which were over six years old.  It is the nature of the commodity OEM computer system.

[Chalenge]

It could also be that what you are reading is the copyright for the die, which holds even after improvements, dual bonding, and so on.