johnny won

PSA: Backups

Jayson lost his iTunes Library Database file and I dug through some tips. Instead of writing anything new about what we all know, some tips from jwz.org:

Dear Lazyweb, and also a certain you-know-who-you-are who should certainly know better by now,
I am here to tell you about backups. It’s very simple.

• You have a computer. It came with a hard drive in it. Go buy two more drives of the same size or larger. If the drive in your computer is SATA2, get SATA2. If it’s a 2.5” laptop drive, get two of those. Brand doesn’t matter, but physical measurements and connectors should match.
• Get external enclosures for both of them. The enclosures are under $30
• Put one of these drives in its enclosure on your desk. Name it something clever like “Backup”
• If you have a desktop computer, have this happen every morning at 5AM
• When (WHEN) your backup drive goes bad, which you will notice because your last backup failed, replace it immediately. This is your number one priority. Don’t wait until the weekend when you have time, do it now, before you so much as touch your computer again. Do it before goddamned breakfast. The universe tends toward maximum irony. Don’t push it.
• That third drive? Do a backup onto it the same way, then take that to your office and lock it in a desk. Every few months, bring it home, do a backup, and immediately take it away again. This is your “my house burned down” backup.

“OMG, three drives is so expensive! That sounds like a hassle!” Shut up. I know things. You will listen to me. Do it anyway.

Apologies for the abbreviation, read the entire thing on LiveJournal. This is the best thing I’ve read on backups. 

Simple rule for dealing with your computer: Always assume that your hard drive WILL die/get lost. Another rule for buying hard drives: Always buy one for your things and buy another to backup your things.