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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
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    Knoxville, TN
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    2,560

    Default Takes so long sometimes

    Heading to court tomorrow. Did the inspection in 2007 for a woman suing the builder. The builder's atty got disbarred a few days after he deposed me a little over a year ago.

    What's interesting is 2007 is the year I lost everything on my computer, and back up hard drive. For whatever reason, I had transferred the report and photos to my spare laptop.

    I had backed up stuff to c/d's but when I went to retrieve them, they wouldn't read. I lost everything from 2007. That's when I signed on with Carbonite. So I back up to c/d's (and check that they will read, an external hard drive, and carbonite.

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  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Charlotte NC Licensed in NC and SC
    Posts
    597

    Default Re: Takes so long sometimes

    I quit using CDs, memory sticks are the way to go. I keep a mem stick plugged in all the time and copy my report to it as I write it. Every time an important doc is modified I copy it to the stick right away. Then every month or so I copy everything to another hard drive, other PC's and other memory sticks that stay in a fire safe. I don't backup pictures as much as everything else though.

    Bruce King, B.A. King Home Inspections, LLC
    www.BAKingHomeInspections.com
    Certified Master Inspector, Independent Inspectorwww.IndependentInspectors.org

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Knoxville, TN
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    2,560

    Default Re: Takes so long sometimes

    memory sticks are really meant as a easy way to transfer stuff, and not designed to store information long term. I have seen, first hand, way too many memory stick failures to want to rely on them for any long term use.

    When my backup hard drive failed (only a couple of years old) and I took it to a place to try to retrieve the files, I was surprised to learn how common hard drive failures are. Thats when I decided to also back up "in the clouds".


  4. #4
    Ted Menelly's Avatar
    Ted Menelly Guest

    Default Re: Takes so long sometimes

    Quote Originally Posted by Jack Feldmann View Post
    memory sticks are really meant as a easy way to transfer stuff, and not designed to store information long term. I have seen, first hand, way too many memory stick failures to want to rely on them for any long term use.

    When my backup hard drive failed (only a couple of years old) and I took it to a place to try to retrieve the files, I was surprised to learn how common hard drive failures are. Thats when I decided to also back up "in the clouds".
    I just lost a lap top to a severe crash and burn. Absolutely nothing was salvageable. I guess I did not learn back at the end of 2007 that I should back up immediately I did not lose much as it automatically backs up to Norton 360 for my pics and files such as word and pdf files. I did lose the couple of inspection from that day that I just did. As a matter of fact it crashed just while I was doing the second report later that evening. I was able to get the report back from the first couple and for the strangest reason which I do not know the second reports pictures did not automatically delete after down loading to the computer so I saved them.

    That will be 2 laptops in a 3 year time span. The last one showed no signs at all. It locked up as I was adding a picture to my report and did a slow burn while trying to recover it and then finally died altogether and never came back to life.


  5. #5

    Default Re: Takes so long sometimes

    I use a RAID setup in my desktop computer, two drives which automatically mirror each other. I also backup to an external drive which is kept in my detached garage.

    I sleep well at night.

    Rick Strand, CPI, CAHPI Associate - Strand Home Inspections Inc.
    Home Inspection Calgary Calgary, Airdrie
    Calgary Home Inspectors Okotoks, Cochrane, Chestermere

  6. #6
    mike huntzinger's Avatar
    mike huntzinger Guest

    Default Re: Takes so long sometimes

    I use reporthost.com, this way everything i do is on the web and they will give me a report on a cd at the end of the year


  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
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    Knoxville, TN
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    2,560

    Default Re: Takes so long sometimes

    Rick,
    I'm not familiar with RAID. Is that still two physical hard drives?
    I guess my learning point in this experience was to not trust physical hard drives, since they can go out.

    In my case I had my old laptop. I backed everything up on c/d's and also on the external hard drive. I then got rid of that laptop.

    Lesson #1. Check c/ds when you burn them to make sure they actually have the stuff on them that you think is there. I didn't do that.
    Lesson #2. Back up hard drive died. My mistake was thinking they actually would last many years without a problem.

    Lesson #3 and thankfully it didn't happen to me. A friend of mine that lives 1/2 mile from me had his house struck by lightning. It not only fried every single thing that plugged into an outlet, but caught part of his house on fire.

    I lost a lot more than my inspection reports on that back up hard drive.


  8. #8

    Default Re: Takes so long sometimes

    RAID stands for Redundant Array of Independent Disks, there are many different configurations but RAID 1 is two seperate hard disks which the RAID controller maintains as exact copies of one another. No user intervention is required, it is done automatically. If one drive fails just shut off the computer and swap it out, the RAID controller will restore the mirroring automatically. Most newer motherboards have a RAID controller built-in, more info can be found on Wikipedia.

    Make sure to still back up and store it "off-site" in case of fire or theft of your whole computer. The on-line storage (or cloud) system is good too, I just prefer to keep my data close by.

    A second benefit of RAID 1 is that WHEN a hard drive fails, you still have a usable system and do not have to re-install all of your software, programs, settings etc.

    Rick Strand, CPI, CAHPI Associate - Strand Home Inspections Inc.
    Home Inspection Calgary Calgary, Airdrie
    Calgary Home Inspectors Okotoks, Cochrane, Chestermere

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Knoxville, TN
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    2,560

    Default Re: Takes so long sometimes

    Thanks Rick. I'll look into that. Just shows how much I DON"T know. :-)


  10. #10
    Gregg Stanley's Avatar
    Gregg Stanley Guest

    Default Re: Takes so long sometimes

    I use Report Host and Carbonite as well; Report Host keeps everything off of my hard drive, and my clients can read their reports anytime in the future just by clicking a link.

    Carbonite is awesome as well because it backs up EVERYTHING, and you don't have to do anything, its automatic. When I needed to recover some files that I lost, I just logged into their site and "voila" there they were. (And I can also access it from my mobile phone or wireless laptop anywhere.

    Gregg


  11. #11
    Rod Smith's Avatar
    Rod Smith Guest

    Default Re: Takes so long sometimes

    A question RE: the Carbonite service (I know...I should just go to their website, but thought I would hear some first-hand info!) - When you need your data restored, is it all done over the net, or do you need to send/receive your media on another memory device (such as portable Hard drive, etc.)? Seems like a large number of files could take a LONG time to download! Just wondering.....!


  12. #12
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Knoxville, TN
    Posts
    2,560

    Default Re: Takes so long sometimes

    It did take a long time to upload all my stuff to Carbonite - a very long time.
    I did try to get a file back once to see how the process worked, and it was pretty fast. I'm guessing that if I had to replace my entire file, it would take quite a while.


  13. #13
    Tom Camp's Avatar
    Tom Camp Guest

    Default Re: Takes so long sometimes

    I back up to two hard drives and burn to DVD's and have files on two different computers, best to over do it.
    Hope your court date went well!


  14. #14
    Rod Smith's Avatar
    Rod Smith Guest

    Default Re: Takes so long sometimes

    Thanks for the quick reply, Jack! I kinda thought that may be the case......but it still is better than losing everything with no possibility of recovery!


  15. #15
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Knoxville, TN
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    2,560

    Default Re: Takes so long sometimes

    Court update....
    Yesterday sat for 3 hours
    Today sat for 4 hours,
    Set for 9am tomorrow morning, and hopefully I will get on the stand right away.


  16. #16
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Maryland
    Posts
    1,096

    Default Re: Takes so long sometimes

    I keep reports on a external drive as well as my laptop. Another backup I have is I email reports. Not only to the client but I email a copy to another hotmail account I have. Even if everything burns down, the emails can be accessed and the reports are there.


  17. #17
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Anacortes, Washington
    Posts
    415

    Default Re: Takes so long sometimes

    I have two NAS (Network Attached Storage) on my wireless network router. One is a 1TB and the other is 500GB. I keep all my business files on the 1TB and then every night it backs up to the 500GB. They are Buffalo drives and they were roughly $125 a piece when I purchase them in the last two years. Once a quarter I back everything up to a WD 1TB USB drive that lives in a fireproof lock box.

    I have learned that depending on a single mechanical device is risky and with Murphy's law unless you are always checking the disks you are burning on an independent machine you run the risk of being caught with no backup data at all! Try explaining that to a judge or worse an IRS auditor.............

    //Rick

    Rick Bunzel
    WWW.PacCrestInspections.com
    360-588-6956

  18. #18
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Washington State
    Posts
    376

    Default Re: Takes so long sometimes

    Personally, I print a hard copy for myself and I email copies of all reports and photos to clients thru Hotmail or Gmail - everything is there for them - and you, wherever you are. Gmail is great for photos, the descriptions stay next to the photo being viewed, as opposed to Hotmail's "Silverlight" which is more like a slide show presentation without the descriptions.


  19. #19
    Gregg Stanley's Avatar
    Gregg Stanley Guest

    Default Re: Takes so long sometimes

    Rod,

    The initial back-up of the hard drive can usually take about a day, but when you are done, its a mirror image of your hard drive. Afterwords, you can retrieve a file online in less than 30 seconds.

    Send me your email address and I will send you some info from them directly.

    Gregg


  20. #20
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Healdsburg, CA
    Posts
    1,741

    Default Re: Takes so long sometimes

    Been using Carbonite and so far no problems. Also, use external HDs. When Office Depot has a sale I restock and now have about 6 250 to 500 GB external HDs. I have a huge photo collection and they take up mucho roomo.

    Jerry McCarthy
    Building Code/ Construction Consultant

  21. #21
    Tom Camp's Avatar
    Tom Camp Guest

    Default Re: Takes so long sometimes

    Redundant back up's, it is a good thing because you never know when you might need them.


  22. #22
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Georgetown, KY
    Posts
    538

    Default Re: Takes so long sometimes

    Those of you contemplating using Carbonite should get a referral link from one of the guys who are already using it.

    That will get the guy already using it a month or so free usage.

    Take advantage of it.


    -

    Erby Crofutt, Georgetown, KY - Read my Blog here: Erby the Central Kentucky Home Inspector B4 U Close Home Inspections www.b4uclose.com www.kentuckyradon.com
    Find on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/B4UCloseInspections

  23. #23

    Default Re: Takes so long sometimes

    Quote Originally Posted by Jack Feldmann View Post
    It did take a long time to upload all my stuff to Carbonite - a very long time.
    I did try to get a file back once to see how the process worked, and it was pretty fast. I'm guessing that if I had to replace my entire file, it would take quite a while.
    That is a normal situation for Carbonite. It is set up to run backups of the SELECTED files in the background so it doesn/t impact computer performance.
    Additionally, you upload speed is always slower than the download in 99% of situations. On my 4G setup I get 2-5 MB/s down and about 1MB up pretty standardly. It is setup this way because most all computer users are consumers of information, not producers.

    Local backups are good insurance for a quickie file grab. Carbonite or any other online service is the most secure.

    A note about backups: Look at which backup software you are using. Some store all the data in one big proprietary file and it's all or nothing for the restore. Others mirror the file structure and you can pull one single file or part of a file if you need it. Of course, these take more room for storage but hard drives are way cheap now. I've seen 2 terabyte external drives for $100 - $150. A terabyte is 1000 GB. You will have a hard time filling that puppy up.

    True Professionals, Inc. Property Consultant
    877-466-8504

  24. #24
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Healdsburg, CA
    Posts
    1,741

    Default Re: Takes so long sometimes

    Jack, I spend half my life in court or depositions and I have found Amazon’s "Kindle" to be the best investment I ever made. Load any doc. or book you want and entertain yourself while waiting to testify. Yes, “Carbonite,” plus I use external hard drives that sit in my bank's safety deposit box until I exchange or add additional ones. It is only when you’re well prepared for a disaster they never seem happen.

    Jerry McCarthy
    Building Code/ Construction Consultant

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