[windows_chepstow]

Hey,

If you store your customer data-base on your computer, there's always a risk your computer could die and you've lost all that information.  So backing up that information is obviously important.

I keep a large spreadsheet with names, addresses, telephone numbers, dates of cleans, who owes me money, whose paid in advance, who pays by direct debit, cheque or any quirks; everything I need to know.

What I've been doing is printing this information in 'hard copy format', every couple of days, just in case my computer crashes.

It would be a pain re-inputting all that information onto a new computer.

Anyway, I've found this brilliant FREE website which allows you to store any information you want upto 100mb, on the sites storage system (as if it's just another hard drive), which is ample for my spreadsheet, since that amounts to 181 Kb (I don't understand this file size type stuff mind).

The software is easy to use, you just 'drag and drop' the files you want saved

I may store music there too.

The site can be found on the link below:

www.computeractive.co.uk/2156611

You have to download some software, then register and then 'drag and drop' what you want saved.

It takes about 10 minutes in all; and seconds to download your spreadsheet.

I believe 'George' offers a similar service, but charges for that (fair enough too), but this is totally free and very good.

I hope this helps some fellow geeks.

Tosh.

[windows_chepstow]

Boring huh!

Just wait till your computer dies!

Don't say I didn't warn you!

[pjulk]

I use george and backit up everytime i use it.
I back it up to the internet and also a seperate hard drive

Paul

[Sir Squeaky]

Alternately don't put it on your computer.
I never have.

Just know my round off by heart after this long.

[Trevor Knight]

Alternately don't put it on your computer.
I never have.

Just know my round off by heart after this long.

I used to know my round off by heart, then I look after more than 10 customers now and can't remember them  joking 

Seriously though, back up to an external drive, they are cheap as chips and should the inevitable happen, its alot easier that re-typing all that data. I have a 50GB external hard drive that cost me £59.99 from PC WORLD. Works a treat.

[windows_chepstow]

Why not just e-mail yourself a copy. then it will always be availiable.

Not a bad idea, but this could take time, if it's a large document; I think.

Trevor Knight said:

Seriously though, back up to an external drive, they are cheap as chips and should the inevitable happen, its alot easier that re-typing all that data. I have a 50GB external hard drive that cost me £59.99 from PC WORLD. Works a treat.

This would work, but I've read that for the purposes of back ups, you've got to disconnect the external hard drives when you're not backing up, to reduce the risk of viral infections.

Squeaks said:

Alternately don't put it on your computer.
I never have.

Just know my round off by heart after this long.

This would work for a small, simple round with no collecting and there's many parts of my round I know by heart and know my customers names and stuff.

But I've customers comming out my ears, some who owe money, some who pay months in advance; lots of new ones too.  I need a data base.

[Sir Squeaky]

Squeaks said:

Alternately don't put it on your computer.
I never have.

Just know my round off by heart after this long.

This would work for a small, simple round with no collecting and there's many parts of my round I know by heart and know my customers names and stuff.

But I've customers comming out my ears, some who owe money, some who pay months in advance; lots of new ones too.  I need a data base.

I suppose so.
So glad I don't have to do all that.

[Trevor Knight]

This would work, but I've read that for the purposes of back ups, you've got to disconnect the external hard drives when you're not backing up, to reduce the risk of viral infections.

Tosh, I am not sure where you heard that from? All I can say is at the end of my working day I just back up to the drive, takes about 2 minutes and job done, disconnect, close down, homeward bound.

Next day, work as usual and repeat every evening, never had a problem yet mate?

[windows_chepstow]

This would work, but I've read that for the purposes of back ups, you've got to disconnect the external hard drives when you're not backing up, to reduce the risk of viral infections.

Tosh, I am not sure where you heard that from? All I can say is at the end of my working day I just back up to the drive, takes about 2 minutes and job done, disconnect, close down, homeward bound.

Next day, work as usual and repeat every evening, never had a problem yet mate?

Trev,

Quote taken from Computer Active Magazine, Issue 227:

Don't forget to unplug the USB hard disk when not in use for backups to avoid any accidents or damage caused by viruses.

It's this article that got me thinking about my own customer data base.

However, as a sheer ruddy coincidence, my 30 GB external hard drive has went 'tits up' today and I've lost all my music files, since I stored them straight to the external hard drive.

I'm fuming.

Honest, it started making squeeking noises; then just stopped working and there's no 'F Drive' icon now.  I've tried the usual (shaking, knocking and banging) but no joy.

[Sunshine Cleaning]

Your files will still be there, is the problem on the computer rather than external drive?

Can you re-install the external drive?

[windows_chepstow]

Your files will still be there, is the problem on the computer rather than external drive?

Can you re-install the external drive?

I didn't have to install the external drive.  It was just a plug 'n' play thing.

I don't think the problem is with my computer, since it's reading the MP3 player and the squeaking noise has stopped when the external hard drive stopped working.

I'm 99% sure it's the external hard drive and not the computer.

[windows_chepstow]

take it to a computer shop, they may be able to retrieve the files.

I didn't mention my stash of porn on there did I?  I don't think I want my local computer shop knowing about my fetish for whips, chains and feet, do I know!

I think I'll get get a new external hard drive.

[Paul Coleman]

Hey,

If you store your customer data-base on your computer, there's always a risk your computer could die and you've lost all that information.  So backing up that information is obviously important.

I keep a large spreadsheet with names, addresses, telephone numbers, dates of cleans, who owes me money, whose paid in advance, who pays by direct debit, cheque or any quirks; everything I need to know.

What I've been doing is printing this information in 'hard copy format', every couple of days, just in case my computer crashes.

It would be a pain re-inputting all that information onto a new computer.

Anyway, I've found this brilliant FREE website which allows you to store any information you want upto 100mb, on the sites storage system (as if it's just another hard drive), which is ample for my spreadsheet, since that amounts to 181 Kb (I don't understand this file size type stuff mind).

The software is easy to use, you just 'drag and drop' the files you want saved

I may store music there too.

The site can be found on the link below:

www.computeractive.co.uk/2156611

You have to download some software, then register and then 'drag and drop' what you want saved.

It takes about 10 minutes in all; and seconds to download your spreadsheet.

I believe 'George' offers a similar service, but charges for that (fair enough too), but this is totally free and very good.

I hope this helps some fellow geeks.

Tosh.

I keep the whole lot on two files.  A spreadsheet and a database.  The spreadseet is a list of work done and the totals.  The database is a customer list with prices, date next due, payments outstanding etc.
My backup service isn't free but I pay $2.99  (about £2) a month to filegenie ( www.filegenie.com  ) .  I get 50mb for that.
The trouble with free services is that they can be prone to disappearing - with your files.

[geefree]

Whats wrong with a simple back up cd once a week. thats all i do. apart from backing it up to the internet of course... but a simple click, store away cd and its done.

[Jake]

You could also use the free spreadsheet in googlemail, it's web based, so cannot be lost

[JohnL]

you can also try 'furl'

[Paul Coleman]

Whats wrong with a simple back up cd once a week. thats all i do. apart from backing it up to the internet of course... but a simple click, store away cd and its done.

Nothing wrong with backing up on a CD so long as it's not the only backup.  It'sa a good idea IMO to back up to somewhere away from the PC in case of fire, burglary etc.