Backup System Installation - Host

This option will provide your system with a complete data backup and restore system.  We will install a Western Digital Passport external USB hard drive as the backup device, and Genie-Soft Backup Manager (or your choice of software) as the backup software.  (We have tested EMC Retrospect, Norton Ghost, and Acronis products.  Because of issues with starting with Acronis 2009, we do not currently recommend Acronis software.)

We generally use what is known as the "differential" backup.  When you run your backup for the first time, all of your system's data is copied to the backup device; this first backup will generally take between 1-3 hours.  Subsequent backups copy only your new and changed files since the first full backup, and generally take only a few minutes to complete.  The "differential" backup is ideal when your goal is to protect your system in the event of a hard disk failure.  You may also restore individual files and folders with this option.  If your backup goals are different, we can configure your software to accomplish this for you as well, and you may choose to have several different automated backups.

If you have a Read/Write CD drive, we also build a bootable "Disaster Recovery CD" for you.  Should your hard drive fail, this CD simplifies the process of reloading your operating system and data onto your new, blank hard disk.  This CD is optional, of course, and in no way inhibits rebuilding your system from your backup drive should you experience a disk failure.

We will provide any future assistance you need for backup and restore.  You should bear in mind that hard disk drives, while rugged and reliable, statistically fail within 3-5 years of use.  Using a proven backup system is one way to avoid finding yourself in the horrible position that an unsaved system data failure will place you.  If it's happened to you before, then you know precisely what I'm talking about.  A proper backup will move this experience from "hopeless" to (let's just say), "interesting and exciting."

Plan on 2-3 hours for this.