So I borrowed Adam's DVD burner so I could burn a few things to DVD -- one of those things being a backup of my dev box so that I could reformat it.
So I got the DVD burner hooked up (to the Mac), started it on burning Windows Vista and MSDN July 2005... then reformatted the PC.
:: knocks head into desk :: I didn't transfer my backup folder to the Mac before doing my reformat.
So I lost my email, a bunch of desktop wallpapers, a few dozen RB projects (including the WFS 2.2, with some new features that 2.1 doesn't have), all my bookmarks and stuff like that. Nothing I can't overcome, since since the really important things are in version control . But still boneheadedly stupid of me to do.
So I think I'm going to put my 240 GB external HD to better use. Once Windows XP (and Vista) are installed and working, I'm going to set up automatic backups to happen on a weekly basis.
God, I'm a moron.
I've done something similarly boneheaded. When the retail version of World of Warcraft was released I deleted my beta folder... only I didn't. By the time my fingers had gone through their standard Command-Delete, Command-Shift-Delete, it was too late. Bye-bye, Warcraft III folder.
At least nothing critical was in there either.
Yeah, I think we've all done something similarly silly at one point in life or another. The thing that bothers me about this one is that I took the time to gather all my information to be backed up into one location. So I started the whole backup process -- it's not like I forgot about it entirely. I just forgot the last (and most critical) step -- actually backing the data up. :-P
It's like going to change your oil, getting all the old oil out of the truck, getting the new filter in place, and realizing you don't have any replacement oil. ;-)
Don't feel bad, Aaron. I think I've done that one to almost verbatim :P
Put all my source updates, patches and more in my backup folder to burn to CD before I reinstalled XP (to get rid of a particularly nasted piece of spyware). Then I think I got a phone call from the office. Guess it was enough to distract me before I formatted *without* burning off the backup. I had a few copies at the office of my work and in the end only lost about a weeks worth of work.
I'm sure my co-workers saw my handprint in my forehead the next day :P
So does anyone know of some quality backup software for Windows?
I need something that can do a single backup to an FTP server (so it just overwrites the old backup). It should gather files and directories I specify, compress them into a single archive (preferable zip) and then upload them. Then I need it to do a more complete backup of files (again, in zip format) to my external firewire drive. It should (obviously) be automated.
Or should I just crack open RB and start writing my own?
There is a Windows XP backup tool that backs up to Tape or to a single-file (sorry, not ZIP) and it's based on Veritas' Backup Exec. If you don't already see it in your System Tools under Accessories, then usually it is in the "3rd Party" directory of the WinXP CD. I believe it can even schedule backups (and it does full, differential, and incremental backups)
For a bare-metal backup, what I tend to use is Acronis True Image. It's disk-imaging software that can image *while Windows is running*, supports incremental imaging, can image to CD or a network share. It also can make a bootable CD to run the imaging software off of. You can check it out here: http://www.acronis.com. I highly recommend it. Oh yeah, since you use Linux, it also supports Linux partitions. And for Windows partitions, you can restore single files/directories from images if need be. If you email me directly if you want to know more.
Check the Acronis True Image 8.0:
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/