Re: Bulletproof backup - how to test?

"deko" <deko@xxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:I9bve.3885$Bx6.3218@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>I want to test my backup system by purposely corrupting my OS (Windows XP).
> My backup system is nothing but a secondary internal SATA hard drive that
> I
> periodically copy my data to. My concern is that my backup disk will
> somehow become inaccessible in the event of an OS corruption - even after
> reinstalling my OS on my System disk. Is it possible for the Partition
> Table (or some other thing) of my Backup disk to get screwed up by a
> corrupt
> OS?
>
> Here are some suggested ways to purposely corrupt the Windows XP operating
> system:
>
> 1) delete C:\WINDOWS\system32\Hall.dll
> more info: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=314477
> 2) delete C:\boot.ini
> 3) delete C:\WINDOWS\system32\secur32.dll
> 4) open the C:\WINDOWS\System32 folder, sort the files by Type, and select
> and delete at random any 5 .dll files
>
> If anyone can think of other options that could potentially make my
> secondary internal HDD inaccessible, please let me know.
>
> So far, I have not been able to find a way to make this backup system
> fail.
>
> To recover my data in case of disaster, I plan to reinstall Windows XP on
> my
> System disk, and then copy all my data from my Backup disk to my System
> disk. All data and system files reside on my System disk; the only thing
> I
> use the Backup disk for is a secondary copy of my data (only data),
> periodically copied from my System disk.
>
> The exercise at hand is to somehow find a way to make my backup system
> fail.
>
> Even if the motherboard in my PC were to meltdown and take my System disk
> with it, I could still buy a new PC and simply connect my Backup disk to
> it
> and recover all my data! This system is bulletproof!!
>
>

How quick do you want the recovery process to work? A disk imaging program
would be much quicker and easier to restore.

Any bulletproof recovery system must include at least two methods of backup.
For businesses that cannot afford to loose data I set up an internal drive
like you have but with either a disk imaging program or ntbackup. These
programs can be easily automated so no user interaction is necessary. I also
install either a tape drive or a DVD writer, depending on their budget and
the amount of data. I prefer tape if at all possible but not Travan. This
can also be automated with the only user interaction being changing the
media on a daily basis. This system is used daily with a different media for
each day. There are at least two extra media. These are stored off site. One
day a week the oldest off site media is brought on site and the newest on
site media is taken off site. The on site media is stored in a locked area
not near the computer. The media is replaced with new media on a regular
schedule depending on what type of media. In extreme cases I set up a
computer with the exact same hardware and keep it off site. If the computer
is stolen the duplicate computer can be brought on site and the newest
available backup restored within a couple of hours. Customers that I have
set up have never lost more than a weeks worth of data and this was due to
them not following procedures. The most common causes of needing to restore
data is due to user error, a failed hard drive, followed by a stolen
computer. Corruption due to virrii and spyware is way down the list if
proper protection is installed and safe hex is practiced.

That is my experience. In your situation relying on an internal drive
wouldn't help with a stolen computer. Even using an external drive is no
good in that situation unless the external drive is kept elsewhere when not
being used. If your data is important rather than thinking backup think
disaster recovery. This includes other things than OS corruption. Some
things to think about are fire, flood, theft, hardware failure, the kids
playing indoor hockey, the cat chasing a bug and knocking over the computer,
etc.

Kerry


.

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