In this case, the original poster was serially asking vaguely related questions, about RAID, different RPM harddrives, software backup strategies, and on, seeming to be quite interested in perpetuating the discussion ad infinitum.
The truth is here that this isn't a calculus class, and even if it were the student is responsible for class materials, and then there is the homework..
That suggestion of self study, when offered as as hint, didn't seem to have much impact. If the point of opening a thread is "I want to know everything there is to know about harddrives and backup strategies without ever attempting to to undertake any individual effort for acquiring the necessary information other than generating a series of questions that would require the people on this forum to write what is essentially a textbook on the subject, then so be it! Let's write one, and link it everytime the subject comes up, the same as Tedster does with memory (RAM) questions, without further comment.
I'll stick with my earlier assessment of what is actually plausible backup, and reiterate my earlier opinion that software that backs up files to the same mechanical device as the original is utter nonsense. Furthermore, any strategy that leaves the files anywhere the near the machine in question are foolhardy as well.
And yes, that includes my own current method of storing all files on a separate, discreet, volume drive (instead of the system HDD) , but I do do it across 2 or more machines, which somewhat alleviates the apprehension.
Now, flash drives can fail.
Magnetic storage devices can be affected by exposure to magnetism
Gold is one of the least chemically reactive elements that exist. (Hence the Gold DVD suggestion).
If your house is burning down, (obviously that's a God forbid, (but sadly tragedies like that can and do happen)), would anybody actually rush back inside to save the external hard drive? If you can honestly say yes, then you're good to go. If not, that idea stinks too.
Now I have seen fire, flood and Katrina victims, and they really seem to hurt over loosing their memories in the form of photos and such. The quote that is most often repeated goes somethine like this "We lost everything, the house can be replaced, but our photos and memories can't". This as the Emachine is floating down the gutter. Have a nice day.
PS
jobeard said:
yes, no, maybe. Recall "There's no such thing as a dumb question, just dumb answers"
3222dsweaThis is the jaundice view problem of the teacher / expert; it's far too easy to loose
the appreciation for the naive user who as not the same level of experience.
If the student can't ask questions openly without reprisals, then learning will soon
stop!
(this happened in a calculus class of 30; by midterm there were only 20 of us left
and fewer that a dozen got passing grades on the finals.)
Before this line of reasoning can be truly persuasive, I would expect to know who passed, and who failed. First, Calculus is actually fairly close to rocket science, whereas understanding basic concepts of RAID and backup, (IMHO) isn't. And second if the DNFs were the same people that didn't bother to either bring their books to class, come to class, or do their homework, then you have made my argument for me.
So there's no lack of definition to prevent an amicable outcome to this thread, I consider a true backup to be an archival solution. Yes, an external HDD certainly will save your a** and get you back up and running in a big hurry. But, anything mechanical with little teensy tiny, little bits of magnetism holding all that you are, should not be taken all that seriously
![hellokitty[hk]](/community/data/avatars/m/169/169488.jpg?1355088591){kind=avatar}
.
