incremental backing up

[JobaScraps]

I can't stand it any longer. I have so much trouble backing up my files.It take too much of my time .I can't stand it. today I am putting in the correct incremental disc for back up & during the process I get a message that the program has stopped responding & I can't eject the disc cause says in use. I am so sick of all this . I don't have all day to figure this out.I am so distressed.Thanks for letting me vent. I suppose I will have to shut down computer & take risk of losing files.

[Jenny Binder]

Ok, I have absolutely no suggestions for you...sorry. BUT, I was wondering if anyone has experience with Rebit--it is an external hard drive with software that automatically backs up your computer. My husband recently had a computer failure (not really a crash, more a "frying" from a faulty power supply) and ALMOST lost all of his farm files. I know, for most people this would seem insignificant, but he does GPS mapping and had recorded thousands of acres of data--planting, spraying, irrigation, etc. It was without a doubt a serious serious loss. It has made him much more careful about backing up and was thinking about investing in the Rebit thing. Just wondering if anyone else had any experience with it. And JobaScraps, you feel free to vent anytime. Venting here is much better than grabbing a sledge hammer or a shotgun. :)

[SharLamb]

I use Carbonite, which sounds similar. It only costs about $4 or $5 a month. I also back up on an EHD from time to time. But Carbonite catches everything new I create or add, and backs it up automatically, working in the background. I haven't noticed any slowing down of my speed because of it either. I feel so much more secure than when I was doing just local back-ups.

Shar

[SharLamb]

Oh. I just re-read your post, Jenny. I guess it is different. Mine is a cyber space back-up. Where all my stuff is, I have no idea....but I know it is available to me if I need it.
Shar

[Marcie]

Well I used to have that same issue with the organizer. It would freeze up while doing an incremental backup. I couldn't figure it out. Then I read somewhere that if you have too many images in the organizer, it has some issues. I'm not sure why. After reading that I checked, my organizer and I had close to 6000 images in that one catalog. So I set up several smaller catalogs. I now have one for just my photos, scrapbooking kits, templates, my layouts, pictures that I took for making stuff, and things I have made. Seems like a lot of catalogs, but they are all under 3000 images and I have no problems. The photos and my layouts are done by year too. So I have a catalog called Photos 2006, photos 2007, photos 2008. I also did the layouts in the same way. So as I add my layouts to the catalog, I do my incremental backups, then at the end of hte year, I do one more full back up. So I now have two complete copies. I also print an album of my layouts by year so I keep one disc with the album and the other in a safe place. If you are interested, I did do a tutorial for the organizer and I have it posted at Digital Design Den.

Marcie

[troush]

Sorry, I can't help. Mainly, you just need a copy of the catalog (location varies whether you are on XP vs. Vista and which version of PSE you are using) and then your image files. Generally speaking, on XP, your catalog will be here: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Catalogs

For Vista, substitute C:\ProgramData\ for the C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\

-Trish

[landorasue]

I have a Seagate brand EHD. It came with Bounce software for backing up either scheduled or manually. I use the manual backup options. But it does incremental backups. I also have the option to purge my backup files.

I also use ACDSee 10 to organize my photos and scrapbooking supplies, and backing up my ACDSee catalog onto an EHD. I can also move my files offline onto CDs/DVDs and retain thumbnails in my catalog (similar to Elements Organizer).

[JobaScraps]

Oh thanks everyone for being so kind about my rant.I don't know why I posted the rant --I must have felt I needed a hug & support & would get it here with expert suggestions too.And you didn't let me down!!!
An EDH with software to automatic back up files sounds like something to investigate.
Shar, I have wondered what happens when you no longer want to use carbonite.Do they let you download the files to dvd then?? Or do you need to back up to cd/dvd as you go along to have your own hard copy.???
Off to read Marcie's tut.

[SharLamb]

??? This is one of those gollllllllllleeeeee moments. I don't know what happens IF I no longer wish to use Carbonite. I guess I thought it was marriage for life when I signed up!
Shar

[mom2bandc]

I have over 23,000 images in my catalog and I keep it on an external drive and then back up weekly to another external drive using Retrospect. I don't ever back up through the organizer I just keep another "copy" on another EHD in case one gets corrupted. The backup runs at night and checks the current version with the previous backup and only changes what is new. Thankfully I've never had to use it.

[JobaScraps]

Another question I have is for archival purposes. shouldn't we be saving our psd files in tiff?? cause tiff crosses programs & into future .who know what will be available for programs or what the user has that wants to look at our "heritage" photos.

[JobaScraps]

As long as we are talking about preserving our LO's: shouldn't we be saving them in tiff format rather than psd??Tiff crosses programs & will go into the future for many users who want to see "heritage " stuff. But maybe this isn't nec. cause we save it jpeg too.but I always wondered about this?

Addendum: looks like I highjacked my own thread!!!! ( but it sorta goes along with why we back up)
Gettting back to backing up.Isn't it important to have cd/dvd's in addition to EHd's-even if you have 2??? And to make 2 copies & keep one out of home.Just wondering about this for archival purposes into future.( knowing that you have to convert to latest technogoy as it comes along) Who knows what our great grandchildren will be using when they want to see 'old " photos .
Lots of questions using digital cameras.I'm beginning to think one of the best back ups for photos is to just print every photo or at least the best which kinda gets us back to the beginning-film.lolololol