My backup setup 1

I have a lot of data - way too much to serious backup. For this reason I have split it into several categories, each of which have different backup strategies:

1. Okay to loose: Data I get can again, e.g. installation files for downloaded software or music I bought which I can download or rip again.
2. Harder to replace: I have digitalized a lot of old VHS tapes. If I loose the data I can buy the movies again on DVD. It will cost some money, but it can be done.
3. Ireplaceable: Pictures, e-mails, documents etc.

See in the next posting how I back these categories up.

Backup is not the most important...

Backup is not the most important: It is restore.

Imagine that you make your backups regularly in multiple ways with at least one being offsite. One day you need the backup, but it does not work. You might have forgotten a directory, so you do not backup everything you think, you might have forgotten a password for an encrypted file or for some reason the automatic backup have not worked for the last 6 months.

Just as important as taking backup is to test that you can actually restore it. Try it on an old computer or when you get a new one. At least make sure that you can get up and running when necessary.