Cumulus Backup

[geoffp]

I have noticed in the Cumulus folder some files named "Backup" does Cumulus do automatic back ups?

[AllyCat]

Hi,

AFAIK these are a record which Cumulus keeps from the last 10 times that it ran (Steve may have a more precise answer). This allows you to "roll back" to a previous state if "bad" data is downloaded from the station, or if the data file is corrupted by using an inappropriate editor such as Excel.

It does NOT provide a "safe" backup in the event of a hardware failure or corruption/virus on your hard drive. For this you need a proper periodic backup regime to another physical (networked/USB) hard drive or DVD, etc.

Cheers, Alan.

[geoffp]

Thanks Alan, I thought it may not be a full back up, I have tried doing a backup of the "Cumulus" folder but it gets about halfway through and a fault halts it,this happens if I use the Microsoft backup utility or a third party backup program?????

[serowe]

What is the 'fault'? Sharing violation or something else? (the former isn't a great problem other than an annoyance, but anything else may be a dangerous sign of things to come)

[gemini06720]

...or a third party backup program?????

Geoff, the backup error can be prevented if you use something such as Cobian Backup which will backup everything, including opened files.

[geoffp]

The fault I keep getting up, and I have tried 3 different programs now, and it is the same fault each time is:-

"Windows - Delayed Write Failed"

I have no idea what is causing this.

[steve]

To what (type of) device are you trying to take the backup?

This article may be of some use: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/330174

It also has links to articles for other problems which give the same error message.

[beteljuice]

The beteljuice had that for two different events on a USB connected HDD:

• Dodgy USB lead / connection.
  The HDD was ready to fail

[geoffp]

@ Steve, many thanks for that Steve, I am using a USB hard disk, my main Hard drive had the "enable cashing" se but on the mini hard drive it wasn't.

@ Beetlejuice, I thought it was the lead but had all ready changed it, I hope the HDD is not on its way out as it is a new one.

Still reading through the Microsoft sheet that Steve sent me