Custom Back-up System Design

While no system is fool proof, several safeguards can be built-into the local system. This of course does not protect against things like fire,
and with Windows 7 Professional (or Ultimate), you can also back-up to an on-line business network.

A local back-up system is desirable as an added measure even if an on-line service is used. This is due to the fact that recovery of files from
an on-line service can sometimes take time (you cannot necessarily get on-line access for data recovery purposes but 1st must contact the
company and they set-up recovery up for you).  Also, people have had problems where the company went out of business or bankrupt and
recovery of files became an issue. So, a local system back-up that is under customer control is desirable, as an added measure, even when
using an on line back-up service.

Local  backup as established by BobCurley.com works as follows:

1) The computer is built with (3) hard drives.

2) The first hard drive (C) is used for programs only. Viruses, worms, and Trojans usually "hide" in programs as they need to be "executed"

in order to accomplish their nasty business.

3) The second hard drive (D) is used for data/files, thus keeping data/files on a separate drive from the programs, which lessens the chance
of the data being "infected". This drive (or the back-up drive) can also be quickly pulled and used externally with another computer for data

access and/or recovery should that become necessary.

4) The third drive (E) is the back-up drive. Back-up drives are often set to "mirror" the data that they are backing up. In other words, back-up
occurs at the same time as the data is being written to the data drive. This is not desirable as any "infection" would also be mirrored, thus
infecting your back-up drive.  To guard against this, back-up systems by BobCurley.com  are set-up to 1st do a virus scan, and then back-up
the data. An example of this is explained below, and is made possible through the programs built into Windows 7 Professional.
5) In addition to the normal default scans by the Security Program, it is also set to scan both data/files drive (D), and the back-up drive (E) 
everyday at 1am.
6) Windows 7 Professional is set to back-up your Data/files drive to the back-up drive everyday at 3am.
7) This therefore has the added safeguard of a virus scan before back-up of the files.

Times and frequencies for "scans" and "back-ups" can be easily adjusted to fit customer preferences.

Windows 7 Professional has an easily followed process to restore files when necessary. Restoration can be to the original location or any

other location, including network location.

Back-up through Windows 7 Professional can also be to "network" locations, and as explained earlier, as an added safeguard, can be
backed-up to an on-line service if desired. This would also be set to occur automatically, and adds another level of protection.

The above procedure really requires that the computer be left for the most part in an "always on" condition. This in turn makes it necessary
to install a battery back-up system, with surge protection and automatic shut down software, to protect the computer and/or data files in
the event of a power loss or surge. Such systems are available from places like Staples for under $100. An example is
APC Back-UPS® ES 650VA 8-Outlet Power-Saving UPS for $79.99 (pricing and model as of October 2010).

If this level of sophistication for data back-up is not required, system cost is eliminated by reducing the number of hard drives, and by using Windows 7 Home Premium, instead of Professional or Ultimate versions. Windows 7 Home Premium does have local back-up capability, but not network back-up capability.