How often do you back up your files?

[susans]

How often do you back up your files on your computer and how do you save your information?  Does your company back up the system, do you save files to a CD or a flash drive?   What would you do if your system crashed and you lost all your files.

[msmarieh]

At work, I only save files on the network drive, which IT backs up nightly. FYI for those of you that might not realize it - files saved in my documents or on your desktop are not usually backed up by IT. If your computer crashed, you could lose those files.

At home, I have the vast majority of my files backed up to an FTP server. They'd be far too large for CDs or DVDs. I'd need dozens of them. I back them up probably quarterly ish (when I think of it). I have some files also backed up to a jump drive.

Marie

[peaches2160]

I save everything in a network drive.  I also had it create a drive only my boss and I can access on the network.  My predecessor saved everything on her hard drive.  When she left, IT cleared her hard drive, and presentation history went with it.  

[gee4]

Our IT department do this so I have no idea when and how often.

Most databases etc are too big to store on disc and we are discouraged from using this method.

In fact as I said before we have very little control over anything related to IT.

[raindance]

Our files are backed up every day centrally and stored off site. We also have independent, off-site, servers.  

This is part of our risk management strategy which covers everything relating to possible business disruption.  

[spitfire78]

I back up to a network drive.  About 5-6 years ago, I made it a habit to back up my files every Friday afternoon before I left for the weekend.  Somewhere along the way that fell by the wayside .  I think when I changed jobs, my routine was so different that I sort of forgot.  All of a sudden, a little while ago I realized I had not backed up my files in a good 6 months or even more

So, I have recently started to get back to doing it at least every few weeks.  I really want to try to get back to my weekly system though, so I think I'm going to jot a reminder on my calendar for a little while.  

What would I do if everything was gone - quit so I wouldn't have to deal with it!!!!!  No, seriously, I guess the only thing you can do is recreate what you can and deal with the situation the best way you can.

[Katie G]

Saved to a departmental network drive that IT backs up each night.  Tapes are stored at an offsite data management place.

I also am finally having a DVD-RW drive installed on my machine so I can burn files to a DVD.  My stuff is big -- huge spreadsheets, databases and images so my little ol' floppy drive is useless now.