Offline file backups

Need suggestions

[Compworld]

I currently use an Iomega Zip 250MB for my small files, and then usually do a hard CDR back every week, or so. However, I have a small problem. Within the last two weeks, some of the files, on two different disks become unreadable. I need a better solution than Zip backups, but able to be accessed in a snap. Any suggestions?

Thanks,

CompWorld

[jorj]

get a new disk, use 'bacula' backup software to mount it whenever it needs to backup and unmount it after.

[bumpaw]

I have been using Data Deposit Box for the last two months and am happy so far. It's $1.00 for 100mb which works good for me because I only have about 600mb to back up. They have actual support and it's very customizable. It lets you set the number of versions to keep of a file. They have a one month free trial. I still do local disk backups but don't worry now if I get lazy and skip one.

[rocknbil]

I currently use an Iomega Zip 250MB... Within the last two weeks, some of the files, on two different disks become unreadable..

Do a Google search for "Iomega Click of Death." You're probably hearing some repetitive clicking when you insert the disk too, right?

This has always been a problem with Iomega and hads never really gone away. Once a drive begins the clicking, it starts spamming the disks. Then the disks are unstable from then on.

You can take a perfectly good disk, put it in an affected drive, let it click a few times, then put it into a good drive - often the disk is now not unreadable and requires formatting.

I've got a whole stack of 'em, want 'em? :-) The Zip/Jazz drives are good for short-term and data movement but don't use them for archiving, bad idea. Burn them to a CD, use DAT, removable HD, anything - don't rely on Iomega for backup data.

[sem4u]

Why not get a DVD+/-R drive or an external hard drive?