Using the computer while backing up

Are there any drawbacks to using the computer while backing up? I backup to
a network hard drive.
Using: surfing the Internet, working on a spreadsheet, word doc etc.


--
Don - Windows XP Pro® SP 3
Vancouver, USA

Don,
You mention that you're backing up to a network drive, but I'm assuming that
you're not accessing the the files through a file server, correct?
If that is so, the biggest drawback is that any files that are open during
the back up won't be backed up. When they're open, they're inaccessible to
the backup program.

"Don Schmidt" Don red_1987 wrote in message
acquisition...
Are there any drawbacks to using the computer while backing up? I backup
to a network hard drive.
Using: surfing the Internet, working on a spreadsheet, word doc etc.


--
Don - Windows XP Pro® SP 3
Vancouver, USA

Don,
You mention that you're backing up to a network drive, but I'm assuming that
you're not accessing the the files through a file server, correct?
If that is so, the biggest drawback is that any files that are open during
the back up won't be backed up. When they're open, they're inaccessible to
the backup program.

"Don Schmidt" Don red_1987 wrote in message
acquisition...
Are there any drawbacks to using the computer while backing up? I backup
to a network hard drive.
Using: surfing the Internet, working on a spreadsheet, word doc etc.


--
Don - Windows XP Pro® SP 3
Vancouver, USA

Don Schmidt wrote:
Are there any drawbacks to using the computer while backing up? I
backup to a network hard drive.
Using: surfing the Internet, working on a spreadsheet, word doc etc.

No, there shouldn't be any problems. Depending on how the program is
written and whether it's useing Shadow Copy or not, you might experience
minor pauses and slow downs as you work, but that's not the norm. And
as long as the Shadow Copy service is running you should be OK too;
otherwise it's not going to back up any files you have opened. Even so
in that case, it backs up the file at whatever point you're at in
editing it, so the backed up file may not be the one you finally Save
later on.

The above are why most backups are done overnight or at least when the
computer isn't being used. You might back up a file (and its related
temp files) that won't be what you finally save, so ... restoring that
file can set you back.

I would urge you to set a schedule for when no one is using the
computer.

HTH,

Twayne`

Don Schmidt wrote:
Are there any drawbacks to using the computer while backing up? I
backup to a network hard drive.
Using: surfing the Internet, working on a spreadsheet, word doc etc.

No, there shouldn't be any problems. Depending on how the program is
written and whether it's useing Shadow Copy or not, you might experience
minor pauses and slow downs as you work, but that's not the norm. And
as long as the Shadow Copy service is running you should be OK too;
otherwise it's not going to back up any files you have opened. Even so
in that case, it backs up the file at whatever point you're at in
editing it, so the backed up file may not be the one you finally Save
later on.

The above are why most backups are done overnight or at least when the
computer isn't being used. You might back up a file (and its related
temp files) that won't be what you finally save, so ... restoring that
file can set you back.

I would urge you to set a schedule for when no one is using the
computer.

HTH,

Twayne`

The home network drive is for backup only and none of files I wish to open
are stored on it.

I use Migo PC Backup Pro 8.0.18.0 which in the Backup Settings has, "Enable
open file backup."

So, no foul, no harm if I do some surfing, Lotus 1-2-3ing etc during the 2
hour backup session?

Many thanks.
--
Don - Windows XP Pro® SP 3
Vancouver, USA




"Bookman" wrote in message
...
Don,
You mention that you're backing up to a network drive, but I'm assuming
that you're not accessing the the files through a file server, correct?
If that is so, the biggest drawback is that any files that are open during
the back up won't be backed up. When they're open, they're inaccessible
to the backup program.

"Don Schmidt" Don red_1987 wrote in message
acquisition...
Are there any drawbacks to using the computer while backing up? I backup
to a network hard drive.
Using: surfing the Internet, working on a spreadsheet, word doc etc.


--
Don - Windows XP Pro® SP 3
Vancouver, USA

The home network drive is for backup only and none of files I wish to open
are stored on it.

I use Migo PC Backup Pro 8.0.18.0 which in the Backup Settings has, "Enable
open file backup."

So, no foul, no harm if I do some surfing, Lotus 1-2-3ing etc during the 2
hour backup session?

Many thanks.
--
Don - Windows XP Pro® SP 3
Vancouver, USA




"Bookman" wrote in message
...
Don,
You mention that you're backing up to a network drive, but I'm assuming
that you're not accessing the the files through a file server, correct?
If that is so, the biggest drawback is that any files that are open during
the back up won't be backed up. When they're open, they're inaccessible
to the backup program.

"Don Schmidt" Don red_1987 wrote in message
acquisition...
Are there any drawbacks to using the computer while backing up? I backup
to a network hard drive.
Using: surfing the Internet, working on a spreadsheet, word doc etc.


--
Don - Windows XP Pro® SP 3
Vancouver, USA

Thanks Twayne,

Overnight backing up is what I've done in the past when using tape; a five
hour operation, two 4 gig tapes. Now days, about 18 gigs, about two hours
to a hard drive.
I don't know if Migo Backup software has "Shadow Copy" but has a "Backup
open files' option; sounds like it may be the same.

Take care,

--
Don - Windows XP Pro® SP 3
Vancouver, USA


"Twayne" wrote in message
...
Don Schmidt wrote:
Are there any drawbacks to using the computer while backing up? I
backup to a network hard drive.
Using: surfing the Internet, working on a spreadsheet, word doc etc.

No, there shouldn't be any problems. Depending on how the program is
written and whether it's useing Shadow Copy or not, you might experience
minor pauses and slow downs as you work, but that's not the norm. And as
long as the Shadow Copy service is running you should be OK too; otherwise
it's not going to back up any files you have opened. Even so in that
case, it backs up the file at whatever point you're at in editing it, so
the backed up file may not be the one you finally Save later on.

The above are why most backups are done overnight or at least when the
computer isn't being used. You might back up a file (and its related temp
files) that won't be what you finally save, so ... restoring that file can
set you back.

I would urge you to set a schedule for when no one is using the computer.

HTH,

Twayne`

Thanks Twayne,

Overnight backing up is what I've done in the past when using tape; a five
hour operation, two 4 gig tapes. Now days, about 18 gigs, about two hours
to a hard drive.
I don't know if Migo Backup software has "Shadow Copy" but has a "Backup
open files' option; sounds like it may be the same.

Take care,

--
Don - Windows XP Pro® SP 3
Vancouver, USA


"Twayne" wrote in message
...
Don Schmidt wrote:
Are there any drawbacks to using the computer while backing up? I
backup to a network hard drive.
Using: surfing the Internet, working on a spreadsheet, word doc etc.

No, there shouldn't be any problems. Depending on how the program is
written and whether it's useing Shadow Copy or not, you might experience
minor pauses and slow downs as you work, but that's not the norm. And as
long as the Shadow Copy service is running you should be OK too; otherwise
it's not going to back up any files you have opened. Even so in that
case, it backs up the file at whatever point you're at in editing it, so
the backed up file may not be the one you finally Save later on.

The above are why most backups are done overnight or at least when the
computer isn't being used. You might back up a file (and its related temp
files) that won't be what you finally save, so ... restoring that file can
set you back.

I would urge you to set a schedule for when no one is using the computer.

HTH,

Twayne`