Plan B

[Woodstock]

I would like to ensure that my next project does not crash with videostudio. Would i be best to save to an external drive as well? what would be the fail-safe option of backing up, so if it did crash I can simply reboot and copy it back across into VS and carry on from where i left off.

Any choices, preferences for me to look at? Looking at these portable hard drives - but i dont really want to carry it around, just use it for backup purposes. Not interested in the 'the cloud' idea etc.

If anyone has any ideas would be appreciated.

[Ken Berry]

I always save my projects to an external hard drive in any case. But that's just for convenience and space-saving on my computer. Most VS crashes don't destroy the project files which can usually be reopened when you reopen VS -- though some users here do regular saves of their project file using different names each time, just in case a later project file becomes corrupted during a crash. That way, you will at least be able to open the preceding file and thus not lose all your work.

A VS crash will also not wipe out the actual video in your project, regardless of where it is stored. This is because everything that happens in VS by way of editing is virtual. So even if you 'cut' the clips and 'delete' the unwanted bits, in fact that is only happening in the virtual world, and your original clip is still there untouched wherever you stored it.

[Woodstock]

Ok thanks for the reply but I have had some experience of VS and 'contact admin support' leading to not being able to open anything and losing everything I had. New PC, so I'm keen to start off fresh and right.

Any thoughts on a backup plan - backup drive - external/ I see a lot of these which you carry out with you..no need for those fancy things..just want something I can plug in and when I save anything I save to that as well. Recommendations welcome? minefield.

[BrianCee]

Not necessarily a recommendation but this is what I do

I have a 2Tb Network attached storage (NAS) device which is permanently plugged into my router - all my computers are networked and can see that device

the backup from each computer is managed by a copy of "Memeo Backup Premium" which automatically backs up any new versions of files in the folders I have designated for back up (all my data files - no system or programme files) - all done automatically you do not have to remember to individually back up files.

a partition on the NAS outside the backup files allows manual access to an area on the NAS which I find useful for passing files from computer to computer when remote computers may not be turned on

[Woodstock]

Ok thanks Brian for your reply however it is way too complicated sounding and expensive! I'm sure its the best setup and that is what I'm after but sadly looking for a much more straightforward alternative. Any recommendations out there re a decent backup?

[asik1]

Hi, I don't understand your question.
What type of work you do?
your video files will never be lost because of VS.
The VSP project files are small and can be saved anywhere anytime.
Have you set the autosave to 2-3 min?
Any other titles or FX favorites you can have by saving periodically the library

I don't have nas, I don't have ssd I have only single 1TB HD and I never lost a project.

[Woodstock]

Looking for a good back of backing up and video and photos thats all. In the past VS has been VERY tempermental ( I'd say they should be paying us for using it to be honest the way it's been going!!! ) - perhaps my new PC will iron things out ( although ALREADY i notice when downloading one of the updates it says the usual ' not loaded - contact admin support' ..but touch wood..VS seems to load ok - for now.

Regardless of that - just want a backup plan thats all, not interested in Clouds etc, just another hardrive external..and any recommendations that's all.

[lata]

Hi Woodstock

I guess you are talking about good house-keeping.
Managing your files on the computer.

I have a C:Drive with all my programs installed there, I try to keep the C:Drive for programs only, with all my Video and Images saved to another internal drive.
I have two at 500Gb, they are a little old now but were probably one of the largest when purchased.

When I import video to the computer they are saved to folders on the 500Gb drives.
Each project will have its own folder containing all clips used in that project, including any VSP project files.

I could if I wish backup those files on a separate drive, Brian has a networked setup which will work well, he is backing up his computer not just Video Studio.

Video Studio is non – destructive in that editing does not alter or change the files it uses.
The timelines display the files as a thumbnail, a virtual clip representing the files on the hard drive. Virtual links to those files allows VS to display them.
If we move or change the files location on the hard drives those links are lost causing VS to request a relink.

The project file VSP is where VS saves details of the project, its content and all editing is saved here.
This file is probably the most vulnerable, but is only relatively small in size.

I think you should first be looking at why your program crashes.

Good housekeeping and managing your files on the hard drive, but backups are not gonna cure crashes.

[delaluz]

Here's my plan C

I bought a 4 tb wd mybook duo & configured it as raid 1. This means that the 2 drives in the mybook duo are exact mirror copies of each other so if one fails you just get another drive one & "restore" the failed drive.

I tried the free software that came with the mybook duo for backing up my files but didn't like it. I then tried a backup program called Syncback free. I created a plan for syncing my video and project files from my computers video drive to the mybook duo. I scheduled the plan to run each night. However, what I usually do is after an edit session I will manually run the plan to do the backup.

I'm evaluation using Macrium Softwares Reflect to create an image of my C drive (system) to a partition on the mybook duo. If I like how it works I will set up a job to copy the image once a week. I will probably keep 3-4 system images.

The Reflect software can probably do the file sync that the Syncback software does but right now I'm sticking with the Syncback for my file backups.

[pepegota]

I create a Smart Package to the cloud. Then I can get it anytime I wish.