Dear AskMefi, I need help organizing and backing-up my home LAN. [more inside]
posted by Bio11 on Dec 29, 2009 - 4 answers

I would like to learn more about large-scale UPS systems, particularly the battery strings used in traditional RBOC/Telco applications. These are the sort of beasts that use huge strings of 6V 220aH deep cycle batteries, or even large numbers of 2V 400aH batteries on very strong earthquake-resistant shelving wired up to create a 48V mega-battery. Can anyone point me to the most definitive reference materials on the subject?
posted by thewalrus on Dec 17, 2009 - 4 answers

Please help me rearchitect my Apple-specific wireless home network and iTunes library! Eleven paragraphs of geeky details within (sorry!). [more inside]
posted by The Winsome Parker Lewis on Dec 9, 2009 - 13 answers

I have some wordpress sites hosted at bluehost that I want to keep backed up. Can you help me automate this? Detailed needs inside. [more inside]
posted by stupidsexyFlanders on Dec 5, 2009 - 7 answers

Where does MySQL store actual data in Snow Leopard? How would I retrieve a deleted database from a Time Machine backup? [more inside]
posted by special-k on Dec 4, 2009 - 5 answers

Looking for good easy-to-use Windows backup software. [more inside]
posted by fishmasta on Dec 2, 2009 - 10 answers

Help me come up with best Mac based server and backup solution for a small business. [more inside]
posted by jesseendahl on Dec 2, 2009 - 12 answers

How can I use my external hard disk drive to regularly backup my Windows XP laptop in as simple a manner as possible? Ideally, I would want something that works like Time Machine on the Mac—I would really like something I can set and forget. Free solutions are best, obviously, but I'm willing to buy software for this. [more inside]
posted by grouse on Nov 25, 2009 - 12 answers

Help me save time and frustration reinstalling my programs/settings after a fresh Windows install / upgrade / etc. [more inside]
posted by Alabaster on Nov 14, 2009 - 4 answers

BackupFilter: My new replacement laptop arrives tomorrow--help me make sure I don't forget anything critical in my backup process when I transfer everything to the new computer because I have to ship the old one back to Dell (hard drive as well). [more inside]
posted by Elminster24 on Nov 8, 2009 - 8 answers

After problems with my old laptop Apple sent me a free replacement, whats the best way to migrate my data, eliminate personal info but leave potential problems intact? [more inside]
posted by UMDirector on Oct 30, 2009 - 8 answers

Best method/software for efficient, non-annoying backup for a slightly older Mac (G4 running 10.3.9)? [more inside]
posted by southvie on Oct 28, 2009 - 4 answers

Help me come up with some sort of automated way of sending a file to myself in gmail. [more inside]
posted by tylerfulltilt on Oct 26, 2009 - 17 answers

I'm looking for a step by step recipe for log rotation from a web server to Amazon S3. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 22, 2009 - 7 answers

I'm a few weeks away from rebuilding my PC with Windows 7 and need help understanding how to deal with NTFS permissions. [more inside]
posted by chrisch on Oct 21, 2009 - 5 answers

Trying to get my music library from my external hard drive back onto my iPod while maintaining my sanity. [more inside]
posted by Jaltcoh on Oct 15, 2009 - 21 answers

Mac Backup Filter: Help me achieve Nirvana with Time Machine, FileVault, and a snapshotting tool. Difficulty rating: FileVault and virtual machine images. [more inside]
posted by rcs on Oct 15, 2009 - 1 answer

How can I back up message threads on my iPhone (3G, O2-UK) into a text file or PDF? [more inside]
posted by Biru on Oct 15, 2009 - 4 answers

Best RAID / Backup system for HD video on a Mac Pro? [more inside]
posted by shinynewnick on Oct 13, 2009 - 14 answers

I'm going to upgrade the corporate backup environment where I work in 2010, and I need help sorting through all of the backup hardware/software providers. I've had DataDomain, FalconStor, ExaGrid, and a bunch of other companies give presentations about their backup solutions, but they are all running together in my head. Does anyone have hands on experience or suggestions about which company to go with (your suggestion doesn't have to be one of the companies listed above)? Price is important, but I know this is going to be expensive. Details about the environment and the desired feature set inside. [more inside]
posted by gregr on Oct 2, 2009 - 5 answers

I'm going to wipe my hard drive and reinstall Windows XP. But my files are in a huge mess and I'm scared I'm going to screw something up. [more inside]
posted by kitcat on Sep 30, 2009 - 16 answers

Recovering Address Book data. Apple Address Book phantom entries keep returning, even after deleting the data files and prefs lists. Where are they coming from? How can I get the original data back? [more inside]
posted by odinsdream on Sep 25, 2009 - 6 answers

How do I backup my gmail account and get all of my older gmail messages into Thunderbird on Windows XP? [more inside]
posted by davidstandaford on Sep 13, 2009 - 2 answers

I'm switching to a new external hard drive. How can I consolidate all my files onto it? [more inside]
posted by amillionbillion on Sep 13, 2009 - 4 answers

How do I sync two IMAP folders? I currently use Gmail for all my e-mail (personal & work). I currently have about 4,000+ messages archived in Gmail and I'll continue to add 300-500 per month. I also have a IMAP account with my webhost and I was wondering if there was any type of application or script that would connect to the Gmail IMAP servers and backup/sync all of my mail so I know that in addition to being in Gmail's cloud....it is also on my IMAP server in case something happens. Thoughts?
posted by 4chrisd on Sep 6, 2009 - 4 answers

Should I use rsync (instead of rsnapshot) to pare down Mac disk image backups? [more inside]
posted by kristi on Aug 30, 2009 - 4 answers

I'd like to import my DVD collection onto a harddrive but then be able to watch it through the tv. What are my options? [more inside]
posted by Hands of Manos on Aug 24, 2009 - 16 answers

I have two computers, one Windows, one Linux. How can I make it so they synchronize automatically with each other, as in, I update the file on one computer, and the updated file gets put onto the other? Networking? Using an external hard drive? What software might be useful? Bonus points for free software
posted by gilsonal on Aug 22, 2009 - 13 answers

How do I stop my external hard drives from changing disk IDs when I reboot on OS X? [more inside]
posted by triolus on Aug 14, 2009 - 7 answers

Lazyweb request: I put a lot of effort into my photos on Flickr: selecting them, titling, captioning, adding tags and sometimes geotagging. I need a script that will use Flickr's APIs to retrieve this information from Flickr, and write it into the IPTC headers of my local JPGs. [more inside]
posted by snarfois on Aug 1, 2009 - 6 answers

Looking for recommendations/experiences with business-class online backups. [more inside]
posted by mkultra on Jul 16, 2009 - 9 answers

Netbook for Ethiopia: narrow down the choices. [more inside]
posted by Lemurrhea on Jul 14, 2009 - 7 answers

Will I be able to access data from a RAID0 array on a computer other than the creator of the set? [more inside]
posted by ilumos on Jul 1, 2009 - 8 answers

How to tell if WD MyBook mirroring has failed or drive has died? [more inside]
posted by mysterious1der on Jun 26, 2009 - 3 answers

How can I backup my flickr account... but not to my desktop computer? [more inside]
posted by Jonathan Harford on Jun 24, 2009 - 6 answers

I need to help my friend upgrade from Intrepid Ibex to Jaunty Jackalope. I'd appreciate any tips or advice for doing this. What's the best backup tool to use, and how do I restore from the backup if things go wrong? I'm thinking something like Time Machine would be nice, but I can do command line stuff, too. Any other best practice tips for the upgrade itself? Thanks so much in advance.
posted by zenja72 on Jun 19, 2009 - 10 answers

Help me back up my iTunes to my external hard drive. But only the new ones.... [more inside]
posted by gwenlister on Jun 18, 2009 - 9 answers

Is there a way to automatically back up certain folders on my hard drive to a USB key every time a plug in that key? [more inside]
posted by modernnomad on Jun 16, 2009 - 10 answers

Looking for ideas for backing up photos while traveling in the middle of nowhere, with no guaranteed access to a computer. [more inside]
posted by bassjump on Jun 16, 2009 - 12 answers

Advice for a server newb who needs help getting started with a simple media/backup/torrent server? [more inside]
posted by wastelands on May 29, 2009 - 12 answers

I need to have triple backups of my PCs - Mac OS X, Windows Vista and an external hard drive. The same stuff, 3 times across. With version control. How? [more inside]
posted by markovich on May 29, 2009 - 5 answers

How can I back up my Outlook 2003 files kept on an exchange server to a thumb drive? [more inside]
posted by Joleta on May 12, 2009 - 9 answers

Looking for robust, simple cheap/freeware WinXP backup utility recommendations. [more inside]
posted by ZenMasterThis on May 8, 2009 - 9 answers

I have a 850va 425w UPS battery backup with only 2 outlets. There is a small server, speakers, home theater projecter, lcd monitor, and router connected to a power strip. The power strip and a desktop plug into the UPS. Is this setup safe? I am concerned about short 1-second interruptions caused by bad electrical connections rather than power outages.
posted by lpctstr; on Apr 25, 2009 - 8 answers

I need to move several gigs of music files from one external hard drive to another. But, there are a few problems... [more inside]
posted by reenum on Apr 23, 2009 - 16 answers

Want to build a backup/storage/print server for a home network that the users will never have to be aware of [more inside]
posted by ConstantineXVI on Apr 21, 2009 - 14 answers

I think my hard disk just died. Help me figure out an action plan, before I die of anxiety. [more inside]
posted by roofus on Apr 13, 2009 - 12 answers

Looking to automate the backup and download of mySQL tables on a cPanel webhost to an external FTP site. [more inside]
posted by GJSchaller on Apr 10, 2009 - 5 answers

Who sings back-up vocals on Field of Diamonds with Johnny Cash on the album American III: Solitary Man?
posted by peeedro on Apr 6, 2009 - 6 answers

Is there a fairly comprehensive method I can use to image a hard-drive quickly, in case I end up needing that backup image later? [more inside]
posted by geodave on Apr 6, 2009 - 14 answers