Backing up quickbooks

Use the backup function under File. Give each day's backup file a unique name - I use the date.

-- Vic Roberts Replace xxx with vdr in e-mail address.

But where are you putting it? On the same hard drive as the original, or perhaps a partitioned hard drive? PJ

Putting them on the same drive does not buy you anything. I put ours on the network drive which is backed up every night. Otherwise burn them to a CD once a week.

I have QB set to ask if I want to backup every time I close the program, and I do it every time if I've made changes. I also selected the option to have the date as part of the file name, and it does that automatically. That way, I can save and save to the same location without overwriting previous backups.

I backup to the SanDisk 1GB USB flash drive. It's very easy to use, plugs into the USB port on my monitor, and is tiny enough to fit on a keychain if you like. I keep it in a little pouch on my briefcase. That way it's home with me if anything happens at the office. It also has a security program on it to keep others from accessing your data if you lose it. Mine was $89 at PCMall.

Sue

You can use the File>Backup feature in Quickbooks. Quickbooks also restores its own backups. Just tell it where to place the backup on your computer (or in this case the external drive). Another option is to do incremental backups with a backup program and grab the entire Program Files>Intuit>Quickbooks Pro folder that also contains downloaded updates.

If you're interested in a good program for that I'd recommend WinBackup from LI Utilities now UniBlue Systems. I've used the program on my Windows machines for 2 years now. The original purchase price may seem a little steep ($49.95 Standard and $69.95 Pro) but their upgrades are either free or significantly discounted. I have the whole suite and its good software so that's something to consider if you're in the market for a backup program.

I send a copy of each qbb file as an attachment to a webmail account so I always have an "offsite" backup.

That's an interesting way of keeping an offsite copy. How long do you keep the copy?

It works well. On my Mac I include my QB file as part of the sync to my iDisk (online storage) that takes place once a week. I also use Retrospect for incremental backups of the entire hd. So I'm doubly protected.

Never the same drive. When I am in the office, the daily backups go on a ZIP disk, and that is transferred to CD-ROM about once a week. When I am traveling the backups go on a USB drive. If I did not already have the ZIP drive and lots of disks I would use USB drives for daily backups and then archive to CD-ROM. I keep a copy of the latest CD-ROM in my bank vault. This copy is replaced each Quarter.

-- Vic Roberts Replace xxx with vdr in e-mail address.

Since my webmail account has 2GB of storage, I have not yet got round to purging any files, as I've only used about 30% of my space and I have some backups several months old now.

Thanks to everyone who responded. I will get the external hard drive and periodically burn cd's. I think I will ask our accountant if I can't somehow email weekly updates to his office just for safe keeping. Anyway, thanks again. You guys have given me plenty of ideas for making sure the data stays safe. :) PJ

Rather than emailing your accountant a copy of your file (which suggests your company file is relatively small) have you considered spending $30-$60 for a Sandisk Mini Cruzer which is a necklace-style USB stick? You can get them from 256mb up to 1gb I believe. I use them all the time to transfer client company files to & from my office.

The best backup is off site backup. I found a WONDERFUL program called UltraVNC which lets me tx the data file home but also is a remote control application that let me enter all the invoices, do payroll etc. from my home office at real time speed..i was controlling the biz locations computer but anyone watching me would just think i was working locally. There is also a program called Second Copy that will automatically copy whatever files you indicate either on reboot or at a given time of day. There is a plethora of good automated shutdown/reboot utilities here

so it'll reboot your computer and automatically give you a second copy of your data and whatever else you want...This is shareware and after

30 days you can't add new routines so just set it up and forget it. I can send you a copy if you like

If you do nothing else backup off site daily and check out UltraVNC. You will find many uses for it. Holler at me if u need anything and remember software is like sex..it's better when it's free. The best software really is free. Check out

. I've got a goofy spamproof email it's snipped-for-privacy@spamgourmet.com

But so may anybody if Google feels like it. Did you read EVERYTHING, before you accepted the terms?

I use Gmail but not for sensitive matter.

Same as when I was looking into Wal-Mart for the printing of digital pictures sent to me via eMail. I did not sign up when I read the following: ===============1. You grant to Wal-Mart Canada Corp. a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, unrestricted, world-wide right and license to access, use, copy, reproduce, distribute, transmit, display, perform, communicate to the public, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, and otherwise use such Materials (in whole or in part) in connection with the Site and/or the Products, using any form, media or technology now known or later developed, without providing compensation to you or any other person, without any liability to you or any other person, and free from any obligation of confidence or other duties on the part of Wal-Mart, its affiliates and their respective licensees;

3. You also grant to Wal-Mart Canada Corp. the right to use your name in connection with the Materials. ==============Arno

The external hard drive protects you:

1. From hardware failures of your primary machine.

It does NOT protect you from: Fire, theft, or malice unless you unplug the sucker and take it home with you.

Better is to get a GMail account and email yourself the backup as an attachement. Then, come fire, malice, acts of God, ghastly mistakes, or a mislaid drive, you've still got it.

Ooo! Ooo!. Run away! Run away!

So ENCRYPT the file before you send it! Jeeze!

In the words of General Turgidson: "Why do I have to think of everything?"

And to answer your basic question: No, I don't read everything before I sign it. In fact I seldom read ANYTHING before I sign it. It's little known that the courts have held that the so-called "fine print" will seldom be enforced against the more disadvantaged party.