I have about seven years of data on one backup CD. Now I've run out of space on that CD. In order to start backing up on a new CD, I think I would need to archive the past years' data and begin backing up on the new CD from the current year. But I'm not sure whether to use the "archive" or the "year end" function. What I would like is for the register to continue showing all the data, but that when I backup now, the backup would begin with only the current year's data. Is this possible? This is a new problem for me--I would appreciate any help someone can give. TIA Jude
I don't think Quicken lets you do that. The backup is a copy process of the Quicken file set. Since you want to keep and use ALL data, the backup would be the whole thing also.
I have about 10 years of data in Quicken. I use a CD-R for backup each day. It holds about 1 month of backups. When it fills, I take it to my safe deposit at the bank, and start with a new CD. I format the new CD with the Roxio Drag-To-Disk program, then create a new backup on the formatted disk.
I use "Karen's Replicator" (free software) to perform the backups, as I've found that the Quicken backup function comes and goes with new releases of their software. "Karen's" creates a new directory on the CD for each daily backup.
CD's are cheap by the spindle, but not as reliable as I'd like for my critical data. By having multiple disks and multiple file sets on each disk, I'm assured of having an available backup, even if it isn't the latest. Since I keep the backup CD's at the bank, I'm safe even if my computer is stolen, or there is a fire in my house.
I don't understand the whole point of filling up a CD with old routine backups.
I definitely agree with having A backup! And having archival backups at certain milestone points, such as each year-end, makes sense. Quicken's five (by default) automatic backups seem reasonable because that gives us a month or more to notice and correct a mistake. Additional current backups stored offsite insure against fire, theft or other loss of the ones kept here with the computer.
But I see no reason that I would ever restore a June 2007 backup, for example. Or August 2002? Those backups were valuable resources for a few weeks, but after that, they are just wasted CD space.
My current Quicken file - the one that I have open right now - includes all my 2007 transactions, and all my 2002 transactions. If there was an error in August 2002, either it is still in my March 2008 Quicken file or I have found and fixed it somewhere along the way. Either way, I see no benefit from restoring the old backup. Using File | Restore Backup File | X:\Backups2002\QDATA.QDF would show me those 2002 amounts, but I can get the same benefit from just asking Quicken 2008 to produce reports as of 8/31/02. The old backup would not include any corrections I've made since then. And any corrections I might make now to that old file would not be reflected in my current .qdf file - unless I also correct the current file - and then each interim file since the old one will need correction, too.
I have over 17 years of data in my current Quicken file on my computer. The oldest data is still readily available in this current file. All of that is also in backups on my USB thumb drive and on a second hard drive. If I were as diligent as I should be, all that data would also be on a CD - multiple CDs stored in different locations. But not a separate CD for each week or month or year.
What benefit do you see from having very old routine backups?
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