100 million hard disks will be replaced, repaired or retired according to a recent industry survey. Within 30 days, I had 3 friends come to me with crashed hard drives, all hoping for help getting their data back. Just as I was getting ready for my spring travel season, my desktop computer died hours before I would have sync'd its data onto my notebook (the problem turned out to be a failing power supply and not the hard disk, although I lost access to my primary email data that was on that system's hard disk because the system wouldn't boot).
When I ask audiences "when was the last time you backed up your computer?" the answer is often "I haven't" or "a long time ago". Disk crashes aren't anything new. I can remember crashing the floppy disk on a Data General NOVA mini-computer in 1972 and spending 3 weeks rebuilding its 128K from punched paper tape. I've also noticed that most people's dedication to doing backups is inversely proportional to the time since the last time they've lost data. The day after a crash, users "see the light" and get serious about backups.
In the "old" days, backups were done with tape. But as hard drives have increased in size, and decreased in cost, using another hard drive is usually the best back up option. USB 2.0 hard disks larger than your original hard disk are often only a couple of hundred dollars. When you think of how long it would take just to re-install your software, never mind the time and effort to regenerate your data, and a back up drive makes total sense.
Like New Year's resolutions, maintaining your back up discipline is really hard. CMS Products has an excellent back up solution that really makes a lot of sense. A complete backup solution, the solid ABSplus external USB or FireWire hard drives are integrated with CMS' award-winning proprietary BounceBack software to make backup and restore extremely easy. CMS' "Automatic Launcher" technology makes backing up a breeze by sensing when the ABSplus device is connected, thus automatically backing up the system. Subsequent incremental backups also are triggered by simply plugging the ABS device in. If you leave your computer on all the time, like I do, BounceBack will schedule automatic backups as often as you like.
Should something go wrong, QuickRestore simplifies the data recovery process by allowing users to recover data as a result of hard drive failure or accidental deletion by simply clicking on the "Restore" button. Once activated, the backup device performs a complete restoration of only selected data from the most recent backup of the computer's hard drive. I was able to use the back up from my desktop system to restore the key data onto my notebook and still get a good night sleep before I left town. In the event of a hard drive melt down, you can even take the hard drive out of your ABSplus, plug it into your desktop and be up and running in minutes.
Notebook hard drives take a lot of abuse, even if you don't drop your computer off your lap.
If backing up your desktop is uncommon (and it is), then backing up a notebook is even more uncommon. At the same time, a lot of salespeople use their notebook computers as their primary system. Think of how much time it would take to rebuild the information in your contact management system. Or worse, think of how much business you might lose because you lost information in that system!
ABSplus portable versions work with USB2.0, PCMCIA or FireWire interfaces and are available in ultra portable or desktop versions and support backup, archival and migration of data with one of the market's lowest total cost of ownership (TCO). Capacities range from 20GB to 100GB. Street pricing for the 20GB portable version starts at $199 and comes with a three-year warranty.
The ABSplus backup drive is pocket sized and can be powered by your USB port. Should your notebook have low power USB ports, a supplementary cable included with the drive lets you use 2 USB ports for power.
The ABSplus incorporates the patent-pending Automatic Launcher to monitor and launch backups upon connection and eliminates the hassle associated with manual backup. If you don't connect the ABSplus, the Automatic Launcher gives you a little reminder every time you boot up your notebook, like your mother telling you to wash your hands.
All backed up data is saved in native file format to provide fast, easy data recovery and access. The ABSplus also can be connected to a compatible system or computer to be used as an external hard drive, providing users an added level of insurance in the event of data loss or theft. Or you can haul your ABSplus drive down to your local computer dealer and have them install that drive into your notebook (or its replacement). I wouldn't recommend anyone open the case on a modern notebook; it's like opening Pandora's Box, extremely hard to put back. But you can be back up and running in a matter of minutes without having to do a data or system restore.
The ABSPlus comes with BounceBack Professional which offers a number of powerful and flexible features including:
- Automatic Backup - using CMS Products' patent-pending Automatic
- Bootability - The software creates a bootable backup copy of the source drive for instant recovery. This feature allows users to swap their external backup drive with their notebook or desktop's failed internal hard drive.
- QuickRestore - Enables rapid data recovery by quickly restoring individual files and folders directly from the designated backup drive.
- Versioning - BounceBack Professional maintains multiple copies of specified files. Multiple versions of the same file can be compared and restored on the source drive.
- Synchronization - CMS Products' software initiates a scan and compare of data files, the most recent files from either location are exchanged and synchronized with each other. This is handy for keeping a desktop at work, your notebook, and your desktop at home all on the same page.
All of CMS Products' solutions are available through major distributors, corporate resellers and direct from the company's Web site, www.cmsproducts.com.