Backing up your priceless scripts.

[GonnaBeFamous]

I decided to use hotmail as a backup just in case my computer hard drive crashes or something. Well it turns out my word document files would show up as ascrambled mess when downloaded back to my computer and only 46 kb(instead of 220kb as shown on hotmail and on my hard drive). I then got a website and uploaded the file and it once again became a scrambled mess. Hotmail even had the nerve to say my file was a virus on upload and download(just recently did this).

So I uploaded it to lycos EMAIL. Downloaded the file to my computer and its the full 220 KB and it reads fine.

Not sure what the heck is going on and why it only works with lycos email. Is hotmail just screwed up? Why didn't it work when I put it up on a homepage either? maybe its just my computer...

[StephieM]

Why not save yourself the trouble and save it on disc?

Steph

[GonnaBeFamous]

Tried that with floppies a long time ago with something else and the thing didn't work on another computer!!! The administrator told me that it could be incompatibilities between computers or something etc. So I'm trying to find something a little more assured.

SO JUST A WARNING DO NOT RELY ON FLOPPIES AS A BACKUP BECAUSE IF YOUR HARD DRIVE CRASHES OR YOU GET A NEW COMPUTER IT MIGHT NOT WORK ON IT!!!


Anyways I think I found the problem after trying a whole bunch of different things. For my browser/computer hotmail does not work for zip/word files. And on websites you have to download it as a zip not just a word.

[Optimus]

Maybe you're just a dysfunctional luddite.

I've saved copies of my scripts on floppy discs, burned them on CDs, emailed them to myself, etc., and never had any problems.

Perhaps you should take a computer course.

[GonnaBeFamous]

:rolleyes:

I graduated with a degree in Computer science.

[scripter1]

is the best way to protect your scripts.

I have had issues with disks made on my computer not working on another computer with a different brand of cd reader or operating system.
Not sure exactly what the problem was.
I do know that disks burned on my computer will not run in my hubby's.

So, I can understand your problem.

Disks are still a safe back up. If you are really paranoid you can burn several of them and store them in different places.
Hmm, a bank vault might work for you Gonna.
Ooooo, better yet
autograph them and send em out to all your friends and family. :D

Seriously though, just save them to disk and print out a copy.

[Joe Calabrese]

Go out and buy a 128meg USB flash drive for $50.

You can store over two hundred scripts.

I have two and alternate where as one is as the other rests in the bank and visa versa.

No moving parts, nothing to scratch, virtually indestructible and works cross platform. It is memory that unless you drop it and step on it, it will be there forever and anyone (Mac or PC) with a USB (computers newer than 1995) can access it.

[GonnaBeFamous]

Scripter, thats what I'm saying. Sometimes the file can corrupt. So I'm not taking any chances as that being my only backup if I ever have to wind up using a new computer. Printing would be good but then again its a waste of ink since I'm saving it every few pages I write or everytime I make a new polish.

Joe that's a good idea but this email/webpage backup thing seems adequate for me.

[Joe Calabrese]

Joe that's a good idea but this email/webpage backup thing seems adequate for me. Obviously not since you have problems with hotmail and your home page.

Another thing to keep in mind. It is good to email it, as it has a date and time stamp and makes for a poor man's copyright, but free emails, like hotmail will delete files because of inactivity, full boxes or system maintenance and other things. They are not liable for losing your stuff, but you are still out of luck.

also, try and back us as RTF (an almost universal file format) and not FD, MW, SOPH, SW, MM or any other proprietary software file. You never know, Movie Magic could go bankrupt some day or stuff gets forgotten.

I had some stuff written with Microsoft Works 93 that took me months to convert to FD when I got my new Desktop and lost the software install disks. Good luck getting support form Microsoft on that one.

[GonnaBeFamous]

No I finally figured out the solution. Hotmail is terrible and it works all OK on Lycos. And as for the website it was because word documents have to be zipped before they can be downloaded properly. I remembered this also from when I used to try and download word script files from internet sites. So everything is OK.

[Optimus]

For all the simple problems (with equally simple, obvious solutions) you seem to be having, that "degree" in Computer Science must not be a very good one.

[Joe Calabrese]

Be good Opti.

[maestrowork]

Get a CD burner or a USB flash drive or an SD card reader/writer. 1GB SD cards are selling for less than $80 -- you can fit ALL your scripts on one card.

[maestrowork]

If you have a gmail account, there's a freeware utility called GmailDrive (google it) that allows you to backup your files using your gmail account as a "removeable" drive. So instantly you have about 2GB storage.

[Boo_Radley]

I convert my scripts to PDF (a function provided by Final Draft 7, though you can get Adobe PDF Writer or any other number of portable document file writer programs) and save them to CDs. PDF will open on any computer, be it PC or MAC, which has Adobe Acrobat Reader on it.

[GonnaBeFamous]

For all the simple problems (with equally simple, obvious solutions) you seem to be having, that "degree" in Computer Science must not be a very good one.

I came up with the solutions on my own. Please shut up.

[Optimus]

Indeed.

[Chesher Cat]

Since you had this all figured out for yourself, and obviously don't want help from anybody posting suggestions for you, why did you bother bringing this subject up to begin with?

I know it's not because you wanted to save others from your problem because you've been around here long enough to see most of the people participating on the site are smart enough to know how to back up their files.

What's your subtext?

[GonnaBeFamous]

Chesher I never said I didn't want help but between my first post and post number 2 after stephanie replied I had figured out that it was just hotmail as the problem as I was able to get it working on a website as verification(besides Lycos Email).

[dpaterso]

Hotmail likes to reformat emails, maybe it likes to reformat word documents too. Who can say? Their software was probably written by monkeys, following the Microsoft tradition. But you've found Lycos, so problem solved.

As has been suggested, invest in a USB memory stick, if you haven't already. That way you have instant backup and restore available even if you can't get online for any reason.

-Derek
Derek's Web Page - stories, screenplays, novels, insanity. (http://hometown.aol.co.uk/DPaterson57/scripts.htm)

[Mac H.]

Backups ... I have two and alternate where as one is as the other rests in the bank and visa versa.This might sound pathetic, but I don't keep a backup in the bank - my mother keeps it safe for me.

Seriously - it works well. After all, my laptop etc could get pinched or lost, but the odds of both my place AND my parents place burning down simultaneously would be so low that I could probably expect a visit from the arson squad ...

And my mother feeds me dinner when I go to update the backup instead of of sending me a bill ....

But if you want a *REAL* backup, the Long Now foundation (www.longnow.org (http://www.longnow.org/) ) suggest you inscribe the script into a marble slab, and put it in a cave in a geologically stable area.

Oh - and don't forget to use at least 5 digits when you write the year down to avoid the Y10K bug....

Mac
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
24-August-02005 CE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Enigma]

I claim the title of "Chief of the Paranoid Tribe" when it comes to backing up files and folders, and hiding sensitive files, and security. Just ask the computer geeks on AumHa.com. They helped me do it right and they'll do the same for you, BTW.

Now when I buy a new PC, which is about every two years, I take the HD out of the old PC and install it in the new PC as a back up, boot off it and away I go to Ghost to make a mirror image. Then, I have a 120GB HDD (about $135) and all my files are automatically backed up to that. When I finish something, I also make three CDs (a quarter each), one of which I keep on my desk, the second goes in my bank box and the third - well, where that one is kept is a secret. Also a secret is where I back up another copy to, plus hide sensitive files. It can be assumed that 1. it ain't in my house and 2. it probably belongs to one of my clients or former clients - and it sure isn't an e-mail account which is so risky I don't want to think about it. Finally, I have a LAN between my lappy and PC, so the files on the two are duplicates. Oh, and the HDD works perfectly on either computer.

And, Gonna, pull up AumHa and ask for help cause you need it and they'll give it! They're the expert's experts, their help is free and they'll take you by the hand and lead you out of the darkness.

And other computer issues? Like a CD that can't be read on another computer? That one is so simple to correct it's laughable, even to me, who doesn't know beans about computers. Again, contact AumHa.

And remember, it's not if your HD crashes and burns, it's when!

[StephieM]

Enigma,

I'll have to check out the site you mentioned. Computers are definitly not my area of expertise. Type, save, and print is about all I know how to do, (besides turning the thing on.) LOL. Wether or not it will turn off for me is a different story.

I am still in the ancient times where computers and technology is concerned. I'm still popping VHS's into the VCR, I don't have a cellphone, and I'm still using a camera that takes 110 film. :)

I have a feeling I'll need the AumHa guys (or girls) eventually.

:Hammer:
Thanks,
Steph

[Enigma]

Enigma,

I'll have to check out the site you mentioned. Computers are definitly not my area of expertise...

... I have a feeling I'll need the AumHa guys (or girls) eventually.

:Hammer:
Thanks,
Steph

That's almost all I know how to do with 'em too but, boy, have they ever got my computers working like a charm. I've asked some really dumb questions, and they've always answered without making me feel like an idiot.

They've saved my little white rear-end, and my bank balance, more than a few times. I can't say enough good things about them. They're very unselfish people.

Oh, and they'll speak English for you, not geek-speak.

Tell 'em Winterchase sent you. That won't get you anything, but a good laugh out of them.

[sspunisher]

I think the website is AumHa.net, right?

[NikeeGoddess]

you said "priceless" scripts. well, some are and most are not.
loosing your script in a computer crash can be devastating. but, after your mini heart attack and crying fest....take your hard copy and start retyping. you will be amazed at how crappy that script was and how much your retyping has improved the quality of your script. ;)

[sspunisher]

This has happened to me a couple of times. I've never had as much as I have on my laptop now though, so I make sure to save on my 2gb thumbrdive frequently. 2 GIGGGS, thats freagin huge. I think my laptop is like 20 gbs by itself.

Anyway, I'd reccommend investing in one of these things. The one I have is a bit bulky cuz it has a lot more memory (roughly the size of two ps2 memory cards back to back), but those longer skinny ones are pocket friendly, and can save you lots of hair pulling later.

Emailing your script to yourself is another endevour that isn't nearly as hard as some people make it out to be. Don't copy and paste it, just attach it. And not in hotmail where those security things go crazy overboard. Yahoo would probably work better for the free ones out there.

[icerose]

I use two different back up harddrives on two different computers, an ftp uploader with a decoded area for my backups, I use a RW CD which I update at least once a month and label the date, I never use floppies ever, they are too flimsy. And they are of course on my laptop and even then I have come close to losing some of my more current material. I plan on investing in a USB jump drive either for my birthday or for my christmas. Those who trust your computer or e-mail (the very thought makes me nervous!) or just one method. I have to say you must have been very very lucky in your life as a writer to have never lost anything. Which reminds me I am due for another cd backup today and ftp upload. I hope that no one ever loses your work because it is devistating when it does happen. I do agree with Nikee about re-typing and how much your work improves but it doesn't sound like most even have hard copies. I don't because ink is too expensive for me right now. But seriously, either you are the luckiest writers out there to be able to trust only one or two shaky methods of back up, or well...I'll be good.

Sara