How to use backups to recover from a database degrade when too few backups?
In the summer of 2021 the metrowest Boston area where I live had a strong lightning storm that knocked out many houses and businesses. I have had APC UPSs since the 1990s. I do backups consistently.
What happened was that a degrade occurred to the Quicken database. I used the computer until a few days before Xmas 2021 when it completely crashed. I had to get everything new except for an additional disk drive inside the computer. I was able to restore from my backups BUT … Quicken was hopelessly corrupt. Since I have been using Quicken since the DOS days of the late 1980s, I extracted just the data from 2000 and loaded it onto a new QDATA file. However, that was not enough
I was missing at time two or more years from several accounts. I used two methods to reconstruct the data: 1) extracting data from PDF files into Excel files and then using ProperConvert to create QXF files and 2) manually enter the data. It was extremely time-consuming and "painful". To avoid doing that painful reconstruct again, I am copying selective backups into a separate directory. My parameter is: monthly unless I make a lot of changes.
Technically, APC (now Schneider Electric) said the large UPS I was using was insufficient to protect me from a lightning storm. BTW, the local pizza restaurant had a similar experience and solution. So, I bought the SMXRMxxxx battery pack. I have experienced a few lightning storms since then, but I have not had any problems with my computer. And … the local pizza restaurant has not, either. :-)
Unless Quicken does journaling or incremental backups, I feel that that steps I have taken are the safest to avoid a major disaster.
Answers
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Q does neither journaling nor incremental backups. All Q backups are full copies of your data file at the moment of the backup.
For the reason that you painfully discovered, backing up to the hard drive in your computer isn't advised. Instead, direct your backups to a removable/remote device such as a USB/thumb drive, a CD or the cloud.
Just don't USE any of those backups directly, all sorts of issues arise from doing that. Instead always RESTORE a backup to your hard drive before using it in Q.
Q user since February, 1990. DOS Version 4
Now running Quicken Windows Subscription, Business & Personal
Retired "Certified Information Systems Auditor" & Bank Audit VP0
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