How to get reliable backups

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
December 7, 2019
9 replies
72 views

After a recent hard-drive crash, I found that many of my backed up Lacerte 2018 data files were corrupted. They had been backed up using Mozy Pro. The restored clients generate various error messages when I try to open them. I spent some time on the phone with tech support (excellent, as always!) and found the problem is in the backup files themselves. I have tried restoring from different backup dates, including immediately after completing some of my first 2018 returns, with no different results. It looks like I will have to reconstruct the affected returns.

My question is, how can I get reliable automatic backups of my data path, to avoid repeating this experience?

Thanks,

Herb

Lacerte Tax

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Best answer by qbteachmt

Here is what I teach:

Mozy, Carbonite, FreeFileSync, Dropbox, are not Backups. They are Mirrored Copies of the working folders and files. You want to be using the Programs' Backup functions when a Program has it, such as Ashley points out for Lacerte. You put these somewhere safe, such as letting Mozy, Carbonnite, etc mirror these Special Files. That way, you are using your program to manage its own files the way it needs to manage them, and you are using a Storage routine to keep them in more than one place.

qbteachmtAnswer

Level 15

Here is what I teach:

Mozy, Carbonite, FreeFileSync, Dropbox, are not Backups. They are Mirrored Copies of the working folders and files. You want to be using the Programs' Backup functions when a Program has it, such as Ashley points out for Lacerte. You put these somewhere safe, such as letting Mozy, Carbonnite, etc mirror these Special Files. That way, you are using your program to manage its own files the way it needs to manage them, and you are using a Storage routine to keep them in more than one place.

Don't yell at us; we're volunteers

AshleyatIntuit

Level 9

Really sound advice @qbteachmt !

AshleyatIntuit

Level 9

So while there is no real "secret" per say, there are pieces that are imparative in this process, so here is some information not only about backing up your data but also the Lacerte file structure. If you aren't backing up the required files it will be next to impossible to ever restore what you're backing up.

File structure: https://accountants-community.intuit.com/articles/1609322-lacerte-data-file-structure-and-extensions

Backing up Data: https://accountants-community.intuit.com/articles/1606617-backing-up-client-files-in-the-lacerte-tax...

H

herbAuthor

Level 3

Thanks, Ashley. I have my backup configured to capture everything in the data path. Could there by hidden or locked files the backup skipped? I haven't seen any similar issues in 2017 restored client data.

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