My knowledge will stretch pretty far, once it's been prodded sufficiently! I was messing about with Linux quite a lot about 12 years ago but not since then so I have no real issues with getting my hands dirty! Photos and what not will be backed up too, for day to day things I'm going to assume that it's unlikely that I'll lose two disks at the same time :-)

What do you use as a backup?

I use a USB HDD and CDs / DVDs for more important stuff.

 

I have a RAID1 setup in my PC, but I've learnt the hard way not to treat it as a backup.

one power surge type mishap (or water damage, accident, etc) can take 'em both out pretty easily if they're in the same box though.

For an OS, you might want to consider Windows Home Server. It's quite cheap, even if you don't get help from Jim.

It provides backups of clients, and also has some basic management of backup to USB drive or whathaveyou. Also provides a DLNA media server, and a web interface for uploading/viewing your files/videos/photos, etc.

I've been running a V1 (based on server 2003) box for a couple of years now, and am now migrating to 2011 (based on server 2008 R2). It's pretty good at 'just working'

Yeah - at the moment I have crap all over the place so while I get around to reinstalling etc, seems like the ideal time to get everything set up properly. I already have a couple of external USB drives, just need to organise so its easy to do regular backups :-)

I'll look into that then ta

That adapter should do the job, but on the topic of adapters like that, I wouldn't trust them too much. I've had a couple of the similar adapters that have died or just refused to work with certain drives and worked with others. I've also found some chipsets don't like all hard drives, especially larger ones.

Thanks for the tip - starting to think some sort of NAS might be better...windows home server 2011 needs a better machine than I have and according to what I've been able.to find so far points to earlier versions not liking windows 7 too much. I'll have to get off the phone and start having a look on a proper computer

How about a HP N36L?

It's £242 on Ebuyer, but you can claim £100 rebate from HP. Comes with 1 250GB HDD, but has space to hold 4 HDDs and a optical drive. It's x86 capable too so will run Windows (Home) Server or some Linux or whatever you fancy throwing at it.

What Matt said.

 

If I didn't already have more than the amount of drives to put in one of those I'd buy one myself.

What Matt said, thirded.. I've had one for about 7 months now I think, loaded with a couple of 2TB drives and the standard one for the OS, with WHS2011 and DriveBender ('cos MS decided to remove the duplication feature); add Mezzmo or a free alternative as a DLNA server, and you've got a great thingy in a little box.

That is exactly what I run my WHS2011 on :)

Such as Serviio

Precisely - although I had some issues with Serviio, so I'm sticking to Mezzmo for now.
I'm also following this thread to set up SABnzbd and Sick Beard (but without XBMC 'cos my TV can stream DLNA so I don't need it). Geekness!

I assume you pay for Usenet access?

Well you have to, no?

It's just my confusion about people paying to pirate, each to their own I guess.

I would quite happily pay a monthly fee to someone if that would mean being able to legally stream/download movies in high quality and I was provided with a good choice of material - I do so already for Spotify (despite its niggles).

 

But there isn't yet such a service for video material unfortunately. Retarded industry...

So would I (maybe) but I refuse to pay to pirate.