Back-up files

Advances in information technology are now impacting upon the pharmaceutical industry. Many documents are now maintained in electronic format. In fact, some regard it as likely that in the future paperless facilities will become commonplace, with all documentation being computerized. Several aspects of such electronic document maintenance deserve special attention. Adequate back-up files should always be retained. Also, restricted access to computerized systems is required to ensure that data/documentation is only entered/amended by persons authorized to do so. 

There are four major types of backup that most backup software will use when backing up files. The four types are Full, Differential, Incremental, and Custom. Each type differs in the amount that it backs up, the time it takes to perform the backup and the time it takes to restore the system to its pre-backup condition. 

The upside to the Incremental backup is that only the files that have changed that day will be backed up. If only three files changed today, then only three files will be backed up. Incremental backups tend to be very quick. Additionally, there is very little wasted effort because you aren t backing up files that haven t... 

Backing up files in Windows 95 Backup works very similarly to the Windows MWBACKUP.EXE program. First you select what you want to back up, then where to want to back up those files and directories to, and then you initiate the backup ... 

The next step in the restore is to select the files and directories you want to restore. The screen shown in Figure 17.11 works the same as the file selection screen for backing up files earlier in the chapter simply place a check mark next to the file(s) you want to restore and click Start Restore. On the other hand, if you want to restore the whole backup set, click the check box next to the name of the backup set in this window. All files from the backup set will be restored with this selection. 

A. The Differential type of backup backs up files on a disk that have changed since the last Full backup. 

Excel does not make back-up files by default. If you wish to change this, use Files => Save As => Options and select Always create backup. 

Backing up data and application files on a network is essential to overall network security and the ability to recover from the inevitable data-destroying disaster. Although the process and overall components are relatively simple, the implementation can be anything but simple. Basically there are only two components to a network backup system (1) the software, which manages the backup, and (2) the hardware device, which captures the backed-up files. 

Remember, backup is not necessarily a one way process. Restoration of backed up files and the ease with which that restoration can be accomplished is a major purchasing consideration. Being able to schedule unattended backups or restorals as well as the ability to spool or print log reports of backup/restoral activity are also important to network managers. 

The flak is increasing for the Finders, as Paul Arico and seven other ex-members are corning back to file suit for the piece of their pie they gave up to Pettie when they... 

If the quality manual is written and used in electronic form, first of all the same requirements have to be met. There must be a system for managing the access rights on the files, a system to ensure that no unauthorized documents is placed on the system, that all withdrawn documents are stored for later information and that all documents are securely backed up. 

I recall the saddest writing experience I had, while working on my book the Loom of God. I lost a whole weekend s worth of work because, as the weekend closed, I wanted to back up the file to a diskette. I issued in DOS ... 

All data generated in a computer system must be available, secure, and safely stored. Unauthorized people cannot have access to data files. It must be impossible to overwrite any data, but all recalculation required must generate a new data and not substitute the previous one. Safety procedures must be available. Data should be backed up periodically following specific SOPs, and backup copies must be iden-... 

Now I try to handle things as they hit my in-basket. If they re little, I just do them if they re big, I file them and list them with Mr. To Do. There is some judgment required here, but I find when I refuse to let regular little stuff pile up, I keep a clearer calendar for the big things that need my attention. I should also confess that I can t quite live up to the example set by Dr. Sam, and from time to time I do get backed up with little things I should have handled quickly. Nonetheless, I know what I should do, and I try to keep clutter out of my basket and keep work flowing out the door. 

Business continuity procedures, including disaster recovery procedures, should ensure minimal disruption in the case of loss of data or any part of the system. It is necessary to ensure that the integrity of the data is not compromised during the return to normal operation. At the lowest level, this may mean the accidental deletion of a single file, in which case a procedure should be in place for restoring the most recently backed-up copy. At the other extreme, a disaster such as a fire could result in loss of the entire system. For this situation a procedure addressing the following should be in place ... 

Computer files/data must be backed up either by hard copy, microfilm, or magnetic... 

In addition, it is possible to reference data in another spreadsheet file, for example [First.xls]Result A3 refers to die address of cell A3 in worksheet Result and file First. This might be potentially useful, for example, if the file First consists of a series of spectra or a chromatogram whereas the current file consists of the results of processing die data, such as graphs or statistics. This dexibility comes with a price, as all files have to be available simultaneously, and is somewhat elaborate especially in cases where files are regularly reorganised and backed up. 

Files corresponding to missing data were routinely deleted from the hard-drive and were not backed up. [FDA Warning Letter, 2000]... 

Firm s procedures did not specify the frequency of backing up raw data files. [FDA 483,2002]... 

Hydro-Med Sciences, February 1999 — There are no procedures for backing-up data files and no levels of security access established. ... 

Servers should be backed up in accordance with appropriate SOPs. The ability to restore multiple and single files should be tested and documented. 

B. A Differential backup does not mark the files that are backed up as archived. An Incremental backup would mark the files that are backed up as archived. See Chapter 17 for more information. 

The three primary INI files that Windows uses are SYSTEM.INI, WIN.INI, and PROGMAN.INI. Each of them should be backed up before changes are... 

SCANREG Scans the Registry by starting a Windows application that checks for errors and allows you to back up the Registry files. 

Although conversion generally works without a hitch, a power outage or accidental shutdown during the conversion could be very bad. Make sure to back up all crucial files before the conversion ... 

Archiving Identical to the Archive attribute on a FAT or FAT32 drive. This tells the system whether the file has changed since the last time it was backed up. Technically it is known as the Archive Needed attribute if this box is selected, the file should be backed up. If it is not selected, a current version of the file is already backed up. 

Most backups are done the same way select what you want to back up, then select where you want to back up to, then finally begin the backup. The files and directories you want to back up (and, subsequently, the drive they are stored on) are called the backup source. The device that you are backing up to is called the backup target. Once you have selected these items, some backup software will let you save these selections in a file known as a backup set so that... 

A Differential backup backs up the files on a disk that have changed since the last Full backup, regardless of whether a Differential or Incremental backup has been done since the last Full backup. The Full backup is done usually once a week (i.e., on Friday) and copies all the files from the disk to the backup device. The Differential backup is done every day. 

The Incremental backup works similarly to the Differential backup but uses fewer tapes in a large backup situation. An Incremental backup does a Full backup once a week, then the backup software backs up all the files that have changed since the previous backup (not necessarily the last Full backup). Each day the backup software backs up a different amount of data, depending on the amount of data that was created that day. 

The last type of backup that is performed is the Custom backup. A Custom backup is any combination of the above three types. A Custom backup involves selecting the files you want backed up as well as when you want them backed up. Most backup software programs have the ability to perform this type of backup. An example of a time when you might need to perform a Custom backup is the end of the year. Accountants will need to back up the previous year s accounting data before finishing the year s accounting, just in case they make any mistakes and need to restore and start over. 

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