PC Crash - data recovery

[Dilas]

My PC crashes and I ve to install OS, Pokertracker 3 and PostgreSQL on a new HD

I ve a complete Backup of my old files but unfortunately no exported datafiles.

Which directories /files should I copy over the new installed files to recreated my old installation / datafiles ?

[keggler]

what sort of backup(s) do you have?

which o/s?

is this just a poker tracker pc or do you have backups of all your other [non-poker] data?


susan

[Dilas]

what sort of backup(s) do you have?

which o/s?

is this just a poker tracker pc or do you have backups of all your other [non-poker] data?


susan

I ve got a backup of my whole datas incl. postgresSQL and pokertracker directories

OS: vista 64x

[keggler]

have you got a backup of the postgres databases done via pg_admin or pg_dump or your processed hand-histories or exported via PT? Any or all?


susan

[Dilas]

have you got a backup of the postgres databases done via pg_admin or pg_dump or your processed hand-histories or exported via PT? Any or all?


susan

No .. I ve got a backup of every single file of my old HD

But no exported Hands or special database backups

That why I m asking, if its possible to make a new installation and copy the old files from the backup over the new installation.
If yes: Which files do I have to copy ?

[keggler]

no


susan

[Dilas]

no


susan

When I read this, I m asing myself why I ve made BackUps

For the future: What do I have to do, to recover my datafiles when my HD crashes ....

[keggler]

you have to realise that in a windows environment, you can't just make straight copies of folders that contain applications and databases and then just copy them back in, in the event of a failure; things like registry keys, .dll's and all sorts of other bits are going to get messed up.

granted, this is not a problem with pure data like spreadsheets, .jpg's, etc, but your postgres data isn't like that; if you have your processed hh's in your backups somewhere; they are pure data and can be restored, prior to populating a new db - this is probably going to be your best chance of a get-out-of-jail free card here - try and locate these in your pokertracker backups.

your populated postgres databases need to be backed-off with the correct tool; pg_dumpall, for a restore to be successful.

alternatively, you can periodically "clone" your hard-drive with something like norton ghost or acronis true image - this would then be a bit-for-bit image, a snapshot in time, that can be re-cloned back to provide an exact image of the complete drive at the time of the clone.


susan

[Dilas]

your populated postgres databases need to be backed-off with the correct tool; pg_dumpall, for a restore to be successful.

alternatively, you can periodically "clone" your hard-drive with something like norton ghost or acronis true image - this would then be a bit-for-bit image, a snapshot in time, that can be re-cloned back to provide an exact image of the complete drive at the time of the clone.

I use Acronis True Image but unfortunately the new HD controller is not compatible with the old installation. So Vista does not boot.

Which way / tool ist the best to backup postgres databases automaticly every night ?

[keggler]

so you have an acronis clone of your old drive? why don't we work to get that working in your new system?

or have you updated your new system such that the clone restore would lose this information?

to answer your last question, i would recommend setting up a scheduled task to invoke a .bat file that calls the pg_dumpall backup interface... you may have to adapt the script to enter the postgres password; also, get the .bat file to back off your processed hh's - this gives you redundancy in case the pg_dumpall backup's integrity is compromised - make sure you backup to a different medium, not just another logical drive on the same spindle...


susan