[Sussex] back ups and stuff like that ?

[John D.]

Hi list,

Advice/suggestion about back up methods please.

Why? because during the finalisation of my gentoo install (updates etc), 
the system had dragged in a new kernel version.

Upgrading to the newer version has never been a problem before, but this 
time it was i.e. I did the upgrade according to the gentoo docs, but 
when it came to rebooting into the new kernel, it didn't want to start 
X, wouldn't start kde, etc etc. I did get into graphic mode once, but 
only into twm - which I have no real understanding/experience of.

I managed to sort the problem, by just recompiling (I think thats what 
it's called) the kernel again. Which then let me into X/KDE.

The only real snag then turned out to be with Firefox and Thunderbird. 
It wouldn't let me start either as "the current profiles are in use". I 
don't follow what that means or it's ramifications properly. What I do 
know it that it's wiped out my address book in thunderbird and it was a 
major hassle getting to my customisations and bookmarks for Firefox.

Sure, I appreciate that backups are normally done by those who are 
"smarter than the average bear", but I've never really had any data 
thats important enough, so that it needs to be protected in such a way.

So is it feasible to be able to back up address books, bookmarks etc 
just as seperate files. Which can then be kept away from the 
applications (so I can import them back later should anything "play up" 
in a similar fashion to my earlier description ??? Or would I have to 
keep more than just that ???

I don't think that I need to burn it to cdrw/dvdrw or anything quite 
that extensive, though advice may suggest otherwise.

So what direction should I go, that is sensible for "just a home user" ??

regards

John D.