Just looking for some feedback on the best method of keeping files etc. safe in case of computer shutdown. I have seen companies on the net who say that they offer this service. I was also told you can purchase a memory stick load everything on it and put in bank d box. I have tried using the individual disk but not working too well. I appreciate any input to this. My hubby is getting panicky that we do something.

Thanks

Ladybow,

I use an external hard drive myself. It is bigger than what I have on the computer itself so I also back up the whole hard drive on it regularly with Acronis. That way I can easily restore my computer anytime if the whole thing would crash.

But you can pick up a jump drive for only a few dollars and plug it into your USB when you want to back up your data as you would use a floppy (remember those) or cd. Very easy to use and I know larger organizations that do that daily, then carry them home in their pocket in case of fire or whatever.

Good Success!

James

Thanks James,
I am a novice at this, so I was just looking for a suggestion on how to keep my info safe, ok having said that which would be the best in your opinion?
I do appreciate your help

Ladybow,

Evidently I like the hard drive best since that is what I use, but it is largely a matter of cost and your goals. The hard drive is several times as expensive but still you can now buy a 250 gig external hard drive that plugs into a USB port for about $100.00 so it is a lot cheaper than when I bought mine. The jump drive can be picked up for $15.00.

The difference is that the jump drive will probably only hold your data while you can back up your whole main hard drive on the external hard drive. If your computer crashes you have all your programs saved that way--everything. So you get more protection and save a lot of time setting up your computer again. I have never had a hard drive fail, but a lot of people do.

It is like insurance. You have to decide for yourself how much you want and how much you want to spend. I have more money than time (as most people do, they just don't know it) so for me the decision is easy. But if someone doesn't have the extra $100.00 dollars the jump drive will certainly save the data just as well as another hard drive. You will be just as safe with one as the other. And the jump drive is really handy anyway for taking data with you from one place to another. I have and use a couple of them.

Good Success!

James

I'll add my two cents.

Definitely an external hard drive should be your primary backup. I have a 250GB drive that I use to backup my computer. Since it is external, I also use it to backup my wife's laptop by simply plugging it into the laptop's USB port instead of my desktop's.

I don't mind flash drives, by my data takes up a lot of GB (12+). Most of my data are digital photos that I can't replace if my hard drive crashed. I only use my flash drive for quick backups, as James mentioned, until I can get the hard drive up and running.

My seconday backup are DVD+Rs. There is a difference between +R and -R, and for archiving +Rs are better (-Rs for everyday use). I always burn two copies of my data and keep them both offsite. I only use premium DVD+R discs (Taiyo Yuden) that are reliable and well made so the data should be safe.

My dad's hard drive crashed and he lost a lot of digital photos. I installed a new hard drive and had him go out and buy an external one for backups.

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Currently employed as an IT person and data recovery and backup is big part of my job, I too will add that purchasing a external hard drive is the best way to go. I have different clients here at work that will use a external hard drive and a usb flash drive, but it depends on how much data you have and if you want to back up your entire hard drive.

Backing up your entire hard drive takes a lot of time and also, it's good to keep in mind that when you back up your entire hard drive (if that is the route chosen) you will need to reinstall software/applications. Just copying and transferring them is not good enough. Now, there is cloning one's hard drive and once it's restored, everything is the exactly the way you had it. I've been involved with that recently. I normally work on laptops at my job and I had a Dell Lattitude laptop that a client had a hard drive replaced (physical damage to the drive in his case so there was no data corruption) I cloned the old drive and restored the contents to his new drive and everything was exactly the way it was before his issue. Backing up your data is very important and should be done frequently. I'm constantly reminding my clients here at work to do this regularly instead of waiting for us to get their laptop and then later having to tell them I'm unable to retreive their data. Of course, it all depends on the condition of the drive. We have tools but sometimes we do have bad news to give to them- There are data recovery centers that do extensive data recovery, but they also can be very expensive.

Renee