Backing up data has gotten much easier
Todays software pretty much automates the process. If
you buy or own an external hard disk, it will have its
own backup software
Years ago, I felt like a hypocrite for urging readers
to back up their computers. I didnt do it very often
myself.
In those daysunless you had one of the expensive
external mass storage devices available thenbackups
were done on floppy disks. Backing up required feeding
floppy disks into the machine as needed, like putting
quarters in a slot machine. It was just too much
trouble.
Nowadays, external hard drives are so inexpensiveI
just bought a 250GB model for $100that there's really
no excuse for failing to back up a computer.
Heck, I even do it myself these days.
Todays software pretty much automates the process. If
you buy or own an external hard disk, it will have its
own backup software. For instance, the $100
Maxtor One Touch 4 (I just bought it for my wife) has
backup softwarealready loaded.
I recommend using the software that comes with your
hard diskwith one exception: I really like the
built-in backup program that comes with Windows Vista.
It works seamlessly. Windows XP has backup software,
but its not worth the trouble.
So far, this has been pretty simple. Get an external
hard disk and use it. If thats all you do, youre in
pretty good shape.
But for those of you with data that just cant be
replacedmaybe family photos, financial records or the
bookkeeping data for a small businessthere are
extra steps that lessen the chances of disaster.
Heres why these extra steps may make sense. If a
power surge or lightning strike hits your computer and
the external hard disk is attached, odds are both
the internal and external drives are gonna get fried.
There goes your backup.
At home, I use the next layer of protection by
disconnecting the external hard disk after it backs up
my machine.
Thats more work. It means you have to start the
backup yourself, rather than let the automated
software do it. Still, a lightning strike cant hurt a
disconnected
external hard disk.
Even thats not foolproof. If a tornado or a fire
destroyed my house, I would almost certainly lose both
my computers internal hard disk and the external
one.
The way around that: Online backup storage.
You can find several websites that store backups.
Youd use the external hard disk but also store an
extra backup online.
While some of these sites will store small amounts
free, youll probably end up paying for the storage. I
am not going to recommend a specific service,
since I havent used one myself in a while. But you
can get a feel by visiting ibackup.com,
usdatatrust.com or idrive.com. You can find more with
Google.
Perhaps you like the idea of having a backup copy away
from your home or business, butfor whatever
reasondont want to use an online site.
There is yet another way. Just buy two external hard
disks and use one for a month, then swap it out for
the second one for a month. Store the external
drive thats taking the month off with a family
member, a trusted friend or at work. That gives you
physical offsite storage.
Worst case, if disaster destroys your home, you have
data thats just a month old. Bill Husted
©2007/The New York Times
Why delete messages? Unlimited storage is just a click away. Go to
http://help.yahoo.com/l/in/yahoo/mail/yahoomail/tools/tools-08.html
To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe.
To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please
visit the list home page at
http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
