Have you backed up your computer lately?

[Dumpsterkitty]

This week's forum disaster reminded me I was due for a full backup.  Just sharing the reminder... 

[Donna]

This week's forum disaster reminded me I was due for a full backup.  Just sharing the reminder... 

My PC is always asking me to back up my files. Where do they back up to? I have all my pics on memory sticks but that's about it.

[nwfloridafalconfan]

This week's forum disaster reminded me I was due for a full backup.  Just sharing the reminder... 

My PC is always asking me to back up my files. Where do they back up to? I have all my pics on memory sticks but that's about it.

You may want to look into getting an external hard drive - kind of expensive now due to recent floods in Thailand which destroyed hard drive factories.  I like Western Digital and Seagate.  Watch for deals at places such as newegg.com.  You need to be on their email list to get the best promos. 

Windows includes a backup function and many external hard drives will come with backup software.  I prefer the free and easy Karen's Replicator (http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptreplicator.asp)

[Patti from Kentucky]

Having had a total hard drive failure before in our household (Jeane's PC, where all of our pictures were stored), we're pretty paranoid.  Luckily Kodak Gallery had a service where you could purchase a CD of all of your photos.  It was really expensive, but the only way we recovered some of our older photos.

I have a local backup (you can get a 1 TB USB external hard drive for less than $150), and I use Crashplan for an offsite backup.  There are many offsite backup options available, including just buying the storage space and putting your critical files there manually, but I like the option that does it for me -- Crashplan is an "always running" solution that backs up files as soon as I touch them.  There are other solutions that are similar...

[Donna]

I have files from my last PC that crashed backed up to Mozy and I just remembered it now! Gee, I wonder what's there? I don't even know my PW for that but I'll get it. Wonder where else I have back ups?  

Thanks Paul, good advice.

[Dumpsterkitty]

68% complete to my Western Digital 2 TB external drive-the full treatment includes a system image. I back up critical files (read-pictures) weekly to the same device.  I got it on sale a year or so ago at Best Buy-probably spent $150.

The pictures are backed up using Picasa.  The full system backup I just use Windows backup.  I've often thought of looking at a different program, but never seem to get around to it.  I'm limited in offsite options due to lack of high speed connection.  Someday they will bring fiber into my neighborhood.  I will not pay another stinking dime to the cable monopoly here...

[nwfloridafalconfan]

"I really worry about everything going to the cloud," Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak recently said. "I think it's going to be horrendous. I think there are going to be a lot of horrible problems in the next five years."

http://www.technolog.msnbc.msn.com/technology/technolog/yes-cloud-dangerous-heres-how-stay-safe-927142?__utma=14933801.1350715333.1344352201.1344352201.1344352201.1&__utmb=14933801.1.10.1344352201&__utmc=14933801&__utmx=-&__utmz=14933801.1344352201.1.1.utmcsr=%28direct%29|utmccn=%28direct%29|utmcmd=%28none%29&__utmv=14933801.|8=Earned%20By=msnbc|cover=1^12=Landing%20Content=Mixed=1^13=Landing%20Hostname=www.nbcnews.com=1^30=Visit%20Type%20to%20Content=Earned%20to%20Mixed=1&__utmk=174830114