Author Login | Popular Articles | RSS Feeds | Sitemap

3 Ways To Back Up Your Computer

By: Matt Rizos

Let's face it, backing up those important documents are something you know you
need to do; however it's just not getting done. You're either too lazy or you
don't know how to do it.

When I work with my clients I always hear them say "Gosh, I really need to
backup these files but I'm just not sure what the best way to go about".

In this article Im going to discuss 3 ways to backup your files and 1 of
those ways will allow you to backup your files completely
automatically and securely (for all you really lazy folks).

Lets briefly discuss these 3 methods. We will essentially be backing up files
to one of these 3 common methods:

1. Burnable media (CD's and DVD's).
2. To an external hard drive or flash stick.
3. To secure automatic online storage.

Ok, let's start with the first backup method. Burnable media.

Backing up to CD is one of the earliest methods of consumer backup. It involves
using a blank CD or DVD to store data. That data is copied to the CD via software
built into Windows XP and hardware in your pc (the cd burner drive).

The amount of data you can safely store on burnable media is:

CD - 700 MegaBytes
DVD - 4,300 MegaBytes

Keep in mind that a digital picture is about 2 MegaBytes.

Ok, the next way to backup your files would be to copy them to an external flash
drive (aka an external USB hard drive). This is by far the most common way people
assume they will backup their files, however this method relies on:

1. The drive needs to be connected and powered on.
2. If using automatic backup software (like windows backup) you need to make sure
your schedule is actually "kicking off" and backing up your files.
3. If you're not using automatic backup software then you have to remember to
backup those files to the external hard drive.

So, as you can see, using an external usb hard drive is not exactly the quick or
reliable way to backup your important data.

Finally, we have my absolute favorite way to backup critical data:

Automatic Secure Online Backup.

This method offers so many advantages, it's really a "no brainer". Let's go over
the many advantages of online backup:

1. It's completely automatic. You tell the online backup software what you want
backed up and it'll backup those files according to the schedule you choose.

2. It's secure. Almost every online backup software application features more
encryption than your bank uses (about 3 times more!)

3. It's unlimited! No matter how much data you have on your PC it'll get backed
up. The first backup usually takes a pretty long time (mine took about 3 weeks to
finish) but after the initial backup is complete only changes will be backed up
in the future (which usually just takes a few minutes).

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

About the Author:
How to backup vista and other computer tips.
The PC Docs offer St. Louis Computer Repair and serivces.


Tags: ,

| Print | Ezine Ready | |

Loading...
Related....
Videos...

Recent Computers-and-Technology Articles

Still can't find what you are looking for? Search for it!

Custom Search

Copyright 2005-2009 ArticleSnatch.com - All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service.