What is the best way to back up home computer files, just simple documents and pictures?
My husband’s PC is making "a noise" and so we want to make sure our files have back-up for just pictures of the Grandchildren, documents, stuff like that. I have some CDs with the photos backed up, but don’t know if that is the easiest way to do it. Being a normal, red blooded American male, he went out and purchased a top of the line back-up drive (0.00!) This drive will store over 500 GB. He has less than 25 GB on his whole computer! Can someone suggest a more economic option for people on a fixed income who have no need to back up, oh, I don’t know, the entire west coast’s PCs?!! I have a laptop also and we can share files. Perhaps one computer can back up the other? As far as the noise on his computer, we will have to get the "clunk" noise investigated I suppose. But first, back-up!
I would appreciate any help you can suggest. (I will figure out a way to diplomatically tell him myself!) Thanks so much!
Thanks for the answers so far, but I also wanted to ask if anyone has used or recommends a service for backing up the home computer? I heard that it could be a simple thing to do but am not sure where to start? Thanks again.
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Tagged with: 101 Cds • Computer Files • Computer Pictures • economic option • fixed income • gb • grandchildren • home computer • laptop • photos • Share Files • top of the line • west coast
Filed under: How To Get Him Back
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I hate to say this.. but your husband made the wise decision
.. That is precisely you need – an external backup drive.
And trust me.. you need your backup drive to have a much much higher capacity than your computer.. So you are in pretty good shape.. And you will be surprised how fast your computer fills up esp. with digital photos and stuff.!
Good luck.. and that ole hubby of yours seems like a smart man!
You could probably use the "Briefcase" feature in Windows to back up the one computer onto the other…but it wouldn’t be automated.
There are websites that you could back-up to. They are less up-front. But maybe the fixed cost is preferable to you…even if it costs more over time.
Another easy way to back up would be to buy a stack of DVD-R disks (NOT the RW disks). Again, though, you need to remember to PERFORM the backups. Some people might say you could set your stuff up so that you don’t keep backing up the same stuff every time, but I wouldn’t trust the disks to last forever. And 25GB could be 7 DVDs each time.
Personally, I got the back-up drive. It backs up the machine weekly automatically–and THAT’s the key! Because if you have a method, and don’t use it, it’s worthless. And you should go big–because EVERYTHING keeps getting bigger. Think about it: the size of the hard drives in computers 10 years ago was 4GB….maybe 8. The only issue with a back-up drive is that it eventually will have the same issues as the main drive. That is: moving parts = breakable parts.
I’d say if you aren’t going to do the back-up drive, you could do the DVD-R’s. But only if you’re the type to REGULARLY back them up. (And don’t do the "RW")
If its just for your pics and stuff you can easily burn them onto a cd or dvd disc or even buy a data traveler then if anything goes wrong you just put them back on your pc from the disc or traveler.this is what i do anyway and its very cost effective