Data Backup is Important - Learn What to Use to Backup

We have them, we use them, and we put way too much trust in them. Computers are great when they work, but what happens when they don't. Maybe your stomach has hit the floor, when you realized that your data files are gone. Now what? What could I have done? What did I do to make it crash? The truth in computers is that they will fail. While the hard drive is not always the culprit, it is most often the one that is overlooked. It stores all of your precious pictures, mp3's, videos, documents, and more. Somehow we think that it is immortal and will always work seamlessly. This is not true, which leads to why backing up data is critically important if you value anything on your system.

For everyone else that wants to avoid the cost of data recovery, there are some solutions that are waiting for you to consider. The ideas below are some commonly used methods for backing up data.

Flash Drives

Data Backup is Important - Learn What to Use to Backup

These devices are not only portable, but are really becoming affordable as well. The average cost (online) for a 16 gigabyte flash drive is around 0.00 USD. Using the simple drag and drop method from one window to another, this is probably the easiest method of backup.

CD's and DVD's

Cheaper than a flash drive per gigabyte, but not as simple or as user friendly, a CD or DVD is a very economical way of backing up data. Most CD/DVD burners come with its own burning software (ex: Nero or Roxio). A CD can hold up to 700 megabytes of data while a single layer DVD can hold 4.7 gigabytes. I would recommend using the RW (rewritable) type CD/DVD's so that you can reuse the media for future backups versus throwing away CD/R's (record once only).

Tapes

This is an expensive route, however it is still the largest way of backing up files when you are into the massive file storage quantities (greater than 500 gigabytes). The advantage of tape backup is scheduling and safe storage. Once the tape is complete with backup routine, it can then be stored or taken off site. Tape does have it's limitations with speed and cost per gigabyte, but for a business, this is usually the best local solution. There are many different types of tape media out there, be sure to shop around with two thoughts in mind: How much do we need to backup now and how much will we need two years from now? Keep long term in mind with tape, because the cost of investment will payoff, but only in the long term over the years to come. Tapes and the drives can easily drive into the ,000.00's for startup.

Removable External Hard Drives

This is a great solution for both residence and small business applications. The first method would be to purchase (aprox. 0.00 USD) an external hard drive. It can be USB or Firewire, depending on your need for speed. This external hard drive can be set to backup your entire system or select files. If the drive doesn't come along with software or a one button touch backup solution, don't panic. If you have Windows Xp, it has a backup software already installed (if you the Home version you will need to install this using the control panel "add/remove programs" and "add/remove Windows components").

The second external hard drive option is to install a hot swappable bay into the computer system. This works much like the external hard drive, except that it is in a casing that can be taken out of the computer (even while it is on) and be transported to elsewhere. Unlike the external Firewire or USB it will not be compatible with another system unless you have a drive bay installed on the other system. This solution is a replacement method for the Tapes as mention previously.

Online Data Backup

My personal favorite type of backup is the kind that you set it and forget it. I have been using Mozy Online data backup for a quite some time and am very pleased. I like the idea of my data automatically backing up to another server over the Internet. It is secure, encrypted, and very dependable. More can be found out about Mozy at http://www.ryansccs.com/free-online-data-backup.html

NOTE

With any backup solution, be sure you are matching at the minimum your data file size. Ex: Your hard drive is 250 gigabytes. Don't buy an external hard drive less than 250 gigabytes. For Flash drives, make sure the total amount of files you plan to put on it doesn't exceed the allowed space. Above all, any data that is backed up is useless unless it is protected. This can be done by taking the backup off site away from the the original or invest in a fire safety box. The smaller boxes work well with tapes, dvd's, cd's, & flash drives. A larger firebox will be needed for external hard drives.

Data Backup is Important - Learn What to Use to Backup
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Ryan Hutzel is the owner of Ryan's Computer Consulting Services based in Greencastle, PA. More information can be found http://hard-drives.ryansccs.com for data recovery help and how-to's.

If you are experiencing a data emergency and need your data recovered, please call Drive Savers at (800)440-1904 with discount code DS16416.

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