Computer Department : Making a Backup

Don't take risks with your data!

As computer disks get bigger and bigger so do the risks. Think long and hard about how many hours of work have gone into your family history research and then ask yourself how you would feel if you lost it.

The price of hard disks has crashed in recent years and the external, backup, hard-drive market has followed this trend. It now cost so little to purchase a large-capacity external hard drive that all serious computer users should be using such a device to back up their hard drive(s). The other advantage of an external drive is that it simply plugs into a spare USB or Fire wire slot - and unplugs when you want to take your data with you. Many are just as easy to use as a data-pen!

The image alongside is a typical design, with a 250GB drives (and that's a big drive) being available for around £60.00 at the time of writing, and almost all include free backup software in the price.

It is, of course, quite feasible to use an internal hard drive to store your backup data, but if your computer should burst into flames, your internal backup drive would be up there with it in silicon heaven. If your house burns down while you are on holiday, your internal backup drive will be going with it! That's why whenever I leave home, my external backup drive comes with me - I just pull it out of its cradle and in my briefcase it goes.

Alternative Methods

burglar For many, the hassle of taking an external hard drive on holiday, or the weekly trip to Netto's, is something that just won't happen. That's where the extremely popular on-line backup services come into their own. The price of such service varies wildly (as does the quality) but, for most home users, a free service such as that offered by XDrive will suffice. Also, take a look at BT's Digital Vault which is currently offering a free trial period.

Others may simply prefer to backup their files using DVDs, CD ROMs, memory sticks or magnetic tape. Whichever method you choose, make sure that you don't leave your valuable backup files next to the computer - or you may find the burglar takes those too!

Computer Department

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