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2/23/2010

Advice unlooked for

Today's post is going to be short. It is advice.

There are, now, inexpensive (relatively inexpensive, anyway) external hard drives that come with software already loaded and ready to run, whose purpose is to back up every single thing on your hard drive.

Not only will these disks automatically copy out new files as they are created, they will also record changes to existing files - preserving version integrity.

They are, as I said, relatively cheap. Most can be had for less than $200.00 - and at that price, we're talking about a TERABYTE of disk space. That's 4 times larger than your 250Gig had drive.

Back up your systems. Save all those pictures and emails, account information and school projects where they can be retrieved if your hard disk dies. And it will die. Moving parts condemn hard drives to certain death - protect your data.

Ndinombethe.

21 comments:

Nicole said...

Just got me one of those precious things about three weeks ago.
I love it!

Julie said...

I have one. All the photos are on it. And it died...I have yet to find a place to take it to retrieve the photos. Because it makes my tummy hurt to even think about it...

Sooner or later I will take it somewhere. When I can stand to think about it.

And then, I will get two -- so my back up has a back up. Really, in the last year, my luck with computers has been so bad one would think I had been cursed by some postmodern witch...

Jientje said...

Can I ask a stupid question? All my photos are on two external hard drives. Will I need to back up those too?

Anonymous said...

You mean, we may need to back up our backup?? Zoiks, Scooby!

We've got one, and it's great... easy to use, and fits a ton of stuff from two laptops and a desktop.

Nan Sheppard said...

Oh, wait... that was me!

Melisa Wells said...

Yes! I've heard way too many horror stories of lost...everything.

Mrs F with 4 said...

Am I paranoid because I have THREE?

One that backs up incrementally every half hour, one that backs up overnight, and a separate one that I plug in once every week, which lives nestled in my firesafe the rest of the time.

Gretchen said...

Oh no, are you speaking from experience???

I don't have one. Can I get a cheaper one than that? I have backup disks - I guess those are sub-par?

I've never had any problems with my computers. Never had a melt down. Never lost anything. Now that I said that, I'm waiting for my new laptop to blow up.

Emily/Randomability said...

AGREE!!!

After my BSOD (on my work computer that is backed-up elsewhere) I will attest to it. I am very thankful that it was my work computer and not my home computer that died.

Side note: I do have all my pictures on 3 thumb drives (5 GB memory total) but I'm looking to upgrade again.

PS: Don't take your computer to Geek squad. The customer service there was horrible. Next time, I'll call Lou.

Ashlie- Mommycosm said...

Uh, oh. I hope this sage advice does not come after a lesson learned the hard way?

PattiKen said...

Oh, oh, do I hear the voice of dispair here?

I have one of these external gizmos, and I have no idea how to use it. It is hooked up, it does something every now and then, but the files it creates are tagged with unintelligible names and I have no idea what they are or how to open them. So far, I have had no need to, but worry that is ever I do, I will be lost along with my data.

Unknown said...

I got one of these thanks to you LCeel! I forgot to tell you : ) Now I have so much more room for pictures. YAY!

calicobebop said...

Excellent advice and something I've been meaning to do! Hope this post isn't because your hard drive died!

Shadow said...

okey dokey!

Hockeymandad said...

Sound advice. I love LOVE my Time Machine software. Saved me a few times. And drives are insanely cheap right now.

Coal Miner's Granddaughter said...

Yeah, I need to invest in an external hard drive for my Mac.

This post is probably what will encourage me to buy one.

Maggie Moo said...

I lost everything about a year and a half ago and have been meaning to get an external hard drive, but never have. Your post is a good reminder.

I hope you didn't lose everything!

Momisodes said...

I am SO guilty of not backing up my stuff.
In fact, I bought a terabyte external hard drive last year for less than $140, and I'd say I've back up my data on it....twice.

*hangs head in shame*

Holly said...

Gulp. Guilty as charged. We have such a drive and I haven't backed up in ages. Thank you for the reminder.

Unknown said...

Mr Hyphen bought me one for xmas this past year. I LOVE IT. I'm able to hold all my photo files --which had eaten up 60 gigs on my old laptop.

We have been VERY lucky in the past that when our computers die (3 or 4 of them!!) we're able to pull the hard drives, put them into a hard drive "sleeve" (not sure the techy name) and then use a USB to plug the hard drive into our new system to retrieve the data. We're now able to use these old hard drives as external storage.

BUT, like others have said... I've got backups of my backups... because I'm paranoid.

Moonrayvenne said...

Ah yes, I should have done this before the new year as I lost all my info the day before new year's eve! Live & learn.