Backup Help
| Don't forget to back up your important data! |
The
Basics:
It's
not necessary to back up the programs you already have on disks (CDs). Only back up the data you
have created from those programs. (Unless you've lost the disks to
reinstall. See Best Backup Program Below)
| Back up devices |
CD-R
or DVD-R
drive: Burn your own CD/DVD for backup (Holds on an average of
650mb to 700mb+ and 4.5gb to 9gb for DVD).
This
is the most reliable media for the average user and no media parts to fail.
USB,
Firewire or SATA External
Hard Drive: Average
80 to 750 Gigabytes +.
These
drives hold the most data, but are not the most durable. Drop it and it
could cause irreparable damage.
Flash Media
Typical flash chips last for anywhere from 100,000 to 300,000 "flashes" (writes to the disk) to a particular location in memory, but some older/cheaper flash drives may start wearing out at 10,000 flashes. Reading the memory doesn't wear it out.
More Here
This is a concern of many regarding the new trend to substitute flash memory for hard disks in laptop computers. However, the newest flash chips can support up to a million writes per block (with 8000 blocks per chip). With typical use, they'll last for many years. These are the type of flash chips that are being used as solid state memory in computers, and it's unlikely they will wear out before the system becomes obsolete. Read more about that
Here.
With low cost flash cards (as with any media), it's always a good idea to regularly back your data up to another location just in case.
From WinXP
News
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The
advantage of these drives over most tape back-ups: Files do not have to be restored to
be used. These drives can be used as a normal hard drive with their own drive letter.
Drag and drop important files.
Best
backup program!
I recommend a drive imaging program, like Acronis True Image 10.0.
(Best 50.00+ you ever spent). You can create an image, bit for bit copy,
of your entire hard drive (programs and all). This image file is created
on an additional internal or external hard drive. If you main drive fails, just
install an new internal main drive and restore the image from your backup
drive. Just like new in minutes!
Keep your
back ups away from your computer
(Because of fire or theft)
