Top Five Ways to Backup Your Files
So you want to backup your files. Maybe your are worried about your data. Maybe you were like me, you lost your files, recovered them, and you now know you need to backup your files. Well, here are the best ways to backup your files.
1. Online Backup
The pinacle of file protection
Pluses*Convenience - To backup your files online you just need to install some software and let it work. Your files will automatically be backed up on your schedule.
*Security - With online backup, your files are stored off site, which means if you get a virus, or there is a fire, or anything, your files will still be there.
Minuses
*Cost - The only major minus is cost, but even that is not bad. For about $5 a month there are multiple companies that offer unlimted backup space.
*Speed - As you use your internet connect to backup your files, it can take a long time to backup everything. I believe my first backup took a month, but from then on each backup is incremental. Thus, my files are secured each day.
Summary
Online backup is clearly the best solution. It can cost more than other solutions, but it is still relatively inexpensive. It is certainly cheaper than loosing your files. I personally use Mozy for my online backup, and it works well. They will even give you 2GB of space for free. If you decide to get their unlimited backup, it is about $5 a month.
Mozy Online Backup. 2GB Free or $4.95/mo for Unlimited Backup. It's simple, automatic and secure!
You may also want to look at Carbonite, but I can't provide much information on their solution.
Try Carbonite Online Backup FREE for 15 days and back up your irreplaceable files automatically and securely. No credit card required!
2. External Hard Drive
Pluses
*Easy - With an external hard drive, like and internal one, you can simply hook up your drive and hit a key to back up your files. Or you can set up your computer to automatically back up your files.
*Cheap - While it is not as inexpensive as an internal hard drive it is still pretty cheap
*Portable - You can take your files anywhere, which is great if you want to store your backed up files off site.
Negatives
*Not the ultimate convience - It will still be a chore to take your external hard drive offsite for the maximum backup protection.
Conclusion
An external hard drive moves the price vs. convience point closer to a higher price, but it is still much cheaper than loosing your files.
*Easy - With an external hard drive, like and internal one, you can simply hook up your drive and hit a key to back up your files. Or you can set up your computer to automatically back up your files.
*Cheap - While it is not as inexpensive as an internal hard drive it is still pretty cheap
*Portable - You can take your files anywhere, which is great if you want to store your backed up files off site.
Negatives
*Not the ultimate convience - It will still be a chore to take your external hard drive offsite for the maximum backup protection.
Conclusion
An external hard drive moves the price vs. convience point closer to a higher price, but it is still much cheaper than loosing your files.
Case Logic Compact Portable Hard Drive Case (Black)
Amazon Price: $11.41 (as of 01/06/2010) 
List Price: $22.95
Case Logic PHDC-1 Small EVA External Hard Drive Case (Red)
Amazon Price: $13.97 (as of 01/06/2010)
List Price: $22.95
Case Logic PHDC-1 Portable Hard Drive Case (Magenta)
Amazon Price: $12.99 (as of 01/06/2010)
List Price: $12.99
Case Logic PHDC-1 Small EVA External Hard Drive Case (Blue)
Amazon Price: $14.62 (as of 01/06/2010)
List Price: $22.95
Case Logic HDC-1 Medium EVA External Hard Drive Case (Black)
Amazon Price: $18.33 (as of 01/06/2010)
List Price: $29.95
3. Extra Internal Hard Drive
Pluses
*Easy - With an internal hard drive you can setup your computer to automatically backup your files every day. You can even setup your computer for a RAID configuration that will backup your files instantly at all times.
*Cheap - Data space is cheap now day, so getting an extra hard drive for your computer won't set you back much.
Minuses
*Data safety - With an internal hard drive as your backup method you are not protected in the case of something catastrophic happening to your computer. Yes, your files are backed up if your primary hard drive fails, but what happenes if you get a virus that wipes out all of your files or a fire happens?
Conclusion
Adding an internal hard drive for your backup solution is quick, cheap, and easy, but it does not offer the maximum data security.
*Easy - With an internal hard drive you can setup your computer to automatically backup your files every day. You can even setup your computer for a RAID configuration that will backup your files instantly at all times.
*Cheap - Data space is cheap now day, so getting an extra hard drive for your computer won't set you back much.
Minuses
*Data safety - With an internal hard drive as your backup method you are not protected in the case of something catastrophic happening to your computer. Yes, your files are backed up if your primary hard drive fails, but what happenes if you get a virus that wipes out all of your files or a fire happens?
Conclusion
Adding an internal hard drive for your backup solution is quick, cheap, and easy, but it does not offer the maximum data security.
4. BluRay
Pluses
*Cheap (kinda) - BluRay discs are pretty cheap for each of your backups, but the initial cost of buying a blu-ray player is not cheap.
*Portable - Just like CDs and DVDs, you can take your blu-ray disc with you, so you can store your files off site.
Minuses
*Expensive - The discs may be cheap, but getting that first drive will be expensive.
*Time consuming - They are not as bad as CDs of DVDs, but they do take time. At least you won't have to switch your discs back and forth a lot.
Conclusion
Like CDs or DVDs, Blu-Ray is a nice option for backing up your data if you have small amounts of data (under 25GB). However, it is just too time consuming if you need to back up a lot of information.
*Cheap (kinda) - BluRay discs are pretty cheap for each of your backups, but the initial cost of buying a blu-ray player is not cheap.
*Portable - Just like CDs and DVDs, you can take your blu-ray disc with you, so you can store your files off site.
Minuses
*Expensive - The discs may be cheap, but getting that first drive will be expensive.
*Time consuming - They are not as bad as CDs of DVDs, but they do take time. At least you won't have to switch your discs back and forth a lot.
Conclusion
Like CDs or DVDs, Blu-Ray is a nice option for backing up your data if you have small amounts of data (under 25GB). However, it is just too time consuming if you need to back up a lot of information.
5. CDs or DVDs
Pluses
*Cheap - You can buy about 250 gigabytes of space for under $50. (One spindle of 50 dvds) And you can get a drive to burn them all even cheaper, if you don't have one.
*Portable - It is easy to take your backed up data anywhere with a cd or dvd. This is good if you want to keep your off site, and have your data backed up in case of a fire or something.
Minuses
*Time Consuming - It takes tons of your time to back up large amounts of data using CDs or DVDs. Yea, each disc may only take minutes, but if your are backing up tons of data, then that can turn to hours of time.
Conclusion
Backing up data with CDs or DVDs is great if you only need to backup a little information (less than 5GB), but if you have much more it is just not convenient. If you decide to backup with CDs or DVDs then this is the stuff you need. If not, then skip below.
*Cheap - You can buy about 250 gigabytes of space for under $50. (One spindle of 50 dvds) And you can get a drive to burn them all even cheaper, if you don't have one.
*Portable - It is easy to take your backed up data anywhere with a cd or dvd. This is good if you want to keep your off site, and have your data backed up in case of a fire or something.
Minuses
*Time Consuming - It takes tons of your time to back up large amounts of data using CDs or DVDs. Yea, each disc may only take minutes, but if your are backing up tons of data, then that can turn to hours of time.
Conclusion
Backing up data with CDs or DVDs is great if you only need to backup a little information (less than 5GB), but if you have much more it is just not convenient. If you decide to backup with CDs or DVDs then this is the stuff you need. If not, then skip below.
TDK 16X DVD+R 100PK Spindle
Amazon Price: $28.68 (as of 01/05/2010)
List Price: $0.00
Sony 25DPW47RS2 DVD+RW Re-Recordable DVD (25-Pack Spindle)
Amazon Price: $24.45 (as of 01/05/2010)
List Price: $32.99
TDK 4.7GB 16x DVD-R (100-Pack Spindle)
Amazon Price: $28.85 (as of 01/05/2010)
List Price: $0.00
Verbatim 95101 4.7 GB 16X DVD-R, 50-Disc Spindle
Amazon Price: $14.10 (as of 01/05/2010)
List Price: $45.68
Maxell 635117 4.7 GB Rewritable DVD-RW Spindle (15 Pack)
Amazon Price: $12.55 (as of 01/05/2010)
List Price: $31.11
How Do You Backup Your Data?
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What's your backup solution?
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Reply
- Joe Joe Dec 3, 2008 @ 2:39 pm
- For three years I have used 2 SimpleTech external drives. I use SyncToy and I contribute from my PC to SimpleTech. Then I Sync the two SimpleTechs. I rotate weekly. One stay where I am - at home or on the road. The other stays in a safe deposit box (out of the flood plain).
On the road, I also carry my Passport drive. I sync the computer with it. If I am at one location long enough, I leave the SimpleTech away from the hotel and keep the Passport with me at the hotel.
Flying - Computer and Passport in cabin. SimpleTech in baggage.
Driving - Passport in front of car. Simple tech in far back.
Computer - in middle of car.
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- jjanisse jjanisse Nov 2, 2008 @ 8:38 am
- Right on! It is so important to backup your valuable content. Every day thousands of computer files are needlessly put at risk. Finding a solution that is right for you is so important.
Take care.
-Jordan.
backup.jmjgroup.com
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Reply
- James James Jul 31, 2008 @ 1:02 pm
- Here is a site that reviews online backups: www.compareonlinebackup.org. It has some great data on the different vendors.
Thanks for the great post.
J
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- vikont vikont Jul 27, 2008 @ 12:27 am
- you may be interested to read this article: http://www.backuphistory.com
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- mulberry mulberry Jul 26, 2008 @ 8:36 pm
- Good info, concise...I like it!
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- poddys poddys Jul 25, 2008 @ 9:16 pm
- I use different methods too. Ideally I would synchronise 2 pc's so that I don't have to worry if one goes down, but I don't have that luxury right now. I use 2 external hard drives for complete backups of my drives, I also use CD's and DVD's for infrequent offsite backups of non-changing data (music, photos etc), and flash drives for small volume backups of volatile files and also to transfer these between home and work as a backup. 5***** for a good helpful lens.
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- ElizabethJeanAllen ElizabethJeanAllen Jul 20, 2008 @ 8:22 pm
- I use different types of backup for different information. My fiction is transfered to CD, my school stuff is on a thumb drive, and my online stuff is... Well it just sits there. With 80 lenses, a blog, and two websites, I need to give that some thought.
5*
Lizzy
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- Jimmie Jimmie Jul 20, 2008 @ 10:26 am
- Helpful information that's for sure!
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- Mortira Mortira Jul 18, 2008 @ 10:19 pm
- Great lens! Plenty of food for thought.
by jstonedotorg
A Guy who has lost some files in the past, and now backup's everything. (more)
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