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Back up Your Data

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Storage Has Always Been an Issue

In a house we have closets, basements, and attics to store the things we are no longer using, but unwilling to part with. To some degree we are all packrats. We hang onto things for their sentimental value or their monetary value. When we run out of room in closets and attics, we rent storage units and build sheds. Getting rid, of or disposing of that tacky lamp that we picked up at the Goodwill when rented our first apartment is not an option. One way or another, I'll find a way to store it.

As a writer, I have another storage issue. I have five manuscripts, close to a hundred short stories, blog posts, numerous articles, data from 200 Squidoo lenses, research material, and my personal journal. My work is cluttering up my hard drive as surely the outdated clothes are cluttering up my closet.

You lost it!
HOW COULD YOU!
I worked on that story for over a month!

Fickle Creatures

My muse is a fickle creature. She will bounce from fiction to writing another article to reading and updating something I wrote ten years ago. The point is, I want all of my work, past and present, to be readily available, but safe and secure as well.
Important!

Backing up and protecting your data is vital.

Thumb Drives

Another excellent way to keep a copy of your work is with a thumb drive, flash drive, or jump drive. Whatever you prefer to call them, they are handy little gadgets. I'm on the computer at home, at school and at the library. A thumb drive allows me to work on the same project no matter the computer I'm at. It's also convenient for moving a document from one computer to the next. If I write a test at home, I can take it into school the next day and print it.

Jump drives come in a variety of sizes. I have several small ones that I use going from home to school, and a larger one to store my manuscripts on. They are an excellent way of adding storage space to your computer.

The Grand Daddy of Flash Drives

Corsair Flash Voyager 32 GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive CMFUSB2.0-32GB

Corsair Flash Voyager 32 GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive CMFUSB2.0-32GB

Amazon Price: $99.99 (as of 06/02/2012)Buy Now

When Size Matters
The Corsair 32GB Flash Drive can store up to 8,000 MP3 files, 9,900 digital photos or 13 hours of video footage, and a serious number of text files.

Flash Drives

Great Stocking Stuffer for High School and College Students

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External Hard-Drives

When your storage needs are less than 10GB, a flash drive is usually adequate. When more than 50GB is needed, an external hard-drive makes more senses. It costs more but one external hard drive is easier to keep up with than an assortment of flash drives. I have several flash drives. Keeping track of what's on which one is frustrating.

I picked up an external hard-drive this fall and often wonder why I didn't do it sooner. I still back my work up on discs, that's a habit I don't think will change, but the hard-drive eliminated the frustration of not being able to find the file I need.

However you back up your work, don't forget to do it. I don't know about your Muse, but mine has a bit of a temper. I want to keep her happy and productive. I need all the help I can get.

External Hard-Drive

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Do you back up your work, or do you count on Fate to keep it safe?

Do you back up your work, or do you count on Fate to keep it safe?

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I lost an important document once, from there on out I back up my documents on a regular bases.

DaveHiggsVis says:

I back up my work. I blog for a living, so it's vital that I don't lost my articles and brainstorms. I have them stored on a flash drive and two different computers, and I'll be storing them online soon too.

AndyPo says:

I always back up automatically. I lost a 500GB disc recently, but fortunately had a back-up.

Evelyn_Saenz says:

I recently got an external hard drive and I use that to back up all my important files. I wonder if I need to back that up as well?

The files that I do have backed up on CD's I have two copies of. One copy I keep here in Miami and the other I keep at my house in Vermont.

Tipi says:

Fate has gotten me. I know I should back up everything. Lost lots of photos on my old computer...

I know I should, but rarely remember to do it.

_Joan_ says:

I keep a lot of my stuff in Google docs, but I know that I should still do some backing up.

vbright105 says:

I have lost important material more than once. I didn't realize flash drives were that inexpensive though!

OhMe says:

Oh, this is something I have got to start doing immediately!

 

Work Worth Saving

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How do you back up your work?

  • DaveHiggsVis May 16, 2011 @ 5:31 pm | delete
    I use a flashdrive and the hard drives on my two laptops.
  • Susan52 Jul 29, 2009 @ 7:22 am | delete
    I use an external hard drive and back up my work on a semi-regular basis, but I'm considering a backup service so I don't have to remember to do it myself. Great lens!
  • AndyPo Jul 23, 2009 @ 5:57 am | delete
    Great lens. It is so important to back-up regularly.
  • susannaduffy Jun 24, 2009 @ 9:03 pm | delete
    OMG yes! I had a big crash last year and I'm still realising just how much I lost!
  • Evelyn_Saenz Apr 24, 2009 @ 5:29 am | delete
    Another wonderful lens! Thank you for reminding me to back up my work. Thank you, also, for being a fellow member of Rocket Moms.
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About the Author

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Lightning

Let Inspiration Strike 

by

ElizabethJeanAllen

I tell my students to Learn from the Past, Live in the Present, and Plan for the Future. With Squidoo I can do all three. more »

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