Clark Computer Consulting Port Jervis, NY » Backup http://rootaid.com Your Local Computer Guy Mon, 06 Sep 2010 00:03:40 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Save your files to the cloud with Dropbox http://rootaid.com/2009/06/27/save-your-files-to-the-cloud-with-dropbox/ http://rootaid.com/2009/06/27/save-your-files-to-the-cloud-with-dropbox/#comments Sat, 27 Jun 2009 13:42:15 +0000 Scott http://rootaid.com/?p=758 Continue reading →]]> new_logo I have mentioned in the past that I use Mozy backup which is an excellent online file storage tool. I still use Mozy but my new favorite on-line storage tool is Dropbox. Dropbox is available for Linux the Mac and even your Windows PC. You receive 2GB of storage free and you can upgrade to the pay version for even more space.

The thing I love about Dropbox is the ability to go back to older versions of saved files on the fly. Have you ever saved a change to an original file thinking you were working with a copy?  I recently had this happen to a client and suggested Dropbox as a preventive tool. All files saved to your Dropbox folder will have previous versions of those files saved. Right clicking a file, choosing Dropbox and then Revisions will launch the web interface where you will see all the old versions of your file. Installation is very easy and performance is great.

I highly recommend Dropbox especially for your documents. The only thing that might throw you off is the need to keep your files in the Dropbox folder and not in your documents folder. Dropbox creates a new folder inside your Documants folder named Dropbox. All files placed in the Dropbox folder are uploaded to the Dropbox website for backup. You can never be too careful with your data. Always backup your data locally and then also online in case of a site emergency such as fire,flooding or theft.

Use the following link to get an extra 250MB of storage when you sign up. https://www.getdropbox.com/referrals/NTEyODQxMjE5

Check out the Dropbox screencast at   https://www.getdropbox.com/screencast

]]> http://rootaid.com/2009/06/27/save-your-files-to-the-cloud-with-dropbox/feed/ 3 Backup, backup, backup its all about the backup. http://rootaid.com/2009/01/28/backup-backup-backup-its-all-about-the-backup/ http://rootaid.com/2009/01/28/backup-backup-backup-its-all-about-the-backup/#comments Wed, 28 Jan 2009 13:11:10 +0000 Scott http://rootaid.com/?p=127 Continue reading →]]> 037-computer-crash-300x261

The most important thing you can do to protect your PC is to backup your data.  Plain and simple, if your data is not backed up you could be one lightning-strike or spilled cup of coffee away from losing everything.  You may be thinking that nothing bad will ever happen to your data because you do all the “right things”.  You don’t have to run through an open field carrying your laptop while drinking coffee in a lightning storm for bad things to happen to your data.  Believe it or not accidents happen; data gets lost and it’s not fun to find out you’ve lost your wedding pictures or vacation photos because you didn’t backup.

OK so lets talk options….

You can head on over to Staples, Walmart, Amazon.com or whatever store that you prefer and get an external USB drive on sale at around $75 for 500GB.

External USB Hard Drives on Amazon.com   http://tinyurl.com/c3mphl

The shiny new 500GB drive could unfortunately still get zapped and die in a storm; so what other options do we have.  You could also make daily, weekly or monthly backups of all your data onto DVD’s that you then bring over to your Aunt Edna’s.  Aunt Edna has a nice safe place to store the DVDs, but since she lives 45 minutes away it can be a real pain when you need to restore  your backup from the DVD’s right now.  Why not just tuck the DVD’s in you desk drawer instead of driving all the way to your Aunt’s house?  Bad things can happen to your data, fires can burn down houses and businesses can be flooded and destroyed.  Off-site storage of your backups is a vital step in the protection of your data.  OK, so after burning our data to DVD ‘s,  going to our favorite Aunt’s house for a quick fresh baked chocolate chip cookie and DVD drop-off, you start driving home.  The long drive home gives you time to think and while waiting online at the toll booth it dawns on you…on-line…..”on-line backup that’s it” once you get home you start looking for a good online backup site.

There are many many online backup solutions, most will offer 2+ GB of free online storage and let you purchase more space for a monthly fee. The only drawback that I see  is the length of time it takes to do a network backup as compared to backing up to an external USB drive or even to DVD’s.  Please check out the following links that offers free or low cost backup solutions.

PC Magazine review of Online Backup options http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2288755,00.asp
This is by no means a complete list of backup solutions.  You could also use a tape backup drive, external SATA drive, network attached storage in an environmentally controlled bomb shelter 3 floors below your house protected by the CIA, keep your back DVD’s at you trusted neighbors house or safe deposit box.  I could continue but the point is that you really need to backup your data.  The data on most PC’s is worth far more than the cost of the machine.  Don’t forget to backup, backup and backup.

By the way, if you decide to use the online backup exclusively….make sure you still visit your Aunt, she did babysit your DVD’s after all.

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