Don’t forget to backup!!!

Submitted by Jesse on February 6, 2012 - 1:02pm

Many of us are familiar with this scenario: You’ve just spent a lot of time working hard at the computer when the computer turns off unexpectedly or crashes. Or maybe it catches a virus that destroys the whole system! Without a way to retrieve your data, all that hard work is gone. To save time and avoid frustration, start getting in the habit of backing up.

A few of my favorite backup software choices are:

Clickfree
Clickfree comes in a few different forms. For effortless backup, buy an external hard drive or flash drive with the clickfree software built in. You can also purchase the software, install it on any computer, and backup to your favorite drive type. The hardware ranges in price from $40 to $200, and you can expect to spend $35 to $55 for the software.

EaseUS® Todo Backup Free 4.0
EaseUS® Todo Backup Free 4.0 is free for home use and gives you backup options similar to clickfree. You can backup all the files on your computer, and even copy a complete image of the hard drive. This is really good news because it means that if your hard drive crashes, you can replace your drive, reinstall the backup image, and your computer is just the way you remember it.

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Comments

Submitted by Gretchen on February 7, 2012 - 7:40pm.

What are your recommendations for online back-up services? We tried Norton 360 but the space is so limited and expensive. What about Carbonite? Other options? We have a Windows desktop and laptop.

Submitted by Jesse on March 2, 2012 - 11:21am.

Cnet.com gave Carbonite a good review and from what I read I think it is a really good choice for backing up to the cloud. For your home and office,
unlimited online backup starts at $59/year or $5 a month, which is not bad to have unlimited online storage. But I do want to suggest that you still backup to an external drive and tuck it away where it will be safe.

Submitted by extra medium on February 7, 2012 - 2:50pm.

It's also worth noting that anyone who has a Mac running OS 10.5 (Leopard) or later has Time Machine already installed. It's super easy to use and will take a complete image of your Mac every time you back it up. The cool thing: if it turns out that you need something from a backup you made say, 6 months ago, it will have an archive that reflects your machine as it was 6 months ago as well as today.

I have mine set up to back up weekly, but being a lazy person, it usually gets backed up every other week. If you start it before you go to bed or to work, it will be ready when you need it in a few hours. You can still use your computer while it's backing up, but I've found that mine is a little slow when it's backing up.

Submitted by james on February 7, 2012 - 3:09pm.

I also use Time Machine. My method (since I'm paranoid) is to use two identical backup drives which are each partitioned for my desktop machine and laptop. I switch them out each week (or two, like extra medium), bringing one to work in case total disaster strikes. I've toyed with the online approach using a service Carbonite, etc. but in the long run the two drives are cheaper and just as safe - if you stick to the plan.