 There are many ways to back up your information. The methods we'll be discussing involve external storage. This refers to any type of backup that isn't on your computer. This can be a piece of hardware, software, or even a Web service. When you're choosing external storage, weigh cost and convenience against the amount of information you're backing up. Use backup softwareIf you don't use Windows XP, your best bet is to choose a backup method that's supported by backup software.  Tip: Choose a backup software package that offers a scheduling option, and use it to schedule automatic backups. That way you don't have to depend on your memory, and you don't even need to be there, so you can pick a time when you're not using the computersay, the middle of the night. Choose a storage formatWhether you use the Windows XP Backup utility or some other backup software, you'll need a place to store your backup copies. If you can, come up with a storage system that gets your information out of the houseor office. Here are some storage formats to consider. External drives such as Iomega drives: | | Zip drive (up to 750MB) for the casual user | | | Hard disk drive (up to 250 GB) for the heavy user |
| A Zip drive is a disk drive developed by Iomega that uses removable disks (Zip disks) to store hundreds of megabytes of data. | | | Includes backup software | | | Range of storage options |
| | | You must invest in the hardware, and in some cases, disks as well |
| CD-RW | A CD-RW is a compact disc onto which you can burn information if you have a CD-RW drive. (RW stands for "read-write.") | | | Many new computers come with a built in CD-RW drive | | | CD-RW discs can hold up to 700MB |
| | | Can be tricky to get just the right amount of information onto a disc |
| DVD-RW | A DVD-RW is a DVD onto which you can burn information if you have a DVD-RW drive. (RW stands for "read-write.") | | | One disc stores gigabytes of information |
| | | You may need to buy a DVD-RW drive if your computer doesn't come with one | | | The drive may not come with back-up software |
| Online backup and storage such as Iomega iStorage | An online storage service lets you save files online. If you have Internet access, you can get your files from the online storage site whenever you need. | | | Automatically gets your information out of the house or office | | | Includes download and back-up software |
| | | You may be required to pay a monthly fee for backing up and storing your files | | | If the company's servers go down, you may not be able to access your files | | | If the company is hacked, your information could be stolen | | | If the company goes out of business, you lose your back-up resource |
|
Tip: For backup on the go, look into the mini USB flash drives with big capacity that can fit on a key chain. (For one example, visit the Iomega site.)
| |
