FWIW....I do it in two steps. External drive used for regular back-up. I have iMac which has built-in "Time Machine" but there are many packages for PC that do essentially the same thing. The task is to do it regularly/religiously. The various programs available make it quick and convenient. The likelihood of your external drive going bad at exactly the same time as your internal HD is very slight. External HD backups solve vast majority "lost data" problems.

My second step is ....whenever I've made significant changes to my important "archived" stuff -- typically a couple of times a year -- I burn complete copies of those folders/files onto DVD's and store them remotely. This is the burglary/fire/flood protection thing. If some event happens at the location of your computer and external HD, or if they're both stolen together (they will be) you'll still have the data on disk somewhere else.

Different people have different ideas about how often to burn archive disks but you get the idea.

Asolo wrote:- Different people have different ideas about how often to burn archive disks but you get the idea.

Unfortunately too many wait till a disaster strikes then start to panic.

I like the way you do your backups, even to the point of off site storage. Valuable data should always be treated like that in my opinion, sadly I am not quite as diligent but I do have backups. In fact right about now would be a great time for me to clean up the computer and burn another image.

fwiw
if you have high speed internet, so uploading isnt too slow... Windows Live has 5GB online storage.. free! SkyDrive. You can even share a passworded folder of some pics, or most anything. Might neeed to sign up for a free hotmail account, if you dont already have one.

Here is a link that might be useful: skydrive.live.com

There are only two kinds of computer users:

1) Those who have had some catastrophe and lost all their data.

2) Those who are going to have some catastrophe and lose all their data.

You never know when its going to happen...but it WILL happen. If the info on your HD is important to you, back it up!!!

Good points indeed!

But, what I had in my mind was using the external drive to "unload" my photos, music, and movies etc. onto, to free up my computer HD?
But------ could I still get to them like I do now when working on a project?

Urlee

Yes...very easy. Also very fast with usb2 or firewire connection. Almost as fast as using the internal HD. Sorry I misunderstood your intention.

But I would strongly suggest you do not leave the external drive running all the time. These newer externals come with no fan and while they are good for a long period I would not like to risk one being permanently on. Just my thoughts.

No opologies necessary asolo,
I did not state it very well.

Thank you and owbist for your valued input back at me.

Urlee

My own experience over the last 6-7 years is zero problems with any of them (I've had three. Latest is LaCie but original WD still works fine.) regardless of how used. They turn on and are ready for access in seconds and turn off in seconds. Very convenient however you may choose to use them.

Thank you so much.
That was my next wonder as to which to get?
Was looking at Seagate on the web yesterday?

Urlee, I have an 80 GIG Iomega external hard drive. Mine is over half full so I would advise getting a larger one, depending on how often you would use it. I've been very satisfied with the Iomega. I don't leave it plugged in all the time. It can be damaged by lightning (yes, I use a surge protector but I don't wholly trust it) just like the computer can. So it's no problem to plug it in when I want to use it.

Yes gmom,
I was thinking "BIG" (smiles)
Glad to know of how to use it.

They turn on and are ready for access in seconds and turn off in seconds.
I would strongly suggest you do not leave the external drive running all the time.
That's my thoughts.
Make sure it comes with an on/off switch, most do.
Mine is powered off at all times, unless stuff is being transfered
Think big 300gb-500gb, I already filled a 250gb drive with a collection of stuff that I don't have time to weed through and delete the old unnecessary things.
Sorta like using an extra drive to be a pack rat.

"Sorta like using an extra drive to be a pack rat."

Jeez, Randy....you've betrayed our dirty little secret!!!

randy,

I can relate to you on that one.
I was going to say like what you quoted but was shy to say so as I am a genuine "Pack Rat" who saves everything and find it HARD to delete what should be. (almost duplicates etc.)

I have three external drives constructed by using hard drives pulled from computers that were headed to the recycle center. I purchased hard drive enclosures from eBay and added the drives. The installation was very easy. The drives are recognised very quickly and data transfer is fast enough with USB 2.0. They act very much like a flash drive and no driver is required unless you have Windows 98 or older. I paid less then $20 for the enclosures and got the drives for free. All of my enclosures have on/off switches and LEDs indicating power and usage. One uses a notebook drive and it can fit in my shirt pocket very nicely.I would recommend converting an extra drive if you have one.

External drives are great for additional storage. They are also excellent for sharing and transporting files between several computers.