I use Family Tree Maker, and I have had an account with Ancestry.com for years.

I also use the internet to search federal, state and county records.
Many county sites contain links for the county's graveyards and genealogical society, with very good information.

Monica,
I use Ancestry as well. I have data in binders going back to 1638 and so many pictures and vita record certificates. Way to much to try and save should there be a fire or flood. I want to get this information on something safe and easy to grab. Thank you.
Sapphires

Like Monica, I use Family Tree Maker and have had an Ancestry account for years. Both my husband and I have done extensive research both on line and in person. However, most of our bridges have been crossed so we only do an occasional update now.

I also use Family Tree Maker. I'm not sure which version, I did update a couple of years ago. The newer version was nuch easier to use.
Don't make the mistake I did. BACKUP your info to a disc. We lost a computer in April to that virus that was going around. I lost 20 years of research. I do have a external hard drive that was not connected at the time and hard copies of everything. I just can't find the software disc to reinstall due to a recent move. I guess it's still packed. LOL

Count me in as another Family Tree Maker user. I love this software!

I have a World Deluxe account (the highest access available) with Ancestry.com (and have had a full account with them for more years than I care to remember). I also have a Gold account (the highest access available) with Genealogy.com (and I had the account with Genealogy.com prior to my account with Ancestry.com!). The two sites are both part of The Generations Network, but they each have some records that the other doesn't, and some records are searched more easily on one site than the other, so I keep both accounts.

When you have an annual account with either site, you get a free copy of the Family Tree Maker software. I get the new version every year.

I have several USB jump drives onto which I copy EVERYTHING. I also have a full backup copy on my laptop. That way, if my desktop pc fails, I can resort to my laptop. If both desktop and laptop fail, I can turn to a jump drive. If it fails, I can go through at least six more jump drives before I'd have to consider the data to be lost.

But... one cool thing about my Ancestry.com membership is that I was able to export my Family Tree Maker data to a gedcom file, then upload it to Ancestry.com. I was then able to take all of the supporting electronic documentation (e.g., Census records, Draft Registration Cards, immigration and naturalization records, Social Security Death Index, marriage/birth/death records from various states, etc.) and "save them to" folks in my online tree. I can also add notes to the info for the folks. I also have my own web site with our genealogy information, photos, etc. Bottom line is that there would have to be one heck of an information technology failure for me to lose everything!

Lindsey,
Where do I get my free Family Tree Maker. I do have a current annual Ancestry membership. Thanks.
Sapphires

I used Ancestry.com. I have my husbands back to 1524. Mine is a little harder. A lot of the records from Dolores Hildalgo, Mexico were lost due to a fire. The records from Noreiga, Spain are just flat hard to find. Records from England are easier and the people are more willing to help you. I didn't have any hardware. Vique.

I would like to be, but it just seems so daunting. I've poked around a little but can't really get any where with it.

Sue