New Year's Resolution: Back Up and Never Lose Data

Wed Dec 20, 2006 3:26AM EST

See Comments (73)

People, it's nearly resolution time, so why not resolve to do something completely painless that will do wonders for your peace of mind: Back up your data!

But it's too complicated, you say?

Baloney, I say. It's easy to back up data, and it needn't cost much, if anything. Here's some suggestions on how to do it.

  • Go Online - This is by far the easiest way to do your backups. I've written about Mozy a couple of times, and I use it to store my data. It backs up files in real time, so I'm never at risk of losing more than about 30 minutes of work.
  • Use an External Hard Drive - Simply purchase a large external USB drive (250GB will run you $100 to $280, depending on brand name) and install backup software like Cobian (free). It'll back up your hard drive every night automatically. It's probably overkill at 250GB, mind you, since you don't need to back up Windows and application files that you have on CD. My entire backup set, with music, pictures, and movies, is less than 40GB. Without music it's less than 7GB. Here's a direct link to Cobian, folks.
  • Sync It Up - Got a second PC at home that isn't being used? Set up sync software (try GoodSync) to make a mirror image of your data on the other PC. If you aren't networked, the Data Drive Thru Tornado makes copying files from one PC to another painless.
  • Go Optical Once in a While - Every few months I back up to optical disc for storage offsite or in a fire safe. A dual-layer DVD can hold more than 8GB of data.

When you make your backups, be sure to get all the important files and folders. The My Documents folder is obvious, but don't forget your e-mail, browser bookmarks, and data files that aren't kept in My Documents where they should be. If you use Outlook, you'll need to use a backup program that can access it in real time or export the data periodically (instructions here).

Remember, a multitude of backup strategies works best. I keep data synced to two or three PCs (depending on what it is), a copy of all my music on an iPod and another external drive, a real-time online backup, and the occasional optical drive backup. Is that overkill? Maybe not, but when I have a hard drive crash, I barely complain...I'm back up and running before the end of the day.

What are you waiting for?

UPDATE: Several readers have asked for info on how to back up their email. I've written on these topics several times before. Here are instructions for backing up from Outlook and backing up from Outlook Express.

Comments on New Year's Resolution: Back Up and Never Lose Data

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  • 6 Posted by gecampbell on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:07PM EDT Report Abuse

    I use Amazon's S3 service + JungleDisk - offsite storage cost $0.03 in November and $0.09 in December.

  • 7 Posted by tinkerbelleswitch on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    This is great information to have. I have an older computer that has a small hard drive & finances have prevented me from upgrading the hard drive. Being able to save documents online to a specific site is perfect for my financial situation, especially since I found a few free ones. I'll check them all out thouroughly before signing up so I don't have problems or issues with my sensitive files and/or information.

  • 9 Posted by alisodocdna on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:50PM EDT Report Abuse

    Actually munnkeyboy13, Baloney is spelled correctly. He is not referring to a lunch meat, but instead referring to foolishness or nonsense. PS: Munnkey is spelled Monkey ;)

  • 10 Posted by schroednic on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    Just get a flash drive to secure and backup your data files. One can get a 4 GIG flash for under $80. I even "ghost" my hard drive twice a year. Very simple and inexpensive.

  • 11 Posted by eurokc98 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    Im actually recovering Outlook pst files right now. Wish I would of done this the other day. So far ive waisted 8 hours on this (email crashed).

  • 12 Posted by cosbovfx on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:29PM EDT Report Abuse

    You should update the picture you are using to advertise this article. The mac with a apple 1710 monitor that the guy is using is like 10-12 years old.

  • 13 Posted by sformoso on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:14PM EDT Report Abuse

    From personal experience, Mozy is by far the most cost effective and reliable solution. Even if you buy an external drive, there is no guarantee that the drive will not fail; it has happened to me! Mozy, on the other hand, saves you from drive crashed and even from having to buy a fire safe to keep backups on site.Besides, what rock will you hide under if YOU lose all of the family's digital pictures?

  • 14 Posted by oybot on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:47PM EDT Report Abuse

    If you want to completely protect your data, try one of these: www.iosafe.com ioSafe makes disaster proof storage devices. The plug and play USB 2.0 external hard drive protects your data against primary disk failure, fire, flood, theft, and building collapse. Give us a call if you would like to learn more. Tobias Kruse ioSafe 888-984-6723 x221

  • 15 Posted by bobduncan629 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    I would like to find a reliable program to make a bootable backup on DVD. Then if I lose my hard drive, I can boot the DVD to restore. This avoids having to re-install Windows, drivers, programs, etc. Ideally, it should optionally backup data files too, and continue the backup to additional DVD's automatically upon overflow (It should prompt for the next DVD). Suggestions anybody?

  • 16 Posted by tkap1492 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:12PM EDT Report Abuse

    Backup, restore and store all your important data SOON. I worked for a recovery firm for a couple years -- YOU would not believe how often and easy data loss occurs.

  • 17 Posted by audsquad on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:59PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have a question about using an external hard drive for backup. One of my main concerns is theft, and I think that if someone steals my computer, they won't hesitate to swipe the external hard drive, too. So, I am wondering, What about something like a Zip drive, or other removable hard-disk type situation. I could back up to a Zip "floppy," then remove it and at least keep it in another room or a safe place elsewhere in the house and even occasionally make one to keep off-site, in case of fire or whatever. I don't hear much about Zip drives, anymore, though, and I'm wondering why not. Perhaps something like Mozy would work just as well, but that is a new concept to me. Do they really work well? btw, I have an iMac G5 (so I appreciate greenscorpi's comments, and would welcome any others that are Mac-specific)

  • 18 Posted by mark6139 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:07PM EDT Report Abuse

    Acronis TrueImage is not free (unless you're a thief).

  • 19 Posted by sarah_leming on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:04PM EDT Report Abuse

    I lost a year and a half of pictures of my twin boys because I was told it was being backed up but it wasn't! Whether for work or pleasure make sure to BACK UP YOUR FILES!!!!

  • 20 Posted by jhermdoggydog on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:34PM EDT Report Abuse

    Great article. I've been using the Oracast Data Protection Service for quite some time now and love it. My backups are scheduled to run when I'm not there and my data is stored at a secure off-site location. Their web site is www.oracast.com and the dedicated backup site is http://dps.oracast.com.

  • 21 Posted by crreed05 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:31PM EDT Report Abuse

    Try XyberVault...great program, good prices, corporate-level security and service at reasonable prices. they have been very responsive and their tech support is great.

  • 22 Posted by elentophanes on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    Good point about backups - with so much of our lives stored as email, digital music and photos it would be very upsetting to lose the data. One method that you don't cover is that many modern PCs support RAID on their motherboards. With RAID you can 'mirror' or 'twin' your hard drive with another one inside the computer. All it takes is a PC with an embedded RAID controller, 2 hard drives and a small amount of one time setup. The data is written to both the drives continuously. No need for any backup software or thought on behalf of the user. I'd never buy a PC that did not support RAID from now on - the price delta when I configured mine in 2004 was about $30 for the motherboard with RAID support plus the second drive. Even the large manufacturers such as DELL now support this on all but the lowest end systems (eg. the low end Dell E521 comes with Dell DataSafe - which is similar to RAID1)

  • 23 Posted by schwix5 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    wow you use 10 backups!!! who you work for? nasa? your too risk averse

  • 24 Posted by sharongrigoriadis on Tue Jan 2, 2007 5:20PM EST Report Abuse

    I use Casper XP to backup the entire drive Windows included. I have tested it and when it goes down I simply pop in my new backed up drive and fire it up and i am go to go in about 5 minutes. Takes about 1 hour to backup depending on the size of the drive and files.

  • 25 Posted by markleo_7@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    Thank you for Mr. Null to remind me (us!) backing up data occasionally. This type of alert article would help me to prevet from data loss. As like earthquakes or floods, we do not normally prepare for destructive hard drive crashes; not even crashes, switing a new computer may be an good example to lose all music/movies you saved in your iPod file. Flash Drives and External Hard Drives are very handy nowadays; I love customizing Hard Drives and Flash Drives with my own names (text messages) and color enclosures. LaCie offers nice color and IKEA style drives. Pexagon Store-It has a great line up of colors and offering customizing service. Does anyone have suggestions which external hard drive is end-user friendly?

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