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Green ComputingFor our children
Recycle ElectronicsUrgent & critical
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Backup InfoComing Soon:
Kids and
Computing 
Choosing
and Using
an
External Hard Drive to
Backup your Computer.
Simple,
affordable, and
effective
for small businesses and homes -
This page contains:
Check out our backup checklist to see if this approach meets your need.
Online Backup can be cheaper:
And before you take this route, keep in mind that online backup is usually less complicated, more reliable, automatically stores the data in a safe place, and may be less expensive, (especially if you have less then 2 GB to protect). But since the online backup runs every day, and you may forget something for your manual, hard drive system, its best value can be that you will have the data backed up when you need it.
More on online backup is here.
How do I choose an external hard drive to use?
Note: for a fuller discussion of choosing a hard drive, cllick here.
The cost for an external hard drive should be:
How to set it up
The simplest way to set up the drive is with a USB connector, that will be included with the drive when youy buy it, if you buy a USB drive.
Once you connect it to your computer, the computer will detect it is there and show it in Windows Explore or in My Computer as a new drive. Now you can drag and drop files to and from it, and can set this drive as a destination for other programs you run, such as a backup or online backup program.
Remember that when you disconnect it you must do so by firsst turning off the connection to your computer, by clcking onthe icon in the bottom right corner of your screen (i.e. the systaem tray). From there, you can turn off the drive. You will see it listed by manufacturer and model.
Consider Online backup
Glossary:
For more external hard drive parameters to consider, click here.
External Hard Drive to
Backup your Computer.
Simple,
affordable, and
effective
for small businesses and homes -
You
know you MUST backup.
How do you know if an external hard drive backup is a good idea. How do you set it up? Read on.
You can back up your computer data using a simple hard drive that connects to your computer with a USB drive.
This is an inexpensive option that requires that you either
Warning #1:
Those who rely on themselves to remember often find they forget to do it regularly, and that the data may not have been backed up when they need it.
Warning #2:
You need to store this backup at a different location. In the event of a flood, fire, or theft, your backup could be lost if it is in the same place as your computer.
How do you know if an external hard drive backup is a good idea. How do you set it up? Read on.
You can back up your computer data using a simple hard drive that connects to your computer with a USB drive.
This is an inexpensive option that requires that you either
- know enough to schedule automatic backups to the drive, or
- move
your
data there manually.
Warning #1:
Those who rely on themselves to remember often find they forget to do it regularly, and that the data may not have been backed up when they need it.
Warning #2:
You need to store this backup at a different location. In the event of a flood, fire, or theft, your backup could be lost if it is in the same place as your computer.
This page contains:
- A backup checklist
- Should you consider online backup?
- How do I choose an external hard drive?
- Cost
- How to set it up
- Glossary:
Terms and specs for
external hard drives.
Check out our backup checklist to see if this approach meets your need.
Online Backup can be cheaper:
And before you take this route, keep in mind that online backup is usually less complicated, more reliable, automatically stores the data in a safe place, and may be less expensive, (especially if you have less then 2 GB to protect). But since the online backup runs every day, and you may forget something for your manual, hard drive system, its best value can be that you will have the data backed up when you need it.
More on online backup is here.
How do I choose an external hard drive to use?
Note: for a fuller discussion of choosing a hard drive, cllick here.
- Connectors:
Any external hard drive with a USB connection will work. Some external drive units can use other conections, like Firewire or eSATA, but make sure your computer has this kind of connector before you start down this road.
(You can also add these new connectors to your computer by buying a card that installs in the computer)
.
- NAS, RAID,
and the single drive
This is your biggest choice. Get an external drive unit that includes RAID.
What is RAID?
A single, external hard drive can fail. A RAID unit has two hard drives, both with your data. One can die and you still are covered.is a technology that stores your data on two or more hard drives, so that if one fails, your data is still on the other. The failed drive can be replaced. Very nice. Very safe.
A single, external hard drive can fail. A RAID unit has two hard drives, both with your data. One can die and you still are covered.is a technology that stores your data on two or more hard drives, so that if one fails, your data is still on the other. The failed drive can be replaced. Very nice. Very safe.
-
What is "One Touch Backup"
This is a featue on some external hard drives.
As the name implies, a backup is activated when you touch a button on the outside of the device. Drives can be scheduled for regular backups, as long as the drive is still connected to the computer. Mutltiple drives can be synchronised. These drives can some restores of data a little easier.
- Other
specifications
A glossary of other specifications for external hard drives is below. click here.
-
What is NAS?
A "NAS" unit sometimes has RAID, sometimes not. NAS (Network Attached Storage) means that it can be reached by any computer in a network, not just from the computer it is pluged into.
The cost for an external hard drive should be:
External drive units with a
single drive tend to cost between $80. and
$200 online.
External drive units with RAID are available between $200 and $300, with some that feature huge amounts of space and features valuable to businesses will cost $1000 and up.
External drive units with RAID are available between $200 and $300, with some that feature huge amounts of space and features valuable to businesses will cost $1000 and up.
How to set it up
The simplest way to set up the drive is with a USB connector, that will be included with the drive when youy buy it, if you buy a USB drive.
Once you connect it to your computer, the computer will detect it is there and show it in Windows Explore or in My Computer as a new drive. Now you can drag and drop files to and from it, and can set this drive as a destination for other programs you run, such as a backup or online backup program.
Remember that when you disconnect it you must do so by firsst turning off the connection to your computer, by clcking onthe icon in the bottom right corner of your screen (i.e. the systaem tray). From there, you can turn off the drive. You will see it listed by manufacturer and model.
Consider Online backup
This
is the most reliable backup. Costs
something each month, but
it may be only $10 (unless you have a server, which is more complex and
will cost more).
- Cost:
It may take two to three years to spend the same amount for online backup that you would spend buying hardware and setting up local backup inside your network.
Protection:
The data protection is better with online backup from a major supplier.
Lower support costs:
Troubleshooting is needed much less often with online backup. (It never is zero. This is software, after all. Any software can get corrupted. )
It is greener.
Online backup only uses the electricity your computer uses anyway when it is on.
An external hard drive uses electricity, and the manufacturing process uses lots of energy, and all electronic devices are damaging to the environment.
Free online backup?
You can get free online backup for up to two GB per computer from Mozy. Great deal.
Click here for help in selecting one.
Glossary:
For more external hard drive parameters to consider, click here.
