» Sat Feb 19, 2011 12:27 pm A final point: Once a year is not frequent enough for backing up data. World Backup Day was created to spread awareness and to get those who have never backed up data to start. Once you learn how easy it is, you can do it anytime you want.
It's a good idea to backup files regularly and in at least two separate places, just to be safe. Although finding your computer and one of your backups unreadable at the same time is unlikely, it's not out of the question. Backing up is a sure-fire way to ensure the safety of your most precious digital data, whether it be photos, videos or important documents.
It's a good idea to backup files regularly and in at least two separate places, just to be safe. Although finding your computer and one of your backups unreadable at the same time is unlikely, it's not out of the question. Backing up is a sure-fire way to ensure the safety of your most precious digital data, whether it be photos, videos or important documents.
Unfortunately don't have time to do much of a post here since I have work to get to soon. Here's some stuff off the top of my head:
1. Start backing up today! Anyone can do it and getting started is the simplest bit. Even so much as one backup puts you far ahead of the game.
2. Keep that backup up to date. An out-of-date backup does very little for you!
3. Once you got a good backup system in place, try some file versioning for even better backups. Having -Only- mirrored backups run the risk of copying bad data over good data. Some free programs to make your file versioning simpler are http://www.educ.umu.se/~cobian/cobianbackup.htm, http://sites.google.com/site/thebackupmonkey/home/, http://www.areca-backup.org/, and http://www.crashplan.com/
4. Back up to more than one place! The more backups you have, the more likely it is they will be useful.
Some other things you can do include setting up a NAS (Network Attached Storage) and/or Server and backing up to that. It'll allow up-to-date backups that can run in the background without you thinking about it.
This is really rough around the edges, as I just started working on it (was going to go in the next Freeware Guide update):
cloud/Internet-based backups:
https://www.dropbox.com/ -- 2 GB free storage. Syncs your files to multiple computers over the Internet and to their servers. More space available through referrals. Gives you file versioning for 30 days via the website.
https://www.sugarsync.com/ -- 5 GB free storage. Syncs your files to multiple computers over the Internet and to their servers. Gives you some file versioning too.
https://spideroak.com/ -- 2 GB free storage. Also syncs your files to multiple computers over the Internet and to their servers.
http://www.wuala.com/ -- 1 GB free storage. You can also trade local storage for more storage (the amount you get depends on your computer up time and the amount you offer).
http://explore.live.com/windows-live-mesh -- 5 GB to SkyDrive. Unlimited syncing to any other computer via P2P.
http://www.crashplan.com/ -- Unlimited backups to a friend's computer over the Internet.
http://www.adrive.com/ -- 50 GB free. Web client only for the free version. 2 GB file limit.
https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive - 5 GB free storage. No desktop client.
http://www.zumodrive.com/ -- 2 GB free storage, same as SpiderOak.
http://www.syncplicity.com/ -- 2 GB only for 2 computers.
http://memopal.com/ -- 3 GB free storage.
http://mozy.com/ -- 2 GB free storage
https://one.ubuntu.com/ -- 2 GB free storage. Windows client in Beta.
http://www.teamdrive.com/ -- 2 GB free storage.
http://www.idrive.com/ -- 5 GB free storage
http://www.safecopybackup.com/ -- 3 GB free storage
https://www.asuswebstorage.com/ -- 2 GB free storage
Share your own tips as well as any comments on any backup service (I've not gotten the chance to test a lot of those yet)
