| I've been repairing computers for the past 17 years. All | | | | computing. Most everybody believe that, as long as |
| technology has evolved over the years I've continually | | | | they buy the newest & latest hardware, they don't |
| heard one statement over and over: "Backup your | | | | have to worry about backing up your data. Don't |
| data." From the old 486 machines, through the Pentium | | | | believe it. |
| era, onto to today's quad core systems...I've heard this | | | | If you were to look inside a hard drive you'd see a |
| same "Backup your data" statement so often that it's | | | | pretty simple design: 5-8 metal platters that sit onto of |
| almost become a mantra. Back up stuff up so if, for | | | | each other. These platters are engineered with great |
| some reason or other you loose your data, you can | | | | precision...however...they are man made. Nothing is man |
| retrieve it from the backup. If you only have one copy | | | | made is perfect. Technology is improving all the time, |
| of your data don't risk loosing it - back it up. | | | | creating better & better designs, but nothing is perfect. |
| I was always backing up my data through my high | | | | I've since learned my lesson - always backup your |
| school daze, college semesters, & office job life. | | | | stuff! Pictures, videos, movies, documents, |
| I never had any problems...until two years ago. | | | | spreadsheets...precious data...it all must be backed up |
| Two years ago a horrible thing happened. My hard | | | | or you could loose it. |
| drive crashed and I lost about five months of pictures | | | | The easiest low tech way of backing up your stuff: |
| & movies. I was reloading my operating system at the | | | | buy yourself an external drive, dump your data on it, |
| time and I made the mistake of filling my hard drive to | | | | and unplug it. Keep the drive unplugged (both the USB |
| about 90% capacity. About halfway through this | | | | cable & power cable) to ensure lightning strikes can't |
| process when my hard drive said "ugh!" and sputtered | | | | reach your precious data. |
| and crashed. As soon as I realized what was | | | | Local retails sell various external hard drives from |
| happening I panicked. I did everything I could to save | | | | $60-$100. Sam's Club sells a Seagate 320 GB |
| the data but, alas, all was lost. I had most of my | | | | Portable Hard Drive for $78. Walmart sells a Western |
| pictures backed up on other drives but 5 whole | | | | Digital 250GB for $79. |
| months of pictures & movies were gone forever. | | | | If you can wait 2-3 days for shipping you can can a |
| Most hard drives have a short life span of 3-5 years. | | | | much bigger bang for your buck with the major |
| Other types of drives (USB thumb drives & Tape | | | | retailers. This Acomdata 1TB Drive is $97. in some |
| drives) can last a little longer. To me, the words "hard | | | | cases you'll need to add $3-8 shipping costs but |
| drive" convey a sense of permanence and reliability. | | | | everything is still much cheaper than your local retailer. |
| I've spoke with a lot of people who do everyday | | | | |