Backup, backup, backup

The three most important activities when it comes to computers are backup, backup and backup.  Ask any ICT professional who has been working for a few years how many modes of backup they use and most will tell you it is better to have two copies of your data and best to have more than that...

Ok several copies may be overkill for most people but most people also do not want to loose their family photos, tax and other official receipts which now live on computers.

Organization
For software that you buy on CD/DVD or free software that you download to install it is not necessary to back this up as you can reinstall from the original and/or re-download. It is a pain but often easier than a full restore.   You are, of course,  keeping all of your original software CDs and DVDs in a folder marked Computer in your file drawer.  For data it is easier to backup if you keep it all in the same place.   On Windows XP it is best to keep data in My Documents folder and its sub folders.  On Windows 7 in Documents folder and its sub folders.   If you have multiple different userids to logon to the computer you will need to backup each one.

Local Backup
So everyone should have an external hard drive or thumb drive to periodically copy their "I would hate to loose this" data.   The simplest method is, whenever you think ooo that's a great shot of ...  drag your My Documents or Documents folder to the usb drive.   Not the most secure and safe method but at least you have a copy. 

Offsite Backup
Professionals keep some backup offsite, in case something happens to the "computer room".  This used to be expensive or at least awkward to implement but now we have online (almost cloud) storage services.  For most of these you have to sign up but you don't have to pay until you get into large quantities of data or large files... In no particular order:

• Mozy 
• 2GB free
• unlimited $5/month
• annual and biennial subs available
• ADrive
• 50GB free personal use only
• 50GB @ $7/month
• 100GB @ $14/month
• etc
• Dropbox  install software
• 2GB free
• 50GB @ $10/month
• 100GB @ $20/month 
• 4shared   
• 10GB free
• 100GB $80/year
• skydrive  (Microsoft)
• 25GB free

Some of these are simple storage like the external hard drive (ADrive, Dropbox) but instead it is out there in the "cloud".  Some offer backup services that will take care of backing up data that changes on your hard drive (Mozy). Some you have to install software others have a browser interface.   For all of them somebody else takes care of ensuring that that disk does not get damaged and all that stuff associated with keeping data and hardware safe.
BUT remember you are putting your data in someone else's hands, read the privacy and service agreements before you decide to use any of them.

Another option for offsite backup is to take the external or thumb drive & bring it to your granny's house for safe keeping.

If you know of any other online storage services or have good or bad experience with any of the ones mentioned please email me.