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Leigh 06:51 AM 07-01-2014
Does anyone have a suggestion about backup storage for my computer files? I live in fear of my computer crashing-I don't create backup disks like I should, and my whole life is on my computer. I know Google Documents is an option, but I wonder what others like the best.
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Blackcat31 06:57 AM 07-01-2014
I use a portable hard drive as storage.

I just purchased this one at Sam's Club

http://www.samsclub.com/sams/2tb-por...navAction=push


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NoMoreJuice! 07:27 AM 07-01-2014
I have a SimpleDrive external hard drive...it automatically backs up every night both onto the hard drive and onto the company's server. Even in the event of a fire, if I lost both my cpu and external hd, all my records would be safe on the server.
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Lyss 07:44 AM 07-01-2014
I have the WD My passport and it works really well. I've had it for over a year and other than having to update the software when I went from window 7 to 8 I haven't had any issues.
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Childminder 08:15 AM 07-01-2014
What about in the "cloud"?
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Kabob 08:23 AM 07-01-2014
Originally Posted by Blackcat31:
I use a portable hard drive as storage.

I just purchased this one at Sam's Club

http://www.samsclub.com/sams/2tb-por...navAction=push

I got a similar one from Sam's Club too and I also use it to store pictures I don't have room for on my computer.
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coolconfidentme 09:33 AM 07-01-2014
I use this.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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earlystart 03:09 PM 07-01-2014
For documents I really recommend a "cloud drive" - you have to be connected to the internet - and you use this folder to save all your important documents, and it automatically syncs to the internet, so if that computer ever crashes you have an online backup (you can also access the files from any computer and some smart phones). You can get a free account from places like: Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox, Sugarsync, Box. For the google and microsoft ones, it is attached to your email account, so if you already have a gmail or hotmail account, you just need to download the software to your computer. I have multiple accounts, so when one gets full, I sign up for a new one.
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Sunchimes 06:30 PM 07-01-2014
I use Carbonite. I pay around $50 a year..no, I think my renewal notice was for $59 this year. I don't care. I'd hock my dog to pay for it-it has given me complete piece of mind. My files are stored safely away from my house in case of tornado or fire. I can access them from any computer so I always have them no matter where I am.

I have had really bad luck with external hard drives. I have 2 that my computer doesn't recognize. I used to back up once a month to an external. Then, one month, my computer demanded a password. I did not password protect them, ever. The second one just quit being recognized. So, I have 2 hard drives with stuff on them that I'll never be able to access.

I toyed with the idea of Dropbox, but for my laptop and pc, I think it was more expensive, or maybe the same price, not worth changing. Besides, I don't like the way Dropbox handles files.

One thing about the personal level of Carbonite is that they don't automatically back up videos. You have to go to videos and mark them for
Carbonite to back them up. It just takes a few seconds every time I upload pictures, so that isn't a deal breaker for me.
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kitkat 07:23 PM 07-01-2014
Originally Posted by Blackcat31:
I use a portable hard drive as storage.

I just purchased this one at Sam's Club

http://www.samsclub.com/sams/2tb-por...navAction=push

We have something similar to this. Our laptop crashed in April and wasn't backed up. DH got it restarted, bought an external drive, and backed everything up. It completely crashed in May and can't be fixed! If he hadn't backed everything up, everything would have been gone...it makes me just about cry thinking how close we were to losing files, but most importantly pics and videos. DH backed everything up, so I have no idea how to do that so I can't say how easy or hard it is. I just used it yesterday to reload some files and it wasn't hard to use. Speaking from experience, get something soon, you'll regret not doing it.
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Blackcat31 07:08 AM 07-02-2014
Originally Posted by Sunchimes:
I use Carbonite. I pay around $50 a year..no, I think my renewal notice was for $59 this year. I don't care. I'd hock my dog to pay for it-it has given me complete piece of mind. My files are stored safely away from my house in case of tornado or fire. I can access them from any computer so I always have them no matter where I am.

I have had really bad luck with external hard drives. I have 2 that my computer doesn't recognize. I used to back up once a month to an external. Then, one month, my computer demanded a password. I did not password protect them, ever. The second one just quit being recognized. So, I have 2 hard drives with stuff on them that I'll never be able to access.

I toyed with the idea of Dropbox, but for my laptop and pc, I think it was more expensive, or maybe the same price, not worth changing. Besides, I don't like the way Dropbox handles files.

One thing about the personal level of Carbonite is that they don't automatically back up videos. You have to go to videos and mark them for
Carbonite to back them up. It just takes a few seconds every time I upload pictures, so that isn't a deal breaker for me.
Take them to someone who knows computers. If it's on there, you can retrieve it. (or they can).

I had an issue with a plug-connector for one of my hard drives and my PC wouldn't recognize it. I took it to my brother (who is a computer forensic specialist) and he said the plugs fail ALL the time, causing the PC or laptop to not recognize the device but the stuff/files etc are still there.

I think if you had to pay someone to retrieve the info it would be really inexpensive.

Worth a shot if you have anything on those hard drives you don't want to lose permanently.
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Unregistered 08:11 AM 07-02-2014
Try asking the store where you bought it, even if warranty is out. Sometimes a techie person there willsee it as a fun little challenge and do it for you for fun or for a good customer. I have had big box office store do stuff for me several times because I buy stuff there fairly regularly.
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AmyKidsCo 03:27 PM 07-02-2014
I have WD MyPassport for Mac. Time Capsule on my Mac reminds me to back up every 10 days if I forget.
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