Back It Up...In More Than One Place

     Doesn't it seem like there's even more paper to deal with today?  Weren't computers supposed to eliminate the mounds of paper we were using in the 1960's, and therfore save more trees contributing to a better environment?  Isn't it interesting, considering environmental issues and rising gasoline prices, how history repeats itself?

     Technology overpromises and underdelivers - initially.  Anyone needed proof just needs to hear one word - "Vista" - to realize that what's supposed to be the "next best thing" is usually fraught with difficulties that no one caught.

     Consider CDs - the replacement for the record album.  No more scratched vinyl, more compact storage, and digital quality that would last forever!  Today, we know better. A simple fingerprint can make a CD "skip," and while small imperfections might be able to be "buffed" out with a soft cloth and a little elbow grease, improper handling can render a CD recording as unplayable.

     With CDs now storing data and mp3 files, the same precautions must be taken.  Making sure that data is duplicated in other places ("backing up") rather than simply being stored on a computer's hard drive is an excellent practice.  Most corporate environments require employees to save all their data to "shared" hard drives that are part of the corporate network.  Since the network computers are usually backed-up daily, any lost information due to a power failure or system crash can be easily retrieved so that a minimal amount of work is lost.

     But there are users that work on notebook computers, without the ability to connect to a corporate infrastructure for file storage.  Portable hard drives, memory sticks (or "jump drives"), and data storage "chips" (media cards that are used in devices like digital cameras and handheld electronic calendars) can store data so that it's portable, and can be carried from one workspace (the home computer for instance) to another (the office desktop).

     But these are storage devices for data "usage" - not for data backup.  Consider purchasing an external hard drive who's main function is to back-up ALL your computer's data.  Run the back up program at least once per week.  Make sure the drive has enough space to backup ALL your data.  For instance, if your notebook computer has a 50GB hard drive, and your external portable drive has 80GB worth of storage, be sure to purchase at least a 160GB backup drive...since a 120GB will not be enough for the potential storage your computer and portable drive has.

     After you've purchased one backup drive, and doing so has become second nature to you, buy another one and alternate using them.  Remember, the title of this Tech Tip is "Back It Up...In More Than One Place."  When it comes to data storage, redundancy is a good thing.  All you need to believe that is for your computer to crash while it's backing up.

© Michael V. Ziemski, Instrumediatech, 2008 (Original Publication Date: 20080707)

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