| As I write this, it's early December, and try | | | | Hard diskettes, the old familiar 3.5" |
| as I might, I can't remember what my new | | | | squares, hold up to 1.44 megabytes of data. |
| year's resolution was last time around. One | | | | They're cheap, but 1.44 MB is less than two |
| thing I can say with near hundred percent | | | | percent of the ten gigs of data on my hard |
| certainty is that whatever it was, I failed | | | | drive. Even if each of those files were |
| to keep it. Maybe you're the same. Maybe you | | | | smaller than 1.44 MB (and each weren't), I'm |
| resolved to quit smoking, lose weight, or | | | | not keen on the idea of buying, labeling, and |
| read more. We all make promises with | | | | storing fifty diskettes. Next idea, please. |
| ourselves, then fail to keep those promises. | | | | |
| Worst of all, those promises might be exactly | | | | Most computer experts rely on removable hard |
| what we need most. Consider this: When was | | | | drives for memory backups. The most popular |
| the last time you backed up your computer | | | | of these drives are the Zip drive from Iomega |
| files? Last month? Last year? Never? | | | | and the ORB drive from Castlewood. They're |
| | | | relatively inexpensive and hold up to two |
| Let's make a new year's resolution together, | | | | gigs of data. Basically, you'll save your |
| you and I. Let's promise to back up our | | | | data on a Zip disk, then transfer it from the |
| computers. It's important, I promise. Just | | | | disk to the portable drive. The catch is that |
| yesterday the automatic backup feature in MS | | | | removable drives fail about as often as |
| Word saved me about an hour's work when my | | | | regular hard drives. They may even be more |
| computer froze up. Given that I haven't | | | | susceptible to damage from dust and rough |
| backed up my computer in almost a year, I | | | | handling. A sub-option here is to use a |
| can't even imagine how much data I'd lose if | | | | permanent hard drive as a removable drive. At |
| I suffered a power surge or hard drive | | | | up to two hundred gigs, conventional hard |
| failure. It can happen to the best of us, and | | | | drives are bigger than removable drives, and |
| often does. Even high end hard drive | | | | prices have dropped enough in recent years to |
| manufacturers report an average failure rate | | | | make this idea practical. Whatever kind of |
| of between five and eight per thousand every | | | | hard drive you decide to use, make sure to |
| year. That may not sound like much, but let's | | | | keep it isolated from dust, magnetic charges, |
| face it, somebody has to be those five to | | | | and static electricity. |
| eight people. Feeling lucky? There are about | | | | |
| 185 million household PCs in the U.S., | | | | Optical drives use a laser to store |
| according to Computer Industry Almanac, so | | | | information, rather than a magnet. Even if |
| that means about 150,000 hard drives fail | | | | you're not a tech junkie, that's probably |
| each year. But even if your drive stays | | | | enough information to give you a clearer idea |
| intact, about a tenth of all computers suffer | | | | what we're talking about: namely, CDs and |
| minor data loss in any given year. A power | | | | DVDs. Less common are EO (erasable optical) |
| surge, the magnets in your home stereo | | | | and WORM (write once, read many) media; |
| speakers, or even an accidental nudge can | | | | they're less common because they cost over |
| affect data storage. According to a report | | | | $1000 per drive. CDs, on the other hand, cost |
| from the ONTRACK data recovery service, data | | | | less than a buck and can hold up to 650 |
| loss can be caused by natural disasters (3% | | | | megabytes. DVDs hold up to five gigs and cost |
| of cases), computer viruses (7%), software | | | | about fifteen dollars apiece. Most computers |
| problems (14%), and plain old user error (a | | | | nowadays have either a CD or DVD writer (or |
| whopping 32%). Now, I'm sure you never hit a | | | | both), but write times can be slow. My CD |
| wrong keyboard button, but do you have a | | | | writer, for example, works best on the 300 |
| button on your computer that prevents a bolt | | | | kilobyte per second setting-if then. I'll be |
| of lightning? I didn't think so. | | | | using the remote server option. At $250 and |
| | | | up, tape drives are more expensive and slower |
| WHEREAS our data is important, and disaster | | | | than hard drives or optical media, hence less |
| can befall even the most noble and | | | | common, but also extremely reliable. |
| undeserving of us, BE IT RESOLVED that you | | | | |
| and I shall back up our computer files | | | | Remote servers are third party companies that |
| forthwith. | | | | store data online for a fee. This is a great |
| | | | option for broadband Internet users, |
| Amen, brothers and sisters. Now, where and | | | | especially people like me who don't own a |
| how do we start? | | | | reliable data writer. SkyDesk runs |
| | | | Backup.com, Back-Up Solutions maintains |
| STEP ONE: Choosing Favorites | | | | BackUpHelp.com, and Iomega hosts iServer |
| | | | (Iomega.com/iStorage). XDrive.com, once a |
| Not all files are important enough to | | | | free service, now charges ten bucks a month |
| preserve for posterity. The most critical | | | | for up to five gigs of storage. Promotions |
| files on a computer are its operating system | | | | and other rates change, so it's a good idea |
| files. If you're a good little consumer, you | | | | to shop around before selecting a remote |
| bought the operating system and kept those | | | | storage service. |
| CDs handy and secure from data loss. If | | | | |
| you're not, then remind yourself to go stand | | | | STEP THREE: Git 'er Done |
| in the corner later. The drones at Microsoft | | | | |
| did not work for years just to watch you | | | | Now it's time to put the files you want to |
| steal their work. It's people like you that | | | | save on the storage medium you've chosen. |
| keep Bill Gates from buying his second | | | | There are several ways to do this. Your CD |
| planet. Now that you've been suitably | | | | writer, for example, may come with |
| chastised, either go buy a legal copy of the | | | | proprietary disk writing software. That |
| operating system, or include the necessary | | | | application may even include a backup option. |
| files in your "must back up" list. | | | | If it does, and you're more familiar with |
| | | | that software than Windows features, then |
| The same principle goes for software | | | | that's the way to go. Otherwise, backup is |
| applications. Maybe you bought an ad and | | | | still relatively easy on all MS operating |
| spyware blocker you really like, but the | | | | systems since Windows 98. Windows 98, Windows |
| company that coded it has since gone out of | | | | ME, and Windows XP Professional include a |
| business (perhaps because other consumers | | | | built-in Backup utility. To run it, just |
| weren't as scrupulous as you). If so, include | | | | click on Start, then Programs, then |
| the files you need to run the app in your | | | | Accessories, then System Tools, then Backup. |
| must list. | | | | How easy was that? If you're using the XP |
| | | | Home edition, you may need to add the utility |
| Now it's time to look at the remaining files | | | | manually. If so, insert the Windows XP CD |
| on your computer and prioritize. If you're | | | | into your disk drive and wait for the |
| not a digital packrat like me, it may be | | | | "Welcome to Microsoft Windows XP" screen. |
| possible to save everything. If so, | | | | (You may need to double-click the CD icon in |
| congratulations. I don't have ten gigabytes | | | | My Computer.) Then click on Perform |
| of portable media at my disposal, so when I | | | | Additional Tasks and Browse This CD. In |
| back up my computer, I'll be leaving a few | | | | Windows Explorer, double-click the ValueAdd |
| gigs of MP3s and questionable Windows Media | | | | folder, then Msft, then Ntbackup. |
| files at risk. One of the first things I will | | | | Double-clicking on Ntbackup.msi will install |
| save is the folder I use to save my writing | | | | the utility. Once it's installed, you can |
| assignments, because that data represents | | | | also run the program by clicking Start and |
| money in my pocket. I'll back up my email | | | | Run, then typing msbackup.exe (Windows 98 and |
| address book, plus my digital photography and | | | | Windows ME) or ntbackup.exe (Windows XP) in |
| fiction writing efforts. I can live without | | | | the Open field. Click OK, and you'll be off |
| "Milkshake" (what was I thinking?), but the | | | | to the races. |
| guitar piece my friend recorded and sent to | | | | |
| me is going on the list. Your results may | | | | Incidentally, the Windows XP Backup utility |
| vary. | | | | also includes a bonus application called the |
| | | | Automated Recovery Wizard. This creates a |
| STEP TWO: In Which I Tell You Where You Can | | | | bootable floppy that initiates backup if the |
| Put It | | | | hard drive must be replaced. Other options |
| | | | for "disaster recovery" include BackUp MyPC |
| That's right, this is the section in which | | | | from Stomp (StompInc.com, $79) and Norton |
| I'll tell you where to store your data. It's | | | | Ghost 9.0 from Symantec (Norton.com, $69.95). |
| not a good idea to put backup files on | | | | Ghost actually allows users to duplicate the |
| another drive on the same computer. That | | | | contents of their computer over the Internet. |
| defeats the whole purpose. Duplicating your | | | | Both have earned stellar reviews from top PC |
| files on another computer in the same LAN is | | | | magazines. |
| almost as risky, because computer viruses can | | | | |
| spread as fast as an imaginary Anna | | | | Don't let another month go by without |
| Kournikova JPEG. You need to find a portable | | | | protecting the files you value most. My |
| storage medium that can hold all the files on | | | | girlfriend justifies her messy car by saying |
| your must list. Your options include floppy | | | | she "lives out of it." Well, I live out of my |
| diskettes, portable hard drives, optical | | | | computer. It's not just my office; it's the |
| drives, tape drives, and remote servers. | | | | home of cherished memories in the form of |
| We'll look at each in turn. | | | | pictures, MP3, and other data files. I'm |
| | | | resolved to keep it safe. |