Data Recovery - 10 Most Effective Computer Backup Tools

Despite my best efforts, this past week I lost bothonline backup for my contacts, but it doesn't permit
my primary and secondary computer systems. Afterme to store my notes about each contact. I've been
losing my primary desktop several years ago, Iusing Airset now for several months, and it regularly
vowed I would never let myself be caught withoutsyncs my contacts (with notes) and my calendar to
an operating PC. As they say, "the road to h*ll istheir online service. I found this much more
paved with good intentions," and I once again wasconvenient than trying to restore a backup PST file
caught with my proverbial pants down without anto Outlook and then repeating that again when my
operating computer when my desktop, which hadprimary computer is returned. Instead, I just make
been exhibiting some problem signs in the last month,changes to contacts and my calendar on Airset, and
died suddenly and would not turn on.I'll just sync that to Outlook on my desktop.
I then went to my laptop, which I had admittedly5. Passwords. I've been using Roboform for years to
been lazy about keeping updated, and turned it on.help me manage my passwords. I've got my
Immediately the Windows update process started,Roboform data in My Docs, so it was a breeze to
and asked me install Service Pack 3 for Windows XP.reinstall Roboform and copy the data folder to the
Having done that successfully on my desktop, Inew computer and permit me to access all of the
wasn't too worried about any installation problems onsites requiring a password and username. Finally,
the laptop. However, upon completing the installation,something that worked seamlessly!
the blue screen of death appeared, which is NEVER a6. Project Management. Smartsheet has been my
good sign with a Windows-based system.project management service for the last few
After trying for about an hour without success tomonths. I love that it has the ability to create an item
revive my laptop (which is only 8 months old and stilland allow you to attach a document and discussion
under warranty), I knew that I was in trouble andto that item. Rather than having to hunt down
starting looking for alternatives. Fortunately, myinformation about a project, all I had to do was log
husband keeps a laptop on hand that he uses forinto my Smartsheet account and there it was.
gaming when we travel, and he generously offered7. Software licenses. Roughly 99% of the new
to let me install my programs and files on it until Isoftware I install is downloaded and I don't get a
could repair one of my computers.physical copy on CD. Therefore, I make sure that I
After finally acknowledging that there was no way Ihave the downloaded version in a My Downloads
could have foreseen this situation, I decided that Ifolder that's a part of My Docs file, which is backed
needed to s*ck it up, get over, and move on. So, I'mup regularly. And, I make a PDF copy of the
making do with a partially customized laptop that willsoftware license that I get by email and store in a
do until one or the other of my PCs is returned.Software folder, also in My Docs. Lastly, I purchased
Despite having gone through similar situationsa very inexpensive program, Registration Vault, that
previously, I still learned a few new things along thelets me store all of my software license and
way about data recovery and computer backup.purchase info and permits me to back up my data to
Here are the 10 most effective tools that saved myMy Docs. As I had to reinstall software on a new
bacon during my recent computer meltdown.computer, it was easy to restore the Registration
1. Automatic backup software. I've been using 2Vault files, get my software license number, and
online backups, Carbonite and Syncplicity. I have hadhave a fully functioning piece of software within
to restore from Carbonite previously, and I found theminutes.
process to be lengthy and somewhat confusing. So,8. Accounting. I use Quickbooks for my accounting
several months ago I began using Syncplicity becauseneeds, and while they do offer an online version, I
it offers online access to all backed up files as well ashaven't yet moved to that. Instead, I back up
the ability to synchronize an unlimited number ofQuickbooks after every use in the My Docs folder.
computers. However, it has taken a week to restoreWhen I needed to invoice consulting clients at the
20 GB of data with Syncplicity, and some of the databeginning of this month, all I had to do was reinstall
was wasn't really restored, despite what SyncplicityQuickbooks and restore my latest backup. I instantly
told me in my account. However, I can easilyhad everything I needed again at my fingertips.
download this missing info to my computer from the9. Alternate free services. Some software I use, like
online vault. One process that makes this backupCuteFTP and TraxTime, don't permit data backups.
system easier is that I store all of my data files in MySo, I really do have to start all over with my FTP
Docs so I don't have to hunt them down in Programinfo and my time tracking info when my computer
Files, or wherever they are typically stored.dies. Rather than installing these programs on the
2. Email client software. I still use the dinosaur Eudoranew computer, I just used some free alternatives to
for my email client. Old habits die hard, I suppose.get me through. FireFTP, a Firefox add-on, has
However, somehow I missed marking some keyworked quite well for me as my FTP client, and has
Eudora folders to back up, and so I was initially usingstood in fairly well for TraxTime, although it requires
my webmail access providing by my hostinga few more steps for operation than TraxTime.
company to access email because of this oversight10. Email marketing. While not a tool, I discovered
with Eudora. I began to tire of that quickly, as I hadthat both text and HTML versions of email
no way to create additional folders in those systems,broadcasts matter in email marketing. I wasn't initially
so I then decided to manually configure Eudora andable to get my normal email client up and running, so
open folders and emails as I need them in theI was reading my email from my webmail systems.
program. This experience has made me veryI've got 2 hosting accounts, and the newer one has
tempted to change all of my incoming and outgoinga fairly sophisticated webmail system and let me read
email servers on all domains to Gmail just to haveHTML emails with no problem. The other, however,
access to everything online, come hurricane, flood,doesn't permit HTML viewing. So, those emails sent
tornado, or computer crash.only in HTML were ones that I was unable to read. If
3. Bookmark service. I'm an avid researcher andyou're wise and your email marketing program
resource collector, so having access to mypermits you to send emails out in both plain text and
bookmarks, or favorites file, is vital to my day-to-dayHTML, do it, even though it might seem like a
operations. I had been using Spurl, but because ofneedless pain. You just never know how members of
frequent periodic outages of their service, I'veyour list might be forced to ready your emails.
changed to Foxmarks. I like that this service offersAs you might gather, I've discovered that online
me the ability to access all of these online, as well asservices have provided me with the greatest backup
have them at my fingertips any time I need themto help me through this computer crisis. My lesson?
from my Bookmarks menu as well as easilyDuplicate as much as you can in online systems. In
synchronize them to any computer.this way, you'll have access to your data when you
4. Contact management. Even though I don't usetravel, when you have a computer crash, or when
Outlook for email, I do use it for calendar andyou're faced with a natural disaster.
contact management. I had been using Plaxo as anCopyright (c) 2009 OnlineBizU.