Computer backup???

Nancy · Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 1097 Location: Illinois, U.S.A.

With all the troubles I've been having lately with my system, I felt it would be a good idea to copy everything to cd's.
I have Windows XP Home Edition-SP2
Is there a place I can go to on the net where instructions are given in language I can understand?
Ideally, I'd like to copy all my saved stuff in my email folders, pictures,current programs I use + of course bookmarks.
I'm not sure how to go about any of this.
Thanks
Nancy
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You O Lord are the potter, I am the clay,the work of Your hands.

Janie · Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 7:21 am Post subject:

Nancy as with most things *Computer* I have found that it really is a case of *trial and error* in other words most of us learn by our mistakes. You can of course join a class to learn about computer *basics* (I did, some years ago now) but I have found that it is extremely difficult to try and explain to somone over the net how to do such and such...anyways , about backing up work.......I have learnt from experience that it is essential to back up work on a regular basis, otherwise you run the risk of losing all your pics, documents etc if the worst should happen and your comp does a *mental*
Probably the easiest way nowadays to save your work is via a USB memory stick. This is what I use, very easy to use *plug and play* format. You basically inset the stick into your USB port, the computer will detect the stick and you just follow along with the instructions. My only advice would to get a memory stick with at least a 4GB storage capacity.
Hope this helps.
Janie

Sisyphus · Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 8:12 am Post subject:

Nancy,

Backing up to CD or DVD would be time consuming and very awkward. The amount of data you would likely want to back up would take many CD's and if you wanted to do it regularly it would become quite expensive.

As Janie suggests, a better alternative may be a memory stick, but at 4Gb this would soon fill up and again regular backup would be dificult.
I would suggest you purchase an external hard drive specifically for the purpose. These can be pricey if you go for a really big one but a drive of say 60Gb would give sufficient capactity and keep the coast reasonable.
Here is a link to one such drive available in the States: USB Hard Drive

The beauty of these devices is that like memory sticks they just plug in your USB port and the computer will instantly see it and it will be available as just another hard drive.
_________________
".... love thy neighbour as thyself." is the hardest thing I have ever done....

Janie · Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 3:08 pm Post subject:

Sis of course you're right, 4gb wouldn't be enough..I was thinking of my own needs as I just tend to save word docs, pics etc...and as it's a fairly new comp there's not much on my system. Handy knowing about the external hard drive though.....how much are they here do you know ?
Janie

Sisyphus · Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 4:14 pm Post subject:

Nancy · Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 1097 Location: Illinois, U.S.A.

Thanks for all the input. I have already pruchased quite a few cd-r's for my project. I don't understand this external hard drive device you're talking about tho. I'll bookmark it + do some more research. So are you saying that you have a bunch of these thingys for varioius formats?
And what is this about backing up info on a regular basis?
I am hopelessly non-geek, aren't I? I'm wanting so very much to learn tho.
Icon_happythumbsup

_________________
You O Lord are the potter, I am the clay,the work of Your hands.

Sisyphus · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 6:10 am Post subject:

You only need the one Nancy. You plug it into the USB port at the back of the PC and leave it. It's then like having another hard drive on your PC that you can save stuff too or copy stuff too as a backup from your main drive.
_________________
".... love thy neighbour as thyself." is the hardest thing I have ever done....

angel · Joined: 28 Jun 2006 Posts: 4751 Location: essex

Is this an F drive thingy Sis, cause I have one of these.?

jtheb · Joined: 21 Jun 2006 Posts: 1451 Location: second childhood

I have an external hard drive. BUT the first one I had died and I lost the contents!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I now back up everything important onto DVDs from time to time.
Four DVDs RW type contain my essentials.
But for everyday running I use a Seagate 80gig external drive.
That means that if I have a major system crash I can reformat and re install withut affecting my data.
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The effectiveness of a posting is inversely proportional to its length.
C.S.Craig

Nancy · Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 1097 Location: Illinois, U.S.A.

Wow, you're all so clever! Icon_wink

I went to the site mentioned, but didn't understand a word Icon_1435

What I don't understand is.....if this external hard drive thingy is plugged into my cpu, how does it know when to copy things? And as it's plugged in, if my system would go haywire, what's to keep the "thingy" from doing the same as it's connected?
I've got to take a class!!!!!
_________________
You O Lord are the potter, I am the clay,the work of Your hands.

Sisyphus · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 5:24 pm Post subject:

Sisyphus · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 6:50 pm Post subject:

Nancy,

Sign up for dummies eTips. They send you an email once a week with simple to understand training on loads of subjects including basic computers. I use it for web design and get a eTip every week. Often it isn't something I want to know about but now and then they send something that is really useful. There is no cost and you can stop it any time you want.

eTips for Dummies
_________________
".... love thy neighbour as thyself." is the hardest thing I have ever done....

angel · Joined: 28 Jun 2006 Posts: 4751 Location: essex

Thanks Sis, I have signed up.

It looks Good, I may learn something. Icon_biggrin

Sisyphus · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 8:21 pm Post subject:

Nancy · Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 1097 Location: Illinois, U.S.A.

Thanks,I signed up + am awaiting a confirmation email.
Can't afford a regular college class yet, so I rely on forums, but most are so "geeky"-lol!
_________________
You O Lord are the potter, I am the clay,the work of Your hands.