How To Backup Data on Your Computer

    Our Data(files, e-mails, music, pictures, ...) is the single most important part of the computer.  There are many ways to backup our data, including CD-writers, DVD-writers, Zip drives, Floppy disks, Tape drives, and even over a network.

    Any backup strategy is better than none at all. So use this How-To guide and the resources below to choose the right backup strategy to fit your needs.

Backing up with CD & DVD writers:
    CD-writers or CD-burners are becoming one of the cheapest methods for transferring and storing data.  Many places offer CD-writes for less than $20 with rebates.  Before purchasing a CD-writer, make sure that your computer can handle it.  Older systems may need to use an older CD-writer for it to operate correctly.

    There are many programs that offer recording and re-writing capabilites for computers.  The two most common are Roxio and Nero.  Both programs are good for copying your data from your computer to CD's.

    There are different kinds of disc's to be aware of when writing or 'burning' to a CD. CD-R's are one-time recordable discs.  This means that they can only be written to until they are full. Whereas, CD-RW's are Re-Writable. This means that we can write and re-write to them until they wear out.  CD-RW's are typically more expensive than CD-R's.

    DVD-writers are very similar to CD-writers, however, DVD-writers are much more expensive than CD-writers. DVD-writers are used mainly for video and movies. The typical DVD disc can hold 4.7 GB compared to a CD disc, which holds around 700 MB (1,000 MB = 1 GB).

Backing up with Zip Drives & Floppy Disks:
    Zip Drives are very similar to floppy disks.  A Zip disk can hold up to 750 MB, while a floppy disk only holds about 1.44 MB of data. Backing up with them is very similar, while the Zip Drive is just a little bit larger than the standard floppy drive.

    For Zip Drives, most come with a standard backup program from Iomega, which makes the Zip Drives.  Most people use Start/Program/Accessories/Backup for floppy disks to backup their data, but this can be a very long process compared to the Zip disks.

Backing up with Tape Drives
    While this technology has been around for a long time, it is still popular with many people.  It is very easy to use, as most tape drives come with their own backup program. One of the most popular Tape Backup programs is by Seagate. Tapes typically can hold a large, variable amount of data and are very reliable. The only downside is that a user has to change tapes on the system every now and then. But for the most part, Tape drive are a good backup option.

Backing up over the network
    Many businesses use this type of backup, as it is good for multiple computers. Some people backup from computer to computer, while most use some type of server to keep all data backed up in one place.

    One type of backup server is a Snap Server, which is just a hard drive in a box that backs up data according to a configured schedule. It is reliable and can also be backed up.

Resources:
Roxio - http://www.roxio.com
Nero - http://www.nero.com
Iomega - http://www.iomega.com
Seagate - http://www.seagate.com
Snap Appliance - http://www.snapappliance.com