Backup Data Options: Don't Lose Your Files, Documents, Pictures or Music

I'm a computer geek and an artist. I've lived through more than one computer failure and I've lost irreplaceable files because I didn't have a consistent backup scheme implemented. I'm admitting this upfront because even the most technologically savvy of us can make simple mistakes.

As an artist I don't have a lot of money, so I'm always looking for ways to do things on the cheap. I'm also a bit absentminded, so I need to have a system in place that's fairly automated. And, finally, I've watched a couple of my backup devices fail, so I want something that is fairly effective and can standing up to the tests of time.

In this article I'm going to share with you the information I've learned over the years about backing up data. I'll be focusing on the expense, ease, and effectiveness of each of the types of backups you can use.

First, I want to ask yourself a question. What is irreplaceable on your computer? For me it's my writing. I take backing up my year's worth of writing very seriously. At those files take precedence over all my other files.

I want you to ask this for two reasons. First, often the cost of a backup scheme will be dependent on how much data you're going to store. Second, if something is irreplaceable you should have more than one way you back it up. I backup my regular data at least one-way but my irreplaceable data I will backup two or three ways. And I backup my irreplaceable data more often than my regular data, every day as compared to every week or monthly.

Now let's move onto the different ways you can backup.

HARD COPIES

Most of us forget, in this age of technology, that a hard copy is a backup. There are quick and easy way to scan in writing or images back into a computer. I print out all my writing and file it away. The problem with this system is effectiveness. Paper deteriorates over time. It can get wet or burn. But it can be a cheap way to backup your data. (Cheap, not automated, limited effectiveness)

FLOPPY DISKS