skip to main content

Best flash drives and CDs for backing up?

13 years ago

I have neglected a critical task--backing up. I back up occasionally using Sony CD-Rs, a lengthy process. I used to back up every night with floppies but they are no more.

What is easy and reliable for a non-tech person? I was thinking of getting a flash drive and CDs. What brands are most archival? What is easy to use? What other methods of backing up could you suggest?

I know this is a basic question but I am courting disaster and can't put this off another day.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

azinoh
13 years ago
You could use a flash drive small backups, but for large ones you'd be better off with an external hard drive.
zep516
13 years ago
You will probably be better off with an external USB drive, you can back up your Documents folder there.

Or us a program as shown in the link, acronis true image.

I only back up the documents folder using an external usb drive. I don't back up system files. I have an operating system disk with windows on it in case of complete drive failure.

Here is a link that might be useful: acronis true image.
Related Discussions
CD Drive not showing up
Q
Comments (6)
This problem may occur if the CD recording program from Roxio Easy CD Creator is installed on the computer. I'm only looking at this error----> F:\is not accessible. Incorrect function. Roxio Easy CD Creator------>See if this programs lives in the add/remove program list.... I am assuming that your cd rom drive is in fact writable and you have used it before, and you have also used those blank cd before without a problem.
...See More
USB Flash Drive For Photo Backup?
Q
Comments (3)
Gene, I never noticed or heard of that before. If these pictures are special to you may I recommend multi-copies over various media with a disk and a thumb drive at a minimum. The estimated life cycle of storage media is still in its infancy stage and are only approximations/estimates/guesses. No one really knows what the future may bring. So why not give yourself a little insurance by doing so. You may consider free on-line storage also. DA
...See More
2 questions: flash drive & burning
Q
Comments (6)
I have lots of them, I use them all the time. You can put files or pics or what ever you want on them from your computer to save or to transfer from one place to another, I use them to move certain files from one of my computers to another. I also have one I carry that has all my portable apps on it so if I go somewhere and need to use a pc, I just stick my flash drive in and I have my firefox on it set up just like I want it, and lots of other applications even antivirus programs are made for portable use. They are some what fragile so you have to take care of them, I have a nice padded wallet made just for them I bought to keep them together and protected. as to your question about burning pictures to cd for her to view on her player there are a lot of variables there, if you use the right type of cd if she has a player that will play that type of cd if her player will play picture files, in some cases yes it can work.
...See More
Is this flash drive a decent buy?
Q
Comments (8)
Your idea of using 2 thumb drives makes perfect sense. Then you always have 2 backups up to the point of the older copy. Not too much would be lost. Kingston has a respected name so you are doing good there too. Flash drive, thumb drive, memory stick all similar. However I have 2 what I call thumb or flash drives which are a one piece thing you simply plug in a USB port. I also have one which has a removeable memory card the same as those used in digital cameras. This also uses the USB port of course, I am not sure if it has any advantages over the one piece drives. We'll see what others think on the matter hopefully.
...See More
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
13 years ago
These days with all the free image programs available that is what I suggest doing, that way if you have something catastrophic happen you just revert back to that last image you made and everything is replaced even your windows OS.
Some free options, and you can do this to either flash or external drive, I use kingston generally for the flash drive and I have a seagate free agent pro for external.
disk imaging software
8 free software to image/backup/ghost
Step-by-step instruct on creating image: Macrium a tutorial

or Acronis which is a pay version but does come free with certain external hard drives
mike_kaiser_gw
13 years ago
You'd be best off with an external hard drive which start at about $75. For truly critical data you should use, in additional to whatever local backup plan you have, one of the online services. Lots of backups are great but not if they all burn in the same house fire.
ginny12
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks for these replies. Some basic questions--

Does an external hard drive run automatically as you work or do you have to run it yourself?

Do you trust the security of online services? Not dying to put my financial data etc out there. What online services do you recommend?

I don't understand what an image program is and will have to do some reading. But if your computer dies, how can you recapture an image that was on it?
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
13 years ago
that is the whole point you use the image program to capture the image before something happens, then should you have any issues with the pc you simply reload the saved image and you are back to the time the image was taken just like a snapshot so you do want to do the occasional image backup so you have somewhat recent images. That way you are not just backing up your documtents and files you are also backing up your entire windows operating system fully updated and all your settings etc. You never want to wait till it is too late to do any type of backup.
If you had to do a regular re-install that would mean you would need either your windows cd or the recovery cd that will bring it all the way back to how it was when you bought it which means you would need to do a LOT of updating of the operating system, redo all your settings then go through all your files and data and insert them in.

Imaging is the fastest way to go and much easier in the long run.

I use my external drive only when I need it I do not leave it connected. It can be left connected if you choose to do it that way.

I use ADRIVE online storage, they provide 50Gig free storage over that you purchase.
http://www.adrive.com/

Related Stories

HOME OFFICES Organize Photos in a Flash

By Bneato Professional Organizing

You post them, email them, maybe even print them out. But if your digital and printed photos are all lumped together, it's time to organize

DECORATING GUIDES Lose It: CDs, DVDs, Cassettes and VHS tapes

By Vanessa Brunner

Still have piles of old cassettes, jewel boxes and videos piled in your garage? Learn how to get rid of them the eco-friendly way

DESIGN PRACTICE How to Set Up Your Design Studio at Home

By Eric Reinholdt, Architect

Learn from an architect how to create a workspace that fuels your practice and feeds you inspiration

THE HARDWORKING HOME Mudrooms That Really Clean Up

By Mary Jo Bowling

The Hardworking Home: Houzz readers get down and dirty with their ideas for one of the home’s hardest-working rooms

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Spring Checklist: Freshen Up Your Home's Curb Appeal

By Laura Gaskill

Step outside and use these tips to show off your home to its best advantage this spring

MOST POPULAR The Polite House: On ‘No Shoes’ Rules and Breaking Up With Contractors

Emily Post’s great-great-granddaughter gives us advice on no-shoes policies and how to graciously decline a contractor’s bid

SMALL SPACES 8 Benefits of Cottage Living

By Becky Dietrich, Interior Designer

Scale back to dial up your quality of life, save money and more

DECORATING GUIDES The '70s Are Back. Can Ya Dig It?

By Becky Harris

No need to cringe. These 21 groovy blasts from the past are updated to look fabulous today

HOME TECH Meet the New Super Toilets

With features you never knew you needed, these toilets may make it hard to go back to standard commodes

HOUSEKEEPING The Great Kitchen Cabinet Cleanup

By Tiffany Carboni

Purge your way to a clean kitchen, then put pieces back for maximum efficiency and orderliness, with this step-by-step guide

Sponsored

More Discussions

Hard drive removal

5

UPS needed - which ones?

9

sound missing on Dell

3

Problems with Outlook 2013

0

Any suggestions for a very secure non-web-based email?

3