(Approx. 1,690 words)

Back-Ups Made Easy
A new solution for an old problem
By Carey Holzman
Co-host: www.computeramerica.com
www.careyholzman.com
Carey(at)ComputerAmerica.com

Obtained from APCUG with the author's permission for publication by APCUG member groups.

By now you're probably well aware of the importance of making copies of your valuable data (referred to as 'backing-up'). You've probably read numerous articles about ways to back-up your data and prevent disaster. The problem is, most advice offered on this subject is not truly complete and many of the 'solutions' offered are expensive and time consuming.

There are numerous ways you can lose your data in spite of backing-up regularly. How you back-up, what you back-up, when you back-up and where you store your back-up are just a few important variables that come into play on that miserable day that you require it.

Still, that's better than eight out of ten customers that approach me for PC repairs who do not have any kind of back-up. After all, any form of back-up is better than no back-up…but just barely.

First it's important that you understand the existing problems with the back-ups most people create.

1)	External hard drives: There are many problems with backing up your important data to an external hard drive. Since most people keep their external hard drives next to, or in the same building, as their computer, any fire or flood will render both the PC and back-up useless. Also, if you are a victim of theft, the crook now has all of your data, and it's probably not encrypted or protected in any way on your PC or your back-up device. Since your back-up device is also a hard disk drive, there is a good possibility that it will fail and need to be replaced. Ironic since that it what you are protecting your data from. If you always leave your external hard drive hooked up to your PC for automated back-ups, then it is prone to viruses and other malware that may cause the loss of data that you are attempting to protect yourself from! Then there's the high cost of around $150 for these devices.

2)	Internal hard drives/RAID: Some people have a secondary hard drive or partition in their computer and simply back-up from one disk to the other. Here again, viruses and malware will render both drives useless at the same time. Fires, floods and thefts also leave you with no back-up source. This back-up is only useful if your internal hard drive fails. But as you can already see, hard drive failure is not the sole cause of data loss. Also, a RAID MIRROR (where one drive constantly mirrors what the other drive is doing) will not help if you accidentally delete a file. The RAID MIRROR will simultaneously delete that file at the same time.

3)	Drive images: Some people believe an image or 'clone' of their entire hard drive onto an external drive or DVD is a good back-up, but it's not. If your computer has a serious component failure, such as a motherboard, or if your computer is stolen or lost in a fire or flood, you'll have to replace it. Once you restore your drive image, your new motherboard will most likely require different hardware drivers and Windows will most likely not start. All you'll get is the Blue Screen of Death. Sure, your data is theoretically fine and well, it's just too bad you can't get to it. Because full images copy everything on your hard disk, they tend to be very time consuming and, as a result, are not done often enough to be current.

4)	Flash Drives: Flash drives are more reliable than CDs, DVDs or external/internal hard drives, but they are very slow and very limited. Flash drives are also prone to theft and being misplaced. Most people do not encrypt their data and, as a result, may have inadvertently just given some stranger all of their personal data simply because the flash drive fell out of their pocket somewhere or they can't remember where they left it.

5)	Tape drives: Seriously? Does any consumer still use tape? Next to the floppy drive, it's the most unreliable way to back-up data and tape drives require a special reader and software to restore the data. In case of data loss, just get your back-up tape, reinstall Windows, reinstall your tape back-up device, reinstall your tape back-up software and then you can start to restore your data. That is, the data not damaged on the tape.

What's Left?

Why will you need a back-up? What will happen? Will your hard drive fail? Will your PC be stolen or will your PC just stop working one day? Will you be involved in a theft? An earthquake? A fire? A hurricane? A flood?

We can’t answer those questions without a time machine, but we do know that even in the best of circumstances, all hard drives eventually fail. It's not a question of "IF" but a question of "WHEN?"
If you only have one hard drive, then you only have one hard drive that can fail. Backing-up your data to another drive doubles your chances of experiencing a hard drive failure in addition to not guaranteeing your data will be there when you need it for the reasons listed above.

We also know that most data is irreplaceable. Whether it's a database of your customers, your personal finance, photos from your vacations or of family and friends, your music collection, your email, favorites and address book, once it's gone, it's gone.

Hard drive data extraction services can help recover data from a failed hard drive and even hard drives damaged by flood or fire. Expect to spend $800 - $2500 and expect to wait from two to four weeks with no guarantee which or how much data can be recovered.

Say Hello To My Little Friend!

I wear a lot of hats as a computer talk show host, author, instructor, technician and business owner. I like to think that being a consumer advocate is a hat that firmly sits upon all the others. If you're familiar with any of my work, then you're well aware of my passion for free and helpful software and services. However, very rarely a product comes along that is not free, but is still such a bargain I am compelled to write about it.

Allow me to introduce you Carbonite.com. Carbonite is a small, downloadable application for Windows XP and Vista (Mac version coming soon) that uses your high-speed Internet connection to automatically upload your selected data securely, off-site and in background.

For $49.95 a year, Carbonite offers UNLIMITED storage space. That's right, you can store as much data as you want. Installation is quick and easy. Carbonite’s online backup service starts automatically and works quietly and continuously in the background while your computer is on and connected to the Internet.. If you’ve accidentally erased something, don’t worry; you can restore deleted files with just a few clicks on your PC. If your PC crashes, just visit their website to recover your lost files.

Your data is stored safely - No one can see your data but you because your files are encrypted twice before they leave your computer using a combination of encryption techniques similar to those used by online banks and financial institutions.

Carbonite online back-up software is always looking for new or recently changed files on your PC. The moment you add or modify files, Carbonite swings into action. Whenever your PC is connected to the Internet (at home, the office, a hotel or airport, etc…) Carbonite automatically and continually backs-up all your files (but not system files or applications by default.). And it will never slow down your PC or Internet connection. 

Once you install Carbonite, simply tell it what you want backed-up and you never have to think about it again. Set it and forget it. It's not loaded with tons of bells, whistles and features because it’s designed to be simple and do just one very important thing: keep your data safe.

Carbonite offers a free 15-day trial and no credit card is required to take advantage of the free offer. As if that wasn't enough, I have a secret for you: Use the code word "AMERICA" and your 15-day free trial is extended to 30 days! If you choose to purchase a year of Carbonite service, the code word will also extend your subscription an additional two months at no additional charge!

Is This A Paid Advertisement?

Whenever I get passionate about a product that is free, no one asks me if I am being paid to promote it. I see customers everyday who lose data due to unforeseen circumstances and lack of a proper back-up. I like Carbonite.com and I use it myself. In fact, it's running and backing-up my data, securely and off-site, as I type this! I like this product so much, I've asked the folks at Carbonite to sponsor my radio show and to offer our listeners and readers a discount to help encourage proper, secure, automated, off-site back-ups.

Skeptical? Try it for yourself, free for 30-days! Read more about how Carbonite works here.

Most people with high-speed Internet connections barely use them. Since your Internet Service Provider is charging you the same, regardless of how much or how often you use it, why not take advantage of that and utilize your unused bandwidth for backing-up your valuable data?

I welcome your comments and feedback concerning back-ups and this article.

Carey Holzman is the co-host of the nation's longest running, nationally syndicated radio talk show on computers, Computer America. Computer America airs Monday through Friday, 7pm to 9pm Pacific time, 10pm to midnight Eastern. To find a station near you or listen online, visit http://www.computeramerica.com

Carey is also the author of The Healthy PC, published by McGraw-Hill and is a freelance writer for numerous web-sites and computer-related publications.

This article has been provided to APCUG by the author solely for publication by APCUG member groups. All other uses require the permission of the author (see e-mail address above).