Computers & Tablets

[ah12509]

I've had my Toshiba Laptop for about 3years now. Last year I got a virus and had to restore the hard drive. Everything was fine until about a month ago. I took it to a place to get looked at and they said my hard drive is basically slowly failing until it will no longer work anymore. Well last time I had to start from scratch I sat here for hours backing up all my documents and photos onto cds. This time I really don't want to go through all that work. Is there any suggestions on what would be best for backing up my laptop besides cds? I'm not incredibly computer-literate, so it can't be too high tech.

Thanks!

[Neihn Valued Contributor]

I recommend a external hard drive. They are cheap and have lots of storage space and you dont have to mess around with swapping CD/DVD's/Blu-Rays

[Kabong30]

Something like Carbonite? It's not the cheapest answer but it is stored off-site and therefore not susceptible to things like fire or weather, and it's guaranteed. External hard drives do work but if you're gonna do that I suggest something that runs back ups automatically like Time Machne does for Macs so you don't forget.

[Entropy]

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Neihn wrote:
I recommend a external hard drive. They are cheap and have lots of storage space and you dont have to mess around with swapping CD/DVD's/Blu-Rays

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Agreed - external hard drive is the best way to go.

[SofiaBrown]

Each Windows Vista edition includes a ‘basic’ restore option. Located in: Start>> Control Panel>> Backup and Restore center. Vista allows users to automate the process quickly and easily. This feature includes such options as, how often you would like your system backed up. What day to run this process and what time of the day. Scheduling couldn’t be easier as the "Simple Backup Wizard" guides you through the scheduling process.

If you are using either Business, Ultimate or Enterprise editions, you have a feature called "Complete PC Backup and Restore" available to you. This is a very comprehensive, image-based backup tool used in the event of:

* System Disaster
* PC Malfunction
* File Loss
* Corruption of Data

The Complete PC Backup and Restore tool is capable of restoring the entire PC environment which includes all Windows and data files, installed programs and individual user settings. You can also take your system back to its original state and even restore the PC environment to a replacement PC if necessary.

If you are not able to boot your computer to the hard drive, you can access ‘Complete PC Backup and Restore’ using your installation CD

[JStokes]

Personal recommendation for ease of use and storage capacity/price would be an external hard drive.

However remember for a backup to be completely effective you would need redundancy and seprate locations. That way if you have a failure you have copy, or if you have an houshold emergency (fire, theft) you have a copy off-site.

The second point is up to you if your information is that valuable, but an external hard drive stored in a safety deposit box at a bank would have you covered for almost anything.

[RealGeorgeW Valued Expert]

I prefer having multiple external hard drives stored in secret locations around the country. Also, burning DVD's of all information, THEN burning CD's, and for the really important stuff, using 3.5" floppies and hiding them in plain sight. Of course I also use every single online back up. My ISP's threatened to shut my net off due to high usage.

/funny rant aside.

An external hard drive is usually the best solution for most people. If you have highly valuable/sensitive data(financial records, family photos, etc), then an online back up service is a good idea.

[NoNoBadDog]

While a local external hard drive is easy and efficient for backup, it is not the safest.  Hard drives (even the best external ones) can and do fail, and if your house catches fire or is buried in flood waters, it's toast. 

I recommend two backups to external hard drives, one kep localkly and one in a safe, alternate location.  Once that is done, a back up to a secure online backup location, such as Carbonite, is the best insurance that you'll be able to get your data back, at least up until your latest backup.

[NeedHelp56]

May I ask which external hard drive would you recommend? Size, brand, cost? Thanks,

[NoNoBadDog]

Personally, I use Seagate (GoFlex Desktop).  I prefer them over other brands, and have had good luck with them.  I have used them for years.  I have had terrible, horrible luck with Western Digital; they generally run very, very hot, are loud, and every one I have ever owned has failed.  Yes, all hard drives will fail, but I have Seagates that are still working after many years of use.  I have never had a Western Digital last more than about 2 to 2 1/2 years.  Yor mileage may vary.