Back Ups For Dummies

[lynbrown]

I had to buy a new hard disk last week as my old one simply stopped working. Luckily the techy guys were able to retrieve all my docs and pix. However, they told me i should back up my stuff just in case it happens again. Can anyone tell me in words of one syllable how to back up?

[ukbod2015]

Go into your control panel - select backup follow the process through selecting the locations you wish to backups - not programs - ie pictures, videos, music, documents, favourites / bookmarks - maybe the contents of your download folder - buy an 8 or 16 gb stick - and make that the target for backups - every couple of months run your backup which will add any new files to your existing backup file. if you have any particular issues post here for assistance.

[sunny-dave]

Buy at least one external hard drive - like this

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

Connect to your PC/laptop

Copy all your 'stuff' to the new drive

Disconnect and put the drive somewhere safely away - I keep one copy in a sock drawer and another at a friend's house


Repeat the process every few weeks (or when you create something precious).

[Prudie]

Good techie answer from ukbod but for a one-syllable answer from a non-techie you need to buy something else to store a copy of your important stuff - either a memory stick or an external hardrive (my choice) for example. Every so often you resave your stuff on to these devices which are then kept away from laptop/PC/tablet in a drawer somewhere!

[hc4361]

You have choices in what to back up to, and how to back up.

External hard drives are cheap these days and plug in to a usb port. They very often come with their own back up software that automatically backs up your files, or you can choose to do it manually.

You could also back up to the 'cloud'. This means your files and saved in cyberspace and can be accessed from any device that is connected to the internet if you can remember your log in details. There are many cloud services including google drive, microsoft's one drive, dropbox. Photobucket is also a cloud service that stores your photos for free.

Some people back up to dvds but that is very clunky these days, you need a lot of dvds and good organisational skills.

ukbod recommends usb sticks which are cheap, easy to use and highly portable.

Personally I back up to an external hard drive and for many things, the cloud. All my photos, ebooks, music are in the cloud as well as on my external hard drive.

My external hard drive is a Network Access Storage. It sounds complicated but is simply a very large hard drive connected to my router by ethernet cable, not my pc. Everything is automatically backed up to it from all my devices, including my tablet and smartphone, over wifi.

[ukbod2015]

I never suggest cloud storage as there have been a number of cases recently where those locations have been hacked.

[hc4361]

That is why I have nothing personal in the cloud.

[whiskeryron]

I have my stuff backed up to an external HD. What no one has ever explained is , whatever you back up to has limits so every time you back up do you re-format your device before backing up ?

[hc4361]

That's why I like the software on my NAS, Ron, it automatically backs up new and amended stuff only

[hc4361]

Comprehensive article here:
http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/how-to/software/how-back-up-your-pc-laptop-3356160/

[whiskeryron]

Excuse my ignorance hc what is NAS

[ukbod2015]

No reformatting necessary Ron it will just keep adding. When you reach a limit it will tell you.

[whiskeryron]

Thanks ukbod

[hc4361]

Ron, a NAS is Network Access Storage. As I said above it is a very big hard drive or several hard drives that plug in to your router by ethernet and connect to all your devices wirelessly.

It is an external hard drive that can be accessed by any device in the house or all your devices at once over wifi. If you have a smart tv or dvd/bluray player that can be connected to it too, so you can play the films stored on your NAS on the tv.

[lynbrown]

Thanks for so many helpful replies. This site never lets you down!

[jno]

memory sticks are quite small and potentially easy to lose; I use a larger hard drive that I can always see.

[ukbod2015]

I buy a different garish colour each time - makes them easier to find

[whiskeryron]

Thanks for the explanation hc

[Old_Geezer]

I'd not rely on flash memory sticks as main backup. Had too many develop faults. Maybe as third copy. Get a hard drive, preferably storage with error correction that'll warn when errors start to occur.