Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Backing up important files: Works for me Wed.

After reading Janie's at Southern Lagniappe's post about what she would save in case of a fire, and the one she posted the other day about getting a new computer, I made sure my picture and other important files were backed up! It had been a few weeks since I did this. I think I'll start backing them up the first of the month, so it will be done on a regular schedule.
I bought this My Passport Essential by Western Digital to use to back up files. It is so easy to use, and plugs into the USB port in front of the computer. It is so easy to transport files and it holds quite a bit! It holds 320 GB...so there is plenty of room! It's like having 320 thumb drives all in one compact case.

I have literally thousands of pictures. I can't even bring myself to delete the ones that are not so wonderful.
I am in the process of scanning my favorite old photos and backing them up digitally with this product. It has made it easy to transfer pictures both old and new to my daughter's computer and pictures she takes to mine.

How do you back up your files? Do you do it on a regular schedule? Share your tips with us!

For other Works for Me Wednesday posts visit Rocks in my Dryer.

30 comments:

Dawn said...

I don't back up on a regular schedule and I should. I have a Western Digital external hard drive that I use.

I can't delete my not so good photos either.

take care,
Dawn

Southern Lady said...

Diane, I can't believe that we included each other in our posts today.

The Passport Essential thing sounds interesting. I'm going to ask my husband about it. He has a backup on his computer and links mine to his, but I'm not sure what kind of device it is.

I, too, can't bring myself to delete the "bad" pictures. Of course, I don't think there's such a thing as a "bad picture" of Avery ... so I have 1000s of her with her eyes shut, or making a face, or just a blur ... lol

Sincerely,

Janie

Bo said...

Hi Diane...uh, what language are speaking on your post today? I am so computer illiterate I have no clue...LOL...so far, my entries & photos hardly seem garbage worthy, much less worth saving...maybe someday...sigh! ;-) Bo

Theresa @ Take A Sentimental Journey said...

I don't back up. I keep putting it off. I am a great procrastinator.

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much, Diane, for this post. You answered a question I needed answering. Making a note of this gadget and intend to pick one up soon!

Shell in your Pocket said...

I should back up my stuff, too! Great reminder...thanks!
-Sandy toes

SmilingSally said...

Yipes! I don't backup a thing! If I had a fire, I'd have nothing.

But, if you back it up, where do you keep the backup?

Anonymous said...

Out blogging hopping and found you. I use the Mac Time Machine software to automatically back up my computer. But I burn my photos to DVD every so often and take the DVD over to my mom's. I mean, God forbid I'd have a fire...or someone break in and steal the computer and external drive, I sure don't want to lose all my photos!

Anonymous said...

Diane, I just asked my dh if he backs up our files and he said no. As for myself. I have no idea how to accomplish a back up file. I am thinking about this seriously. Thanks for posting food for thought.

I am very good to delete bad photos' Especially of myself. lol. When it comes to people I love, that is another story. Smile

Hugs, Jeanne

Georgia Girl said...

I put my photos on Shutterfly.com. It is a free site and I have pics there from 3 or 4 years ago. I love that site...now the ones I order I put in a fire safe box. Good idea to blog about. We don't think about things in this matter like we should cause we never know.

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Good reminder! We ahve an external hard drive we back up to but I haven't done that in a few months.

We learned the lesson to back up the hard way a few yeas ago -- our computer crashed and we lost everyhting! Thank goodness it happened before we entered the digital age.

I think making a DVD of your photos as Kacey said is an excellent idea and you could put them in a bank safe deposit box if you have one.

There are also some web services that you can pay a fee to and they will automatically back up your files for you once a month on their servers, so it is really external.

I'm going to back up tonight --thanks again for the reminder!

Hugs, Pat in NY

Debra from Bungalow said...

Gosh, thanks for reminding me about this. I want to back up but haven't yet. I'd be so sad if I lost all my pix! Guess I need to get to it.
Take Care, DebraK

Missy Wertz said...

External and CD's.

Empty Nest Full Life said...

My husband is good about doing this, that looks like some great bargain clothes, and the trip will be wonderful I am sure. Have a great day! Jackie

Nola said...

I don't do it as regularly as I should, but every couple of months I burn my photos onto a disk and put it in the safety deposit box at the bank for safe keeping.

Anonymous said...

Morning Diane! This is something I'm terrible about. I can't stand paper filing and backing up is another thing I forget! But I really need to (get my husband) to show me how on this computer? Can you believe all these years working on computers and this still gets me confused?Lol I need to hit the sales for some clothes, I always buy at end of season for next year although I don't go anywhere except Walmart!!!lol Looks like it will be a fantastic trip! Somethin to work for! Have a great day - Jeannette

Grandma Faith said...

Thanks for giving me a wake up call. I am so naive about technology. I need a back up plan. I am having so much fun with blogging, I would be heart broken if I lost it. Have a great day. Take care.

Beth at Aunties said...

Diane,
We must be thinking a lot a like because I just picked up a Flash Drive from Costco this week. But I am a little (NO! a lot) computer illiterate and don't quite know how to do it! LOL... Thats what kind hearted kids are for...right?
I too can't delete the bad pictures.
Thanks for your visit this morning & for your comments.
Beth

Lisa Nelsen-Woods said...

I've been really lazy about backing up my computer since my external hard drive kicked it and my backup files corrupted a year ago. Last week scared me back into a schedule when I had a combination of software issue and possible hard drive failure (the upside was that I got to upgrade one of my hard drives!)

Darlene said...

My husband does this for us about once a week.

We had a computer malfunction last year and lost about a month's worth of pictures one time and we learned our lesson from that.

Nancy Rosalina said...

Diane, I have NEVER backed up a file...I don't know how. My kids no how but I am one pittiful case with a computer!LOL I really need to learn how to do that! Nancy

Ribbonwood Cottage said...

Thanks for this info, I need to do this right away!
Debbie

Anonymous said...

ooh I never back up, eeeek!

can't believe your finds for $72, there are never as good sales as that in Aus, whenever I'm in the States I am in sale heaven, can ya imagine lol!

oh and the Greece trip, woohoo what a wonderful way to utilize the extra cash - we are going on a big trip next year on a round the world ticket, we are saving like crazy...

Sarah

One Shabby Old House said...

I will be backing up my system now thanks to your advice.
Thanks
Becky

Picket said...

Girl I don't even know what you are talking about! lol Seriously...I am so computer ignorant it is not funny! Is there a button somewhere that I should click that says backup? Man..Now I gotta go on back over to my blog and feel inferior...maybe I can find some chocolate! lol

Sue said...

I'm glad I'm posting right behind Picket....we're together in this. I know I need to backup but sure don't know how.

Anonymous said...

Eiane,
I sure need backup...but I'm not sure if I know how...Stopping by to tell ya Hi! Sorry I haven't visit lately...just been busy the last two weeks. You have a wonderful day Katherinellen

Brenda Pruitt said...

Oh, I'm so glad you posted this! I've been telling myself to get one of those portable drives to back mine up! And I just had a computer problem too!
Brenda

Alyce said...

My husband is a computer programmer, so I tend not worry about any of these things. I do know that he has a portable hard drive that auto-backs up everything once a day. It's so nice not to have to worry about it!

BPOTW said...

My husband's kind of anal about this :) We try to back up once a month on an external harddrive and then once a quarter or so on CDs/DVDs.

I'm with you, I can't delete a picture unless it's total blackness. I have lots of stuff on the computer that I'd hate to lose.

Thanks for submitting your post!