Save Your Life By Backing Up

re: Save Your Life By Backing Up

Sheila Hanchard — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 08:19:26 GMT

Yes, backup is important - but beware. I have a big expernal backup and used it regularly. BUT, once I disconnected without using the Windows "Safely Remove Hardware" icon and now I can no longer access the backup drive.

re: Save Your Life By Backing Up

alantica — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 00:59:00 GMT

I backup online with Carbonite.cost $49.95 yearly.No limit to files.After original backup its auto daily.

re: Save Your Life By Backing Up

sweet melissa — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 21:04:50 GMT

I lost all the baby pics from my daughters first year when my computer crashed and was devistated! It took me monthes to get over it. So I must agree that all importent computer files should be backed up on a regular basis. i like Dr. Mercolas idea but if ytou can affored a second hard drive try this: Back them up to a re-writable Cd and keep it stored in the back of you freezer, If you have a house fire chances are it will be the last thing to go, this is also a good idea for any important papers like wills, deeds, bonds, insurance documents, and important reciepts with pictures of the purchesed item. I used to work in a frame shop and we always sugested this to our clints if they didn't have a saftey deposit box to store these important papers in.

re: Save Your Life By Backing Up

Islander — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 17:29:16 GMT

Here's a novel thought: buy a Mac. Macs never crash. They are as stable as Gibraltar.

But yeah, I have a Zip drive anyway. Expect the unexpected. My house did burn down once, in the days before computers.

re: Save Your Life By Backing Up

Magnolia — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 00:32:48 GMT

Great advice! I had to go through a data recovery last year and it took a whole week to extract the files I needed (all 20,000 or so of them) I run a small business and client files, bookkeeping data, proposals, letters, talks, marketing strategies, you name it, I lost it. The nailbiting stress of waiting and not knowing if I was in business or not for a whole week was exhausting. I wasn't depressed, I was terrified! The recovery cost a bundle.

My advice? Do exactly what Dr. Mercola says; back up your hard drive. Don't equivocate, don't argue, JUST DO IT!!!!

re: Save Your Life By Backing Up

Yod — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 20:36:14 GMT

Online backup is actually very cheap - and many are free. I have two internal drives on my machine and backup to the 2nd. I used to backup to cd every 6 months or so, but this is much easier. I also uploaded 5 Gb of stuff to xdrive - which is totally free - up to 5 Gb.

re: Save Your Life By Backing Up

mari greer — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 18:58:16 GMT

Thanks so much, Dr. Mercola, for the article on backing up one's files. How did you know I was floundering as to how to do so? I wouldn't miss a day of your newsletter. You give such practical and sage advice for all aspects of living with your calming and logical reasoning.

- mari greer

re: Save Your Life By Backing Up

jonnosferatu — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 18:54:20 GMT

Ah...sorry about the multitude of indentical posts back there. The window just refreshed when I hit submit, so I didn't realize that the message had actually been posted...

Is there any way to delete the extra posts?

re: Save Your Life By Backing Up

jonnosferatu — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 18:50:52 GMT

http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=414&name=External-Hard-Drives

If you look around, you can find a lot of good deals on the 500 gigabyte ones there.

Also, I believe that various sites such as maxstore.com occasionally have 500gb externals up for about $90, although it appears that they don't have that offer going at this time.

As to the issue of whether or not you'll remember to actually back the stuff up, if you let it fall into a weekly routine and then just remember to back up any important files, projects, etc, then it won't be anywhere nearly as difficult as some of you seem to be making it out to be.

re: Save Your Life By Backing Up

jonnosferatu — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 18:22:54 GMT

re: Save Your Life By Backing Up

jonnosferatu — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 18:21:46 GMT

re: Save Your Life By Backing Up

jonnosferatu — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 18:21:31 GMT

re: Save Your Life By Backing Up

Mr.AK — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 17:04:50 GMT

To be absolutely safe, keep extra backups somewhere other than in the same building as your computer - on the internet, a remote computer or on dvds that you can keep somewhere else. If your home burns down, you won't lose everything!

re: Save Your Life By Backing Up

Markatl — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 16:25:39 GMT

Dr. Mercola,

While it is great that you are recommending to back up data, the specific details that you are offering on not very good. External hard drives are at risk of loss from fire or theft. Also, unless you utilize backup software in conjunction with the drives, you have to actually remember to perform the backup. It makes much more sense to backup data online utilizing a data-storage company like Data Deposit Box, Intronis or Amazon's new service called S3. Sure it costs money to utilize an online backup service, but is $15 to $20 a month not worth piece of mind and protection. You recommend supplements that cost a lot more than that. Online storage allows you to set and forget. You can schedule backups daily. Data Deposit Box actually backs up your data in real time so there is no risk of loss. All of these companies make multiple backup copies of your data in separate secure facilities. The software is smart in that it will only backup documents that have changed since the last backup. The cost for Data Deposit Box is $2 per gig and it is only 15 cents per gig with Amazon's service. With Amazon, you can use a free back up tool called Jungle Disk.

re: Save Your Life By Backing Up

GinaVoce25 — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 16:19:45 GMT

Here's another way that "backing up" can save your life: don't tailgate other drivers! Always leave that 2-second delay in between you and the person in front of you and your risk of being in an accident will be greatly reduced!

Sorry for the off-topic post, but it's true!
Gina