Online Backup Suggestions

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I’m working on a computer for a family friend who wants some type of simple data backup solution. My first choice would be any of the external drives, the one I’m using is easy and requires little thought…but I’m thinking this user might be better off with something even easier, such as an online backup tool which requires virtually no user intervention.

I went searching for reviews but I just don’t trust them. But I do trust you guys.

-John

Edit: She has about 14GB of data to be backed up.

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If she has one of:

Operating system: 32- or 64-bit version of either Windows 8 Consumer Preview,Windows 7, or Windows Vista with Service Pack 2 and the Platform Update for Windows Vista, or Windows Server 2008 R2, or Windows Server 2008 with Service Pack 2 and the Platform Update for Windows Server 2008, or Mac OS X 10.7 (Lion).

check out Skydrive for Windows.

Joe

--Joe

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14GB and growing. ;-))
My preference is always for local backup. Then only you are responsible for your data – some things you need to learn and take responsibility for.

cheers, Paul

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I recommend another internal drive in the 1-2 TB range. There will be plenty of room for storage and it will be within easy reach. I also recommend burning some of the data to DVD disk for off site storage.
I agree with Paul in that we need to start taking more responsibility, and make an effort to learn how to back up our systems.
I wouldn’t rule out online storage, just make sure that it is a service that has encryption options available.

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The 1 to 2 TB range sounds like it’s a bit much for the amount of data they want to backup. There’s no reason to get a huge external drive when a smaller one will do the job just as easily.

It all depends on how important the data is to be backed up. For me I use both an external & online backup service. After you tweak the settings a little most online backup services have a schedule feature that you can use fairly easily. Then whenever I get around to it I do an external backup as well around one or twice every couple weeks. This way you have increased protection if something should happen locally where your pc and backup drive is like a fire you still have the online backup. If your hard drive crashes you can retrieve the backup from the external quicker. The total cost comes out to around $.50/day give or take.

All the major services(My PC Backup, IDrive, Mozy, Carbonite, etc) offer encryption on your backups. Of course, I wouldn’t recommend uploading top secret files to these type of sites but hopefully that’s not an issue.

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I agree and do the same thing. I’ve built back up drives but like all drives….. they WILL fail. Better to have more than one. What I’m not sure of is what happens to my data if I unsubsribe to the service. Regardless, the first time your C drive fails, you’ll pray penance for not having backups.

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Details I forgot to include…sorry! The idea here is very little user intervention, maybe zero. Also, this is a laptop. The data is a slowly growing collection of photos.

I went searching for info about SkyDrive, and started a drive for myself. I have 25 GB free space, and 22 GB of data being stored in the MS cloud. Took me a day to realize why my Internet tubes were so slow….that’s a helluva lot of data for a DSL connection and it’s uploading in the background. Not sure this is a good solution for the friend, but we’ll see.

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Remember the initial upload is a one time deal. Then it is changes only. You’ll have the one time upload hit for any cloud based backup.

Joe

--Joe

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If the data being backed up is at all important then I recommend having both an automated local backup and an automated backup to the “cloud”. The local backup is usually much faster when you need to restore files. The cloud backup protects you against a local disaster. It is important that they be automated because if they are not then I can assure you that you will have a disaster after you load your wedding photos to your PC and forget to immediately back them up.

For example, if your PC died would you care that you lost all your digital photos? If your house burns down would you care that you lost all your digital photos on your PC and on your local backup drive? If the answer is yes then you need local and remote backups.

I use CrashPlan.com for my remote backup. I like it because they offer an unlimited storage plan and they let you specify your own encryption key.

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I use and recommend Handy Backup 7, they provide good online backup and backup solution.

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The problem with Handy Backup 7 is that only the highest level Pro version will do Imaging.

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I just got through reading

On Sunday Mr Dotcom is kicking off a new online storage site

http://mega.co.nz/#/

Dotcom has said Mega will offer users 50GB of free storage, significantly more than similar sites such as Dropbox and Google Drive, but most details remain under wraps until they are unveiled on Sunday at the Dotcom Mansion.

Mr Dotcom is well liked down-under

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I have been using CrashPlan for 2 months and love it! It costs $50 a year and the only thing you have to do is download it and press GO. It runs in the background and figures it all out. You don’t have to do anything ever. At my Crash, I had 3 b/u programs installed that were all free when I got them, but obsolete and not free when I had to use them. I am still using my 2tb external drive for a Windows image b/u which is free.

Jim

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