Create A Web Site -Tip! Backup, Backup, Backup!

Back it up! Hard Drives Can Fail!

Yep, I was going to write a different article today! But, the hard drive that has the class web site master files in it was missing in action, the entire hard drive had not mount!ed!  I had backed up the master folder on Wednesday before the class... so I wasn't missing any data... just the entire 122 giga-byte external hard drive had vanished. So, if you haven't backed up your master web site folder and all the material you have collected for your web site, now it the time to do so!  Yes, this is mandatory homework!  You ask, Backup? Where? How?

Another Hard Drive

1. An internal Hard Drive

If you have a Desk Top Computer there is usually room inside for a second hard drive.  The cost of an second internal drive is between $50 and $100 dollars. For that price you can get up to 2 terabytes of storage space!!! They are easy to install, but if the thought of opening up your computer frightens you... go to step 2.

2. An external Hard Drive

These days you can buy 1 to 2 terabyte drives that come in their own enclosure for $100 to $200. Just plug in the power supply, the usb cable and away you go!  Most of these drives come with backup software, some of these drives have a button on them that when you press it, your data gets backed up... automatically! The smaller "portable" drive are more expensive with less storage space but they are built to survive a 4 foot drop!

3. The CD/DVD/BluRay Burner

Most computers come with a CD/DVD Burner installed. They works like a hard drive, but when you burn a CD or DVD or the new kid on the block, a BluRay disk, data can't be copied to them anymore.  These disks are like the box of "film" negatives you have in your "attic"... Once the film has been exposed you can ONLY copy from them! So actually CD/DVD/BR disks are a permanent record of your data...  You can buy 100 CD's for about $15 these days and $25 gets you 100 dvd disks. BR disks are quite a bit more expensive at $10 per disk. You can buy these burners for internal or external use. I call them burners as they use a laser to etch pits into the dye on the disks, the 0's and 1's that make up your data!

Back it up to a cloud! On line Backup Services

Providers

Comcast offeres 2 gigabytes of free storage

Quest offers 2 gigabytes of free storage

MOZYHOME Offers 2 gigabytes for free... (More than enough to backup your web site!) Carbonite $55 per year Unlimited storage Top 10 Reviews Here's a comprehensive review of online storage companies. If you are a geek check out Amazon.com's S3 On-line Storage.

Google  GDrive It will actually be part of Google Docs. You'll be able to upload any file up to 250 megabytes in size and share it with others if you wish. There will be a 25¢ (?) charge per gigabyte above a free limit. It's being rolled out now and should be available within the month.

 MicroSoft SkyDrive  "SkyDrive" features 25 gigabytes of free storage

Free is Good, Backed up is better...

Your Backup Bottom Line

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