Backing up whole computer
I know, I know....I should have been doing this all along but never have partly due to fear and this question... So when I back up the total computer to CDs (I don't have an extra modem & am not ge...
Forum Discussion
Hi,
I bought a 1 terabyte back up hard drive that plugs into my USB2 port. I only leave it plugged into the computer while I am backing everything up, then unplug it. I figure that if the computer gets a virus, I don't want the second drive to get the same one.
And if the second drive is a few feet away, it will not catch the same virus. however a burnt down motorhome will destroy both copies.
You can also back up to CD's, (or DVD's) but that is a more permanent back up, say for your pictures, or something you want to save more than 10 years from now. The back up hard drive can be changed weekly, and would be more for the current copy of what is in the computer.
Newer computers with USB 3 is about 10 times faster in data transfer than the older 2005 USB 2 systems. USB 1 was even slower, less than 5 MB per second, while USB 2 was much faster, say 50 MB per second, and USB 3 was well over 400 MB per second.
If you have a 2005 or older laptop, it might save a lot of time to first upgrade the computer to something with USB 3, then back it up. Yes you can find used computers on places like Craigslist that while used might have much faster speeds than a 7 or 8 year old computer.
Fred.
I bought a 1 terabyte back up hard drive that plugs into my USB2 port. I only leave it plugged into the computer while I am backing everything up, then unplug it. I figure that if the computer gets a virus, I don't want the second drive to get the same one.
And if the second drive is a few feet away, it will not catch the same virus. however a burnt down motorhome will destroy both copies.
You can also back up to CD's, (or DVD's) but that is a more permanent back up, say for your pictures, or something you want to save more than 10 years from now. The back up hard drive can be changed weekly, and would be more for the current copy of what is in the computer.
Newer computers with USB 3 is about 10 times faster in data transfer than the older 2005 USB 2 systems. USB 1 was even slower, less than 5 MB per second, while USB 2 was much faster, say 50 MB per second, and USB 3 was well over 400 MB per second.
If you have a 2005 or older laptop, it might save a lot of time to first upgrade the computer to something with USB 3, then back it up. Yes you can find used computers on places like Craigslist that while used might have much faster speeds than a 7 or 8 year old computer.
Fred.
