Most of our regular readers and GeneaBloggers members know what today is – it’s Data Backup Day! Today is when you (genealogists and any computer user) should consider how you’ve safeguarded your data.
Data Backup Day Contest
First things first. Today is the deadline for entering the Data Backup Day Contest. Simply create a post at your genealogy blog about how you backup your data, or perhaps how you don’t – even tell us about some data disasters or near misses. Then go here and post a link to your blog post in the comments section. We’ll draw the winners at random on Tuesday, November 2, 2009 and announce them that day here at GeneaBloggers.
The prize? A copy of Handy Backup from Novosoft LLC – you can read my recent review here.
Ways To Backup Your Data
“Back in the day” the ways of securing your data meant copying to CDs or *ugh* even floppy disks (remember those?). Luckily these days we have more and more devices including cheap external drives with 1 TB or more of store and online applications that will backup your data – for free!
- Hard Drive: if you have room on your hard drive, create a “copy folder” of your essential data. This not only gives you a second copy but is what you can use to copy out to CDs, DVDs or other media.
- CDs and DVDs: if your computer has a CD/DVD burner, you can create your own CDs and DVDs to store data.
- External Hard Drive: an external hard drive can connect to your computer via a USB connection and they can hold 1 TB (that’s terabyte as in 1,000 GB) at a relatively cheap price (some under $100). What’s also nice is the size: some can fit in the palm of your hand.
- Online Backup Services: there are a variety of sites that allow you to backup your data – some even for free!
Data Types To Backup
The main focus is your research database but think about backing up these items as well:
- blog posts and templates
- emails
- Internet favorites and bookmarks
- photos and scanned documents
Data Backup Resources
GeneaBloggers has developed a resource list of data backup methodologies and solutions. Click here to learn how you can backup almost every aspect of your blog, your browser, your computer – even Macs!
© 2009, copyright Thomas MacEntee
Comments 11
RT @geneabloggers: Today is Data Backup Day! Don't forget – better safe than sorry! http://su.pr/22cVid
RT @geneabloggers Today is Data Backup Day! Don't forget – better safe than sorry! http://su.pr/22cVid
Today is Data #Backup Day! Don't forget – better safe than sorry! http://su.pr/22cVid RT @geneabloggers #genealogy
Today is Data #Backup Day! Don't forget – better safe than sorry! http://su.pr/22cVid RT @geneabloggers #genealogy
Posted 01 Nov 2009 at 09:16 ¶I wish I could join in the fun via my blog, but my computer is in shop! But I’m not worried about it being fixed because…
I backed up my:
1. Family Tree maker files
2. All my Word documents
3. All my email folders
4. etc.
backed up onto:
1. memory stick
2. DVDs
3. external harddrive
4. online backup service
It seems like overkill, but hopefully I’ll be back to normal when my desktop computer is out of the shop. In the meantime I’m plugging along on my little laptop….(no Word, no saved emails or email addresses!, no Family Tree Maker, no favorites, arghhhhhh!)
Posted 01 Nov 2009 at 09:16 ¶RT @geneabloggers: Today is Data Backup Day! Don't forget – better safe than sorry! http://su.pr/22cVid
RT @geneabloggers: Today is Data Backup Day! Don't forget – better safe than sorry! http://su.pr/22cVid
Data Backup Day! Better safe than Sorry!
http://tinyurl.com/shoobedoo (Have no idea how the links were made up there, but I know it’s on the Bootcamp site! But I’m lazy, and I gave up on Twitter!)
Posted 01 Nov 2009 at 11:48 ¶RT @geneabloggers: Today is Data Backup Day! Don't forget – better safe than sorry! http://su.pr/22cVid
RT @geneabloggers: Today is Data Backup Day! Don't forget – better safe than sorry! http://su.pr/22cVid
RT @geneabloggers: Today is Data Backup Day! Don't forget – better safe than sorry! http://su.pr/22cVid