Back Up Plans for Saving Information on a Hard Drive

Are you techno savvy? Most people today are. Whether someone is self-taught or class educated makes no difference to the internal hard drive of a computer. Knowledge as power is all that is essentially important.

There are those of us who know just enough to do standard email (my parent's generation): there are those of us who know a bit more, such as Photoshop, music downloads, social networking sites and computer games (my children's generation). Some know so much that only other experts can relate. Still some are what can only be termed computers deities.

I am not any of those. I am a bit of a jack-of-all-trades when it comes to computers. I know enough to complete what I need to get accomplished albeit, at times, through trial and error. Error being the operative word here.

In which category do you find yourself?

However, the one thing we all have in common...and the one thing we do not want to happen... is our computer can crash.

Some hard drives are easily restored... so not in my realm of 'jackness'. What to do? The majority of us simply think that by saving it to our hard drive we are safe and secure. Our family pictures will always be there. Our writing will remain categorized and there when we need to pull an article up for review, submission, or publication.

I am not sure how many calls I have brokered from my mother about her losing an email, a paper, a photo... that one second it was "right" there and the next it was gone. Most of those calls were an easy fix.

What if the fix were not so simple? I am not an expert. (Did you ever watch the television show, Jack of all Trades {I love Bruce Campbell!} ... the very short series from 2000? He knew a little about a lot... and though he could come across as inept, he always managed to...yes, thwart his enemies, and save the day.)

Therefore, I want to be able to save the day... in my life as well as my mom's. What can I do?

Back up plans for saving information on a hard drive- storage is the key...

Online storage can protect files from fire or burglary. There are sites that offer storage for free and sites that offer unlimited for an annual fee. Research which one is best for you; identify your needs and what exactly you want safe. Estimate how much you are willing to spend.

Back up plans for saving information on a hard drive- think outside the box

External drives are wonderful. They can fit easily into a purse or briefcase- or even a pocket or a keychain. Some can store small amounts for $10.00 (2GB); others can store up to 500GB (average price $125.00- 150.00). Ask a professional what would be best for you. There are some external drives than can even make an exact replica of your hard drive to make restoration after a crash a snap.

Back up plans for saving information on a hard drive- keep it simple

Email all important pictures, documents, messages, research- anything you have deemed essential (not just that you want it... but essential!) to yourself. Print out hard copies of the same information and maintain it in a file somewhere separate from your computer. Burn pictures, songs, and writings (both personal and professional) to a CD. Again, place the CD(s) somewhere separate.

The last one is the one I am going over to my mother's this weekend to do... she was confused over the concept of emailing something to herself for safekeeping.

Which ever one you chose, do not wait. If all of this is already second nature to you, offer insight and knowledge to those still learning techno lingo and the concept behind copy and paste.