Backup Risks for Laptops

The laptop computer is like a gift from the heavens. It allows us to work and play (for those of us who solely work and play by computer) anywhere and everywhere. There are so many laptops with all sorts of super computer features. We carry them around and treat them as if nothing will ever happen to them. However there is one thing we must realize about them - they were created by humans and therefore are not perfect.

From personal experience, here is some advice about backing up laptops. For those owning laptops it is important to backup data frequently. However, one must take precaution with the type of backup he or she uses.

Online Backup Service
Online backup services allow one to share data offsite and download your documents anywhere you have internet access. Make sure these service providers have secure connection. Avoid storing personal data such as photos, bills, financial statement, social security numbers, addresses, etc, to protect yourself in case storage providers are hacked into or the provider may have a malicious employee. Also if the service provider is not credible, there is a risk the data could be lost, permanently.

USB Drives
USB drives are handy and convenient. They are small and light. They can fit easily in ones purse or pocket and can be carried anywhere. Unfortunately their storage is limited, especially if you are trying to back up a large file. Another bad thing about using them is that because of their small size they can be easily forgotten and left in pockets, ending up in washing machines and dryers. They can drop out of bags and pockets and in up the trash. If they get wet, they are rendered useless. If you use them do not keep them in your pocket. Body heat can damage the USB. Take my word for it. This happened to me.

Laptop Hard Drives
The hard drives of laptops have improved over the years. However, they still have limitations. Some can last for years and some die in a few months. An electrical spike from a battery or from an electrical cord can wipe out the hard drive. Even dropping a laptop can wipe it clean.

Not Relying on Manual Backup
After working for a long time on a project or writing a long paper, one's fingers and eyes are tired. You're ready to put the computer away. Backup is far from your mind. You tell yourself "I'll do it tomorrow". Then when tomorrow comes you say "I'll do it another day". Then you forget completely. Then one day you drop your computer.

People wrongly think that taking time out to backup data from their laptops require a lot of effort. However, it does not. Here is some advice.

Use the type of laptop that has a place for CD -ROM. All of them do now, yet some people out there are still using laptops fitted for disks. The key advantage of CD -ROMs is their storage space and the variety of things, such as music and pictures, they can store. Immediately after downloading music, photos, or working on a report or project save everything on the CD-ROM. It does not take long at all.

Purchase an external hard drive. They do not cost much, no more than $100. They are small and light and easy to connect. They also have a vast amount of storage. Each day make it a habit to download data from your laptop to your external hard drive. I recommend external hard drives because computer programs can be stored on them as well. If something bad happens to your laptop, such as its hard drive goes out or the computer contracts a terrible virus (like the Mebroot & Torpig) that can only be removed by dropping and reloading the system, everything, the files programs and all, can be uploaded from the external hard drive.

I advise against setting a particular time for backing up all data, such as once or twice a week. A lot can happen to your computer in the meantime. So backup your data after each use.