Do you make periodic backups? If you don't, you are not unlike the hundreds of notebook users that do not backup their information. Most people assume that since a laptop is more durable than a desktop, the hard drive in the notebook should last longer.
Inevitably, laptops are just as likely to have a hard drive failure as a desktop. Often these failures can be more costly as a large number of business people use their laptops specifically for work.
In order to protect your data, you can try some of these steps:
- Purchase an external hard drive.
By purchasing (don't just buy it - use it) a portable hard drive, it is easy to make backups. Usually you just have to plug the hard drive into the USB port on your laptop and you can use the included backup software to backup your vital files. Price on external hard drives usually start out around the $100 mark and up.
- Use a USB flash drive
With USB flash drive prices plummeting, this can be a cost effective option if you do not have a lot of information to backup. Provided your data takes up less than 8 GB or so (currently the largest size available at a reasonable price) this can be a convenient option. Not only do USB flash drives fit in your pocked, they can also fit in your safety deposit box for extra security. Most flash drives also come with some security software to protect your information should the drive get stolen.
- Make a backup on DVDs or CDs
One of the cheaper options, you can backup your information on traditional CDs or DVDs. The catch with this method is that you have to do it, there is not really any automated backup solution that would backup to your optical drive and change disks as needed (as of yet). One advantage of backing your data to optical disks is that they should last longer than the above discussed options and provided you are not using re-writeable disks, do not run the risk of being erased by accident.
Remember to backup your information, it shouldn't be considered a chore, rather you are protecting your pictures, data, and potentially your livelihood by engaging in this important habit.
