Data Backup Plan: Optical Discs

I remember a time when computers weren't even sold with CD-ROM drives, let alone recordable CD-ROM drives. Back then, everything was done with a floppy disk. Now, CD-ROM drives have given way to DVD-ROM drives. It is hard to buy a computer today that doesn't even include a recordable DVD-ROM drive.

While affordable Blu-ray recordable drives are a few years off, today the more practical optical choice is that of the DVD. In this plan I talk about using only optical discs for backing up your data.

Data Backup Plan: 1 External Hard Drive

There are many methods you can use to backup your data. In this post I will look at one of the most common methods: using an external hard drive. What makes this method so popular is that external hard drives provide you with a large amount of disk space for a reasonable price. Also, hard drives are durable when it comes to the amount of times you can read and write data to it, and they are fairly fast.

The question is, does a single external hard drive make a good backup plan?

Choosing a Data Backup Plan

I have talked about various types of methods you can use to backup your data. Several methods include local data backup, offsite data backup and using an online data backup service provider.

Backup and Restore in Microsoft Vista

In my last post I talked about how to backup your data in Windows XP, so I decided to go ahead and move to Microsoft Vista in this one.

While Vista isn't exactly a favourite operating system for many, it does have a more elaborate backup and restore utility. The utility provides a lot of options that you can use to keep your data, and your computer, safe. Microsoft Vista includes the Backup and Restore Center. The functionality you receive with this tool depends on which version of Vista you are using.

Data Backup With Windows XP

I have written many posts about backing up your data, and also provided examples of what media you can use to store your backed up data. I haven't, however, gone into detail about how you go about backing up your files.

Windows XP is currently on of the most used operating systems. What many don't realize is that it includes a simple backup utility that can easily save your files to another location. While not as feature riched as a more pricey third-party application, for most people the Windows XP backup tool is adequate.