Why don't people back up?

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The answer is simple. So many of us do not understand how to do this operation. Myself included. I've come to the conclusion that I might need a software program to walk me through it and allow my PC to backup on my CD-R's. My OS is Windows 2000 that allows me to backup everything on my C-disk (drive) and that sure does not make any sense. Any free backup programs out there? Novice but trying.

Back up is time-consuming and not reliable. If you back up on your computer and your computer crashes, you have lost every thing. If you back up to a CD or DVD, it can scratch and you've lost every thing. If you back up to an external hard drive and it scratches and fails, you've lost every thing. If you back up to a zip disk and then it malfunctions, you've lost every thing. If you back up to a flash drive and the internal car fails or the thingamig USB gets loose, you've lost every thing.

How about the simple "Briefcase" for backup? Very straight-forward and has been working pretty well for me.

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Terri: Wow. I gotta say, that's a pretty depressing summary.

But in fact it's inaccurate.

Once you backup you now have two copies of everything you've
backed up. Lose either one, and you're still ok.

In addition, the media isn't nearly as fragile as your
scenarios outline, but even if they were, I'd simply advise
making more copies, perhaps making making each days backup a
new one, or rotating through and re-using a number of disks,
for example.

But media fragility certainly isn't an argument against
backing up. On the contrary, it's an even stronger argument
to backup often.

Leo

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I tried to backup with my computer's instructions but I don't have an F drive. I just have c and d drives so how would I backup my system?

Thanks for help.....

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It depends on the capabilities of your backup program.
Typically you can back up to CDs or DVDs, another machine on
your local network, or I recommend getting an external USB
drive to back up to.

Leo

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I believe Dan Brown is on the right track with the simplicity of his answer; quote:

"The answer is simple. So many of us do not understand how to do this operation".

Many/most 'ordinary' users do not 'understand' the process. Like . . what is happening during the backup . . . is it a copy? . . how do you explain 'another drive'. . . a partition? . . . incremental, . . sync etc.

Being able to relate these simple words which everyone basically understands to the computer operation by 'ordinary users' is difficult.

I believe many ordinary users cannot 'visualize' or relate to the process in such a way that they can understand it and accordingly embrace it and use it for it's value and importance.

I, alas, am among the many 'ordinary users' seeking simplicity. In Flori-duh.

There are two types of people. Those who backup and those who have yet to lose everything to a system crash.

Acronis True Image has saved me a couple of times. On my system it takes only 30 minutes to backup to a USB drive, and only 30 minutes to restore when something gets screwed up. I can even grab just one file off the backup if I needed it.

With the upcoming Windows XP SP3 update, you would have to be dumb or be really lucky to do the install without first doing a full backup.

I agree with those that say that backup is not only time consuming, but isn't full proof and can fail as well. Nothing is 100% full proof.

However there are exceedingly different things and ways you can do things, to improve that ever so slim chance of you not being able to recover with your backup, to the chance that you will be able to.

I for example, increase the chances of recovering from a backup in the event that there is not only a system failure, but a backup failure by making several backups.

By this I mean that I make several types of backups to HDD, Flash Card, USB Thumb Drive, CD, DVD, etc...

I also keep a backup not only on each of those types, but a 2nd set of those in a different area of the house within a fire proof, etc... safe, in the event that there is a catastrophic fire or other disaster.

That way where one fails, or is destroyed, with any remote slinder chance of luck, the data will not be lost..

It is also key to not have too many sets of copies... thats why i only have 2... one easily accessible...and another in a safe... both of course accessible by lock only, to prevent theft..

It may seem a little extreme to some, but if it keeps me from loosing my data in any way shape or form, with the very very slim and rare chance of total utter catastrophy... Then it is well worth it..

I update the backups about once a month, unless there is something super important that can not under any circumstances be lost...

Hopefully to some that are willing to go to those lengths it is worth it to them as well.

Well....some of us older folks, new to computing don't have a "clue" of "how to do a back-up" on a CD, DVD, flash drive,thumb drive, etc....Dell offers an online backup for a reasonable price. Does anybody have any info &/or suggestions re: using the Dell Back-up program? or any other simple ways to back-up?? ( PS: I've been a "victim" of a hard drive failure & had to spend about $240.00 to my computer repair man to fix "the problem", etc...Thanking You folks, beforehand for your "input" - GREATLY APPRECIATED!! A GRATEFUL SR. CITIZEN....Aloha, Sebastian

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