Archive for the ‘Backup data’ Category

Ok, I admit I probably use my computer a lot more than your average Sue (not Joe, haha) but I have been amazed how often computers can go on the fritz. Or in this case my external hard drive.

I have a Seagate FreeAgent/Desk external drive.  One day it just quit working.  I went to Best Buy (to check into data recovery in case I can’t get it to work, $100) and to Office Depot (where it was purchased).  Neither was very helpful.  Office Depot not at all…call the manufacturer and goodbye don’t let the door hit you on the way out attitude.  Best Buy would for $100 PLUS the cost of a new external hard drive get my data off the old one for me so basically we’re talking over $200.  Not exactly what I was looking for.  Oh, and Best Buy told me it would void my warranty because they’d have to take the hard drive completely apart meaning I couldn’t even get that replaced after they got the data off of it…NOT!!

I did call Seagate and we are hoping it is just the cable for power so they are sending me a new one at no cost other than the hour I was on the phone (fortunately not my cell).   I hope that solves the problem.  The drive does have a 5 year warranty so they should cover that but that doesn’t mean companies always do.  So, I’m thrilled that they are willing to send it and not charge me anything.

BUT I tell you all this so you can learn a valuable lesson here from my experience and not have to go through this yourself OR even worse lose valuable photos or other documents. My suggestion is to always have AT LEAST two backups of EVERY document.  That means either two external hard drives, or one external hard drive and an on-line back up service PLUS I would also copy any really important documents to a CD or DVD.

I recently (after my ONE and only external hard drive quit) decided I have to get the on-line thing, too. I’m giving Carbonite a try. They give you a 15-day free trial and it’s only $54.95 a year for automatic (when you’re on-line, of course) back-ups and the TV offer is 2 free months upon purchase.  NOTE:  I am not earning anything from this just letting you know what I’ve found and hope it helps you.

My question to you – what two ways (at least) do you back-up your data? Are you willing for it to be lost if you don’t?