Backup very awkward

So I thought I it was time to try and and backup my computer. My only option
is File and Folder backup to CDs. After two hours and 4 CDs I had to cancel
it as I didn't have any more CDs. It seemed to be about half way through. I
went to my computer store and they said I could buy an external hard drive
for about $250! Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I should do?
John

buchan wrote:
> So I thought I it was time to try and and backup my computer. My only
> option is File and Folder backup to CDs. After two hours and 4 CDs I had
> to cancel it as I didn't have any more CDs. It seemed to be about half
> way through. I went to my computer store and they said I could buy an
> external hard drive for about $250! Does anyone have any suggestions as
> to what I should do?
> John

Hard drive, about 40 - 60 US dollars, depending on size.
External USB hard drive enclosure, about 25 US dollars.

Check out newegg.com if you live in the States for actual prices.

If your computer store didn't offer this to you, find another computer
store that isn't into ripping off their customers.

--
Alias
To email me, remove shoes

Seagate FreeAgent Desktop ST302504FDA1E1-RK 250GB 7200 RPM USB 2.0 External Hard Drive - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148233

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

----------------------------------------------------------------------

"buchan" <> wrote in message news:%...
So I thought I it was time to try and and backup my computer. My only option
is File and Folder backup to CDs. After two hours and 4 CDs I had to cancel
it as I didn't have any more CDs. It seemed to be about half way through. I
went to my computer store and they said I could buy an external hard drive
for about $250! Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I should do?
John

"buchan" wrote in message
> So I thought I it was time to try and and backup my computer. My only
> option is File and Folder backup to CDs. After two hours and 4 CDs I had
> to cancel it as I didn't have any more CDs. It seemed to be about half way
> through. I went to my computer store and they said I could buy an external
> hard drive for about $250! Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I
> should do?

By all means, buy a USB external hard drive. You will be glad you did.

Not only will you want to do a full "image" backup of your system to the
external drive, but it will also be a handy place to keep backup "copies" of
your documents, music, photos, etc.

You may even want to use a free application like "SynToy" to keep your
personal folders on your computer(s) synced with the external hard drive.

Highly recommended.


--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 8/08/07
KarlC@ (the obvious)

On Aug 24, 1:22 pm, "Swingman" <k...@nospam.com> wrote:
> "buchan" wrote in message
> > So I thought I it was time to try and and backup my computer. My only
> > option is File and Folder backup to CDs. After two hours and 4 CDs I had
> > to cancel it as I didn't have any more CDs. It seemed to be about half way
> > through. I went to my computer store and they said I could buy an external
> > hard drive for about $250! Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I
> > should do?
>
> By all means, buy a USB external hard drive. You will be glad you did.
>
> Not only will you want to do a full "image" backup of your system to the
> external drive, but it will also be a handy place to keep backup "copies" of
> your documents, music, photos, etc.
>
> You may even want to use a free application like "SynToy" to keep your
> personal folders on your computer(s) synced with the external hard drive.
>
> Highly recommended.
>
> --www.e-woodshop.net
> Last update: 8/08/07
> KarlC@ (the obvious)

I just got a 500 Gig WD "My Book" external HD for $130 @ Circuit City.

buchan wrote:

> So I thought I it was time to try and and backup my computer. My only
> option is File and Folder backup to CDs. After two hours and 4 CDs I had
> to cancel it as I didn't have any more CDs. It seemed to be about half way
> through. I went to my computer store and they said I could buy an external
> hard drive for about $250! Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I
> should do? John

Do some shopping online and you'll find external USB hd enclosures going for
$30 and oem hds for under $100. There's I've cut your price in half and
given you a better alternative than trying to backup to CDs.

Cheers.

--

Proprietary Software: a 20th Century software business model.

Others have suggested external hard drive and external DVD writer.
I'm thinking the external DVD writer is somewhat more versatile in that it
can create movie DVDs that you can share with friends and family, and if
your computer has a 'make recovery disc' option, using CDs could require as
many as 10 CDs, whereas using DVD-DLs might require only one. DVD media is
often on sale in the US and can be relatively cheap. Full priced singles
are a ripoff unless you are really desperate. You also have to think about
how organized you are -- when you need to restore from your backup will it
be easier to find the external hard drive or some particular DVD hiding
under a pile of stuff?

-Paul Randall

"buchan" <> wrote in message
news:%...
> So I thought I it was time to try and and backup my computer. My only
> option is File and Folder backup to CDs. After two hours and 4 CDs I had
> to cancel it as I didn't have any more CDs. It seemed to be about half way
> through. I went to my computer store and they said I could buy an external
> hard drive for about $250! Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I
> should do?
> John

I bought a 40 gig USB2 drive for 50.00, and in the box was
a 60 gig drive.

http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptreplicator.asp
Excellent Free backup program

"buchan" <> wrote in message news:%...
> So I thought I it was time to try and and backup my computer. My only option
> is File and Folder backup to CDs. After two hours and 4 CDs I had to cancel
> it as I didn't have any more CDs. It seemed to be about half way through. I
> went to my computer store and they said I could buy an external hard drive
> for about $250! Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I should do?
> John
>

"Spirit" <> wrote in message
news:...
I bought a 40 gig USB2 drive for 50.00, and in the box was
a 60 gig drive.

You got ripped off. External USB hard drives are going for about 1 dollar
per 3-4 GB.

--

Ronnie Vernon
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

Actually it came with a 20.00 rebate and it was cheaper than
others around here. Maybe that price per 3-4 gig is available
when you buy a larger drive. This is for my laptop and overall
size was a deciding factor. This drive is about the size of a
pack of smokes and weighs about 4 oz. I can put it in a
shirt pocket if needed.

"Ronnie Vernon MVP" <> wrote in message news:7539E3EA-33F2-4F21-BEDA-...
> "Spirit" <> wrote in message
> news:...
> I bought a 40 gig USB2 drive for 50.00, and in the box was
> a 60 gig drive.
>
> You got ripped off. External USB hard drives are going for about 1 dollar
> per 3-4 GB.
>
> --
>
> Ronnie Vernon
> Microsoft MVP
> Windows Shell/User
>