Or first poll didn’t bring in huge numbers of voters, 11 people viewed the page and only 5 people voted. From that I draw two conflicting conclusions, the first is the idea of backing up isn’t very sexy so nobody was energized to vote about it, the second and more worrying is that people just don’t back up and were embarrassed to answer. I’m not sure what to think really, but I’m hoping it’s the first option, because if people really don’t back up then they are heading for a major head aches in the future.

I’m not sure I need to back up, I mean what do I have of importance on my computer?

It’s so easy to over look what’s right under your nose, if you can identify even just one item from this list, then you need to back up:

Digital photos - family, friends, kids, holidays

Downloaded music – music you have bought online, you may not have a CD copy

Work documents – all you business letters, quotes, emails

Address book – all your contacts names and address that are stored in your computer address book

CV – if you have a paper version that’s a start but imagine typing it in again

Accounts – your business accounts

Personal accounts – information about your personal finances

The list is almost endless, almost every file on your computer has an importance and therefore will cause you a set back if you loose it.

I really don’t have time to back up… and anyway I’ll forget so it will be pointless

Who does have time to back up? Not me. And yes it’s something you will forget to do… unless of course you automate it. All back up software knows that us humans have rubbish memories and we have no time or inclination to copy a file from one place to the next, that’s why back up software is schedulable. All you have to do is invest a little time to set it up and once it’s done you are safe in the knowledge that it will take care of itself.

My back up runs from 5’0clock onwards until it’s finished, because between 5 and 8 on an evening I am not using my computer so the software has the computers full attention, but most software will run happily in the background and you’ll never notice.

Hmmm, this back up lark seems easier than I thought, I’m off to buy an external hard disk and some software!

Hold your horses, while backing up to an external hard disk is great, and is an excellent step forward, what happens if your office burns down or floods? The back up that’s sitting next to the ruined computer is… er… well.. ruined as well. And, unless you buy a network hard disk, you won’t be able to access it when you are away from your computer.

There is a cheaper and more effective way of achieving your goal, and that’s backing up to the internet.

Woooooo, backing up to the internet? That’s risky isn’t it, who knows who will have a look at my stuff. Don’t fancy that much!

Contrary to popular belief backing up to the ‘cloud’ is safe and secure so long as you use a reputable company with a track record. I use Mozy as it offers all I need, the software is Mac and PC compatible and your account allows you to back up more than one computer should you need it. You might find that your broadband supplier gives you cloud space with your deal, however I always like to keep my elements separate, because if you move broadband supplier your back up will then have to change and you might not be able to replicate it the way you had it before (and you’ll have to back up from scratch again).

You don’t have to use Mozy, there are lots of others out there too. I like Mozy because if you use my link, and sign up and start using the service, both you and I get an extra 512mb (half a gigabyte) of storage space. So the free option… oh did I mention they have a free option? So taking the free option with my link will give you 2.5 gigabytes of safe and secure storage which will really get you going. Then when you find that this back up lark isn’t so bad after all, you can upgrade your account to unlimited and back up your whole computer. Once the initial back up is done, it will tick over in the background and replicate only what’s changed. The full service is approximately £37 for the year and id possibly the biggest bargain you will ever get but prices do vary depending on the package you take.

But… if you are dead set on getting an external drive then go ahead and do it. Any back up is better than no back up at all.

Final recommendation

If you do nothing else, please do this:

• Identify your most precious files (work docs, accounts, photos etc) and copy them onto a DVD(s).
• Label them clearly with todays date and what the disk contains
• Take them to a family member’s house or a friends house and ask them to look after it for you.

This way you will have at least an off site snap shot back up that, if the worst did happen you could at least restore something of your working life.