Hi,

I am interested in buying something to back up my computer and I have a few questions. What I am most interested in buying is a firewire or USB external hard drive which I can back up my data on. My question is whether this would work well even if I had to back up several times a week. Does it hurt the drive to be formatted that many times sometimes 3 a week. I would use Windows Backup so that would not be a problem. Please let me know if this is a good idea and about how long an external drive would last even when formatting is that often.

Thanks,
Ryan

It's better to buy an external USB zip drive. You can buy zip disks to back up files, also use them to store anything (mp3, files,). They work like floppy disks (you can add, delete, copy, paste...)

Formatting doesn't harm the drive. But it's not necessary to format before each backup, just delete the files.
If you are backing up the complete system I would STRONGLY suggest using 'Ghost' or 'Drive Image'. They are a piece of cake to use. In case of a disaster restoring from Dos with Windows Backup is a real pain.
Also, do not depend on one backup. Keep the last one and add a new one if possible.

Dave and "Japan" are right...I prefer the Zip disks...they work...consistantly...USB, Internal, Parallal port, doesn't make any difference...if you don't have a portable Zip drive of some kind...get one...

The idea of backing up is really two fold...
Back up only your data...OR...back up the entire system...

I would back up data frequently, if you do a lot of work on your computer, do it daily...or at least weekly...

And every time you make a significant change to your system, add a new program for example, then do a complete system backup...

The system backups can be done on a CD burner if you have one...

I do think an external hd is a lot of expense for something that does not have to be that costly...

And Zip has a nead new program, I forget what it's called, but it costs about $30.00, that will automate your backups...

Have not used it, but I hear it works great...
Good Luck
Steve

Hi,

A zip drive is not even a possability because I need to backup my whole system which is 20 gigs. Now knowing that information would my way work.

Thanks,
Ryan

Here is another way using a another HD .

http://www.jdresearch.com/mobile.htm
http://www.anime.net/~gigagon/removable/pricing.htm