CD-R or CD-RW?
 

What do I need to back up my stuff, pictures, documents, etc.? What is the difference between them? Is there a brand that's better than the others, or are they all the same?

wow...this is a multi-fold question...LOL

CD-R means CD recordables

CD-RW means CD rewritables.

basically, CD-R are one time thing while CD-RW means you can burn it a few times depending on what kind of files.

So if you were to use CD-R's, it would be burn it and that's it. Most people prefer to use CD-R's to save or convert their music files (most modern CD players will play CD-R's that have converted Mp3 files)

lesser players will play the CD-RW's...but more and more will play CD-RW's.

Usually, CD-R's are cheaper than CD-RW's but they hold same amount of data.

If this is for archival quality (not that any of the CD's are really that archival)

I like verbatim, but Maxell or Sony or HP are fine. I would avoid the really cheap ones cause you'll end up with more coasters than you want.

Now, my question back to you is, if you want to back things up, there are a lot better options out there now. a CD-R will only hold about 750MB of data(it'll say 800MB but 50 MB are allocated to preserve disc life)

I am not sure how old your puter is, but usually when one starts to back up data's, it is more than 750MB and then you are looking into breaking files up and such...

external drives are so cheap these days. A 250 GB western digital external drive is $100.00 or less when on sale. And then there are DVD's which is about 5 times the size of CD's....

I only use CD-R these days to make back ups of my CD.

I have an external drive that is 250 GB that can store about 2 average computer datas.

if you should decide on an external hardrive, this is my favorite combo

an extreme external file transfer hub.

This thing costs about $50.00 and will transfer everything on your puter to the external drive. Including ALL your programs, whatever programs that you've installed or downloaded, it'll transfer it. So if your hardrive should ever crash, you won't even need to use your reinstall CD, just use the hub to transfer everything back to your puter...

so I would recommend an external hardrive and the hub.

below is the hub:

http://www.cyberguys.com/templates/S...roductID=10220

My favorite external drive is made by seagate but western digital will just do the job. You can find them at your staples or best buy. But I personally prefer Amazon.com

good luck!

this hardrive is the equivalent of 525 CD-R/RW's

and it is less than $100.00

http://www.amazon.com/Iomega-Desktop...5741604&sr=8-1

I really like the USB flash drives - also called memory stick, jump drive -
we have a 2 gig & 4 gig

You just plug it in and the computer will 'see" it as a removable drive
you can copy or move files to the drive and if you need to - plug it back in and delete, change or update those files.

If you looking to organize /save - photos , financial records, medical records
just get a separate one for each category.
but they are simple to use, easy to store, don't have to worry about them getting scratched like a cd..

here's a link with a variety of them and prices -
http://www.nextag.com/serv/main/buye...pe=Flash+Drive

Thank you! I have a couple of flash drives, but I like the idea of an external hard drive. I don't really understand what a "hub" is, but when I wake up a little better I'll study this information harder!

Is seagate more expensive or just better?

hmmm
 

We have an external back up drive too.

But I don't have a "hub"... what is the purpose of the hub?
Is this for multiple computers?

I thought the "hub" was where the kids on that 70's show hang out???


Sorry, couldn't resist...tried to but had to...LOL LOL LOL LOL...Sue:D:D:D

the one moi suggested { http://www.cyberguys.com/templates/S...roductID=10220 }
I looked at it & found info on some other sites
http://tech-reviews.com/2007/10/07/x...system-backup/
[This is the only back up that will back up the Operating System of your computer. It will also backup–All Windows and boot files are backed up, preserving your OS perfectly.
Restore–Restore the entire drive or choose a particular folder or files.

Hard drives only last about three to five years, so be prepared. The Xtreme Files OS Backup Enclosure provides easy one-touch archiving of your hard drive’s contents, including its operating system files.
Includes 3′ USB 2.0 device cable, power adapter, power cord, mounting screws and software on CD-ROM. Requires a 3.5″ ATA66/100/133 (IDE) drive of greater capacity that your computer’s hard drive(s), sold separately, Windows 2000/XP and a USB 2.0 data port.

Restore–Restore the entire drive or choose a particular folder or files.
• Back up 1-4 drives in one PC

• USB 2.0 compliant

• Multi-user security preserved

• Archives multi-boot menu

• Uses Symantec OS restore software]

you do need to have a hard drive to plug into this
it handles the security & restoring for the backed up files

so it sounds like if the back up drives get taken no one can get your info unless they take your computer too.

thumping moiself in da head....
 

I hope nobody has bought anything cause I really need to correct moiself...LOL

before I confuse anyone, I would like to make it simple and then add explanations afterward, that way, if anyone just want to put a blind faith in options without getting into the technical parts, they are welcome to, but please know that I am not a puter doctor, I only play one in the forums. LOL

alrighty, these are my personal favorite options (we have three computers in the house. *faint)

Option 1
Using an external drive like the one I've posted:

http://www.amazon.com/Iomega-Desktop...5741604&sr=8-1

--------------
(explanation)

the advantage: it can store all your non-programmable files. Like your Word documents, your excel, your photos, your videos, and whatever files.

BUT, it will NOT save any of your program files.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Option 2
Using the "hub" and you have buy an INTERNAL drive(this is where I was wanting to explain)

-----------------
(explanation)

the hub(which really isn't a true hub but will explain later) will actually become an external drive itself. That is because you'll have to buy an internal drive,hook it up to the hub, then it becomes ONE entity

(hold on,you are asking yourself, why go through this extra step, AHA! Let me explain)

the advantage of using this hub with an internal drive is that you can back up your WHOLE drive. Meaning all your program files.

For example, if you've got a separate disc for MS Office. And everytime you reformat, you have to install that disc, with this "HUB"

you don't have to.

For example 2, let's say you've got a scanner, printer, and what not program installed (either all together or individually) and your puter crashes. But you DID back up your WHOLE puter.

Then, you don't have to reinstall those programs.

This HUB serves as an actual exact copy of your drive that's in your puter.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Option 3
using the HUB with an external drive.

-----------
(which is where I've made the fatal mistake without going into further in my previous posts)
(explanation)


And what I meant about connecting this "HUB" to an external drive, it depends ON the external drive (there are many different types) and I usually "RIG" it for my clients. I was going to post later if anyone was interested but then I just thought it would be too complicated cause I'd have to take mine apart and then take photos while I do it and I am not sure if I had the time. But if you knew someone who is really good at rigging drives

and when it's done, it looks like someone who was born with their heart outside (no offense to anyone who was born with their hearts outside!)

DEPENDING on your hardrive, you might be able to rig your current external hardrive to the "HUB" thus saving you some bucks. LOL

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

so, with all that's said....

LMAO at sue's comment about the hub and this is where I'll attempt to explain what a hub is.

A hub in geeky terms means a few things. When it comes to devices, it is usually a "connection" for multi-uses.

For example. Let's say your puter only came with 2 USB ports and you want to connect 4 devices using USB ports. You have an option to buy a HUB with additional USB ports. So you can connect one USB cord to the HUB and then using the other USB ports on the HUB to connect to other devices.

This is where USB 1.0 and USB 2.0 will come into play. AVOID anything that is USB 1.0 (they are trying to get rid of their old inventory and do NOT tell you) USB 2.0 is much faster....

A HUB could also mean a hotspot.

Like Starbucks. Most of their stores offer Wi-Fi (wireless connection) and so their store is served as a HUB for anyone that wants to bring their wireless laptop to go and use it.

A HUB is also like sue said, it is used by guys in that "70's show" to BS and do nothing all day with. LOL

well, I really need to go clear my head and go get some work done...hope this cleared it up for you guys and didn't confuse anyone more...LOLOL

Option 2
 

If anyone decides to go with Option Two:

(the "HUB" with the internal drive)

this is what an internal drive looks like:

(an example)


http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...?EdpNo=3227029

(it's by Western Digital and holds 320 GB)

Cyberguys also sells the drives and if anybody decides to go with this option, please call their customer service and they'll walk you through.

Anyways, to moi, this is the easiest way to back up everything. And once one does the initial set up. It is simply one button once a week.

Click it and leave it

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oh, I do want to say that you'll need to buy an USB 2.0 cord to connect the puter to the hub.

one end should be USB looking, the other end looks like a tiny house. LOL