Backing up files on a PC...
 

What is the best way to do this? Internet based? External hard drive? What are the pros and cons? I am looking for something that works well and is as simple as possible.

What are your concerns? Is it fire/theft or just a pc/disk failure? If the former then Internet based backup will give you the offsite storage needed to address that. Otherwise, a USB drive system would be more convenient and faster.

I made the mistake of not backing up my 6 year old computer and one day it just died. My main goal it to be sure that doesn't happen again. I am also going to be installing a Windows 7 upgrade disk that was included in the purchase of my new Dell. I already have programs on my new computer that I need to be sure aren't lost, so I am looking to back everything up.

I found a nice HP external drive that says it is simply plug and play. Apparently, it does everything and all I have to do is plug it into a USB port. I like the simplicity of that.

It seems like the online back up would be the most secure, but I do have 3 computers that need to be backed up. Can I back up 3 different computers on one hard drive if it has enough storage? Can I back up more than one computer per internet account or would I need three online accounts?

I set up an external hard drive as network attached storage, and my Norton AV does automatic back-ups to that periodicallly. Additionally, I have Carbonite running, which constantly does back-ups somewhere in the cloud. Seems to be the best combination for me.

Low tech troglodyte here, but I simply use a portable big Gig Toshiba thing I got
for ~$60 at So-So Buy. Works well, very easy to use. I have a different brand
in our FL joint and that cooks too...any of the portable HD backup things should
be fine. But, Ray raises a good point and I'm thinking of tossing some of stuff
to a Cloud Deal, in case of house(s) catastrophe...

I had both desktops, (old and older), crash and my genius Son-in-law was able
to rescue and revive both, but I will never not be without a backed-up system
again.
GL,mD

Just have a USB back-up drive at your two homes.

B/B...I do; you have to read posts, then respond. :D

..."I simply use a portable big Gig Toshiba thing I got
for ~$60 at So-So Buy. Works well, very easy to use.
I have a different brand in our FL joint and that cooks too"...

I ended up going with this;

HP® Official Store — Buy the HP SimpleSave 1TB Desktop Hard Drive direct from HP

Probably a little overkill, but with three computers with itunes, photos, etc. I figured more can't hurt. This thing is simple as pie. Just plug it into the wall and then into the USB port and it automatically copies everything. Dummied down...just like I like my computer equipment. I may look into getting some additional online storage down the road for photos and other financial items that I would not want to lose due to theft/fire.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Also, I didn't have any issues updating to Windows 7 although they warn you it is possible to lose info in the process.

It kind of scares me putting all my stuff in the "cloud." Its scary how quickly things can multiply there.

..well as long as u find a reliable source i guess youre okay. Email servers such as gmail back up their stuff a couple times..i think..

damn it i have a midterm on this crap soon.

That's is why I don't depend on either the local or the cloud...I do both. If one fails, I still have the other.