Backup Your Data Before It's Too Late!
'I'm too busy to backup my data', 'I don't know how to backup data', 'My hard drive won't crash'...But how would you feel if you lost years of genealogy research, your address book, your emails, and your digitized family pictures and documents?
So backup your data before it's too late!
There are many ways to backup your data according to your needs:
USB Flash Drive
USB Flash Drives are cheaper than many other backup systems, simple to use, small and convenient, but it is also easy to lose these small devices. Storage capacities can range from 64 MB to 256 GB, and some have 10-year data retention.
CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs
The lifetime of a CD-ROM may vary from 2 years to 20 years depending of its quality and the storage conditions. A standard 120 mm, "700 MB" CD-ROM can hold 737 MB with error correction. In comparison, a single-layer DVD-ROM can hold 4.7 GB of error-protected data, more than 6 CD-ROMs.
External Hard Drive
External Hard Drives are a secure and long-term data storage solution. Unfortunately, they are too expensive for most of us. Find here the CNET review of external hard drives.
Online Backup Services
This is the most secure way to backup your data because they also backup their servers in their data center! Find here a list of free online service providers to determine what online computer backup solutions are suitable for you.
I highly recommend to use an online backup service to store your data!
Export your GeneaNet Online Family Tree
If you have manually entered your GeneaNet Online Family Tree, you may need to export it to your computer.
To do so, simply go to My GeneaNet : Online Family Tree : Save then select a file format.
You can also export the ancestors or the descendants of any individual in your family tree.Need Help?
To learn how to use GeneaNet, please read the "GeneaNet First Steps" pages.
First StepsTo ask for help on any topic related to the GeneaNet website, to report a bug and to make a suggestion, please go to our forum.
ForumQuestions not related to blog notes will not be answered here. Many thanks for your comprehension.
Comments
My mom had almost 20 years worth of genealogical data, pictures, documents, everything she has worked on her older computer... She had a flash drive, and meant to backup those files. to it....But good intentions didn't save her life's work (at least most of it) after a computer crash.
1 - Online backup services.. Are EXTREMELY unreliable.
a) You're trusting a stranger with your data.
b) They may no longer be there when you need your data.
c) Their backup could well be less reliable than your own.
2 - External Hard drives, aka USB drives, are relatively cheap and more dependable than: Flash drives, CDs or DVDs. For under $100 you can get from 500GB to 1 Terrabye .. and coming very soon 2 terrabyes for under $100
DO NOT ENCRYPT your important data with anything that cannot be decrypted if some data is missing! I.E. scratched CD's or DVD's. Some encryption algorithms rely 100% on previous data having been present. Means data following any error could be undecypherable. Which are safe? If you don't know, don't use it.. Again, that 1 Terrabyte external drive looks better all the time.
Not sure I agree with the comment on unreliable online backup services - I guess it depends on what you use - much the same way that a cheap and nasty external hard drive isn't likely to be all that reliable either.
I've put together some info at -
http://www.familytreeassistant.com/...