We all use our computers to store photos, reports, documents and many other items—all the essential “paperwork” parts of our lives. But what happens if your computer crashes?
According to PC Magazine, up to 10 percent of the world’s 700 million computers crash daily. Half of the businesses that lose their data will close permanently and 43 percent of computer users have lost files at some point. Yet only six percent of Internet users regularly backup their files.
It’s hard to see why anyone would skip backing up his or her computer, especially when it’s easy and affordable. From purchasing thumb drives for smaller storage to using external hard drives for bigger media, there’s an option out there for every computer user.
Many people choose to back up their files using an external hard drive, which plugs directly into the computer and can save any information you want. In recent years, the cost of these drives have dropped significantly, making them a convenient and cost-effective option for those who are interested in manually backing up their files from time to time.
Others may prefer a service that does all the work for them. For an annual fee, online backup services provide backup for all data on your computer—from Word documents to photos–automatically. They’re also easy to use and easy to sign up for.
“You go to our website, put in your email address and a password, and you get a free trial,” says David Friend, CEO, cofounder, and chairman of Carbonite, a web-based computer backup service. “Carbonite installs a small piece of software on your computer. You don’t have to do anything. You just wait and Carbonite runs quietly in the background. Every time you create or edit a file, it’s backed up.”
If the worst happens—your computer crashes and you need a new one—you just get back on to the company’s website with your new computer, and you’ll be asked if you want to restore all the data from your old computer.
“We make it even simpler if you lose one file,” he says. “You can get all your data just with a web browser, iPhone, or Blackberry.” Backup services are more important than ever, Friend says, as computer failure seems to affect everyone.
“Ten percent of all laptops are stolen or lost,” he says. “Three or four percent of hard drives crash every year. You have a one in eight chance of losing everything on your computer for any number of reasons—a hard drive crash, a virus, damage from a fire or flood. Most people don’t realize how easily you could lose everything. Everybody knows somebody who’s lost all their data. It’s not a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when’ it will happen to you. If it hasn’t happened yet, you’re very lucky.”
Services like Carbonite cost about $50 a year—a small price to pay for peace of mind, Friend points out.
“If everything on your computer is worth at least $50 to you, you need it,” he says. “Our service lets you sleep well. It’s one less thing in your life that’s crazy and out of control. You can go to bed at night and not worry about your computer.”
Related article: Two Quick Tips for an Efficient Computer Backup
