backup

SanDisk USB drive learns a new trick

As their capacities have grown, USB thumb drives have become the method of choice to transfer data between PCs for many consumers. Some have also started using them as backups for their hard drives.

The latest SanDisk Cruzer Titanium Plus flash drive takes the concept even one step further by making backups of its 4GB storage automatically to an online company, BeInSync. The $60 drive comes with six months of this online service, after which an annual fee of $30 is charged.

When the Cruzer is plugged into a connected machine, the contents are automatically synchronized both ways and the … Read more

When should you turn off an external hard disk?

Here's an interesting question: should I turn off my external hard drive when not in use? Leo Notenboom, who I mentioned back in July, addressed this issue a few days ago on his Ask-Leo.com Web site.

In short, there is no one clear answer, a number of issues have to be considered. What surprised me, though, about Leo's answer, was that he didn't mention my reason for turning off my external hard disk.

Being a pessimist is necessary for defensive computing. The main reason I turn off my external hard disk is to protect it from … Read more

Put a Ghost in the machine for $0

Symantec's Norton Ghost is a super tool for backing up your PC. The latest version, 12.0 (wow, is that like the first 12.0 version of anything, ever?), normally sells for $69.99, but you can get it free, kinda, from Buy.com.

You start out paying $50 (free shipping!), then get back a $30 Visa debit card as part of Rebate #1. To qualify for Rebate #2, a $20 Visa debit card, all you need is proof of ownership of just about any semi-related utility: "A stand-alone, retail (boxed or downloaded) version of any Norton or … Read more

250GB of external-storage goodness, $39.99 shipped

Whether you need extra space to store all that digital video you've been shooting or you're finally planning to start making regular backups (it's about time!), nothing beats an external hard drive. Just plug it in and you're good to go.

So, good news and bad news about the Vox 250GB drive: It's a 7,200-rpm screamer with USB 2.0 and eSATA interfaces and a price tag of just $39.99, shipping included; but that price is after two mail-in rebates, and the deal is available today only. That means you better snag this … Read more

Black Friday Watch: Maxtor OneTouch 4 500GB, $79.98

I may be cheap, but I'm not crazy enough to line up at 5 a.m. in the freezing cold on that glorious day known as Black Friday. Well, at least, not at the big-box stores. But I might just take a drive to Staples (how bad could the crowds be?) for a $79.98 Maxtor OneTouch 4 500GB. That's half a terabyte of external hard-drive goodness. And with the amount of digital video I'm shooting these days, there's never enough storage space.

Head to the aptly named BlackFriday.info for the full list of Staples' Black Friday deals, … Read more

Save Mozilla profiles with MozBackup

As great as it is to have tools like Firefox and Thunderbird, backing them up can be a tedious process. MozBackup is a tiny program that makes saving and restoring all your bookmarks, extensions, and other personal settings a streamlined and stress-free experience.

Hot deal: 1TB External USB 2.0 hard drive for $280

We all need a little backup sometimes. Fortunately, Circuit City's running a discount on Western Digital's 1TB My Book Essential edition external hard drive. Currently listed elsewhere at $350 or more, its easy install and flexible USB/Firewire interface make it a good choice for all your backup needs. Check out the CNET.com product overview for details on compatibility, speed, and performance.

What: Western Digital 1TB My Book Essential edition external hard drive How much: $279.99 Shipping: Free Where: Circuit City (via LogicBuy) When: Through unknown date Click here for CNET.com's Western Digital 1TB My Book Essential edition external hard drive product overview.… Read more

Dashwire: Manage your cell phone on the Web

It takes a second to realize that what you see on Dashwire.com's cool gray interface is content from your mobile phone. That's probably because you're not used to reading it so easily.

There on Dashwire's spacious Internet dashboard are your photos and videos, contacts, bookmarks, and SMS and call history laid out in movable AJAX tiles. There are ringtones you can click on the Web to play on your phone, and text messages you can reply to with your keyboard, and which are tagged with your identifying phone number so your friends know who sent … Read more

Killer Download: Background apps for security and speed

With so many potential threats on the Internet, it is an absolute necessity to prepare your computer for the Web. Whenever I get a new computer, the first programs I download include antivirus, antispyware, and firewall software. Frankly, if you don't have at least these three types of programs running on your computer, it's like driving at night without your lights on--sure it's possible, but don't be surprised if it ends in a crash (har har).

Fortunately, there are a lot of great security programs available at Download.com. Recently I've written Killer Downloads about both the best firewalls and the top antivirus programs. This week I'm doing a software roundup of a different type. In recent scouting of new (and new to me) software I came across some great Windows programs that work behind the scenes to keep your computer running smoothly and also keep your data secure.… Read more

Save your drivers from oblivion with DriverMax

A great tool for when you're mucking about with reinstalling an operating system or just want to have several fail safes going is DriverMax, which backs up your drivers one at a time, a few at a time, or all at once. From registration to implementation, DriverMax works fast, runs smooth, and even does more than mere safe-checking.