2005_12_07_archive

Have a Safe and Secure Holiday Season

A recent computer problem made me re-evaluate the need to back up my

writing.

I have a writing friend who is so paranoid about losing data that he

ftps every chapter to offshore accounts (at least, that's how I

imagine it.)

I've lost writing before, and there are few things as painful in life.

Here are some tricks and tips and products that will ensure you never

have to feel that particular pain.

PRINT - It never hurts to keep a paper copy. If you lose the file, you

can always recover the story with OCD software like Abbyy Finereader.

ZIP - Bulky zip drives have lost favor to their keychain flash drive

counterparts, which can hold up to a gig on a device the size of a

pencil. Just stick it in the USB port and drag 'n drop. (a novel, even

a long one (150k), doesn't run more than 1 or 2 mbs, so you can

back-up every bit of text on your computer and still have room to

spare.

APC - The big name in batteries. This is a combo surge

protector/battery back-up that prevents you from losing data during a

power outage. Get one.

EMAIL - Having an extra email account, and emailing doc attachments to

yourself, can't hurt.

DVD - A DVD can hold 4.7 gigs of data. They cost about 30 cents each,

and a DVD burner can be picked up for under 50 bucks. CDRs are even

cheaper, and hold 700mb.

FTP - If you have a website, you have a storage locker available in

cyberspace under your name. Using an FTP program can allow you to save

your writing on your home page (and don't worry, no one can read it

there--it's hidden unless you link directly to it.)

OE BACKUP - There are a few tools available for saving your email (I

use one for Outlook Express.) Find a program that fits your needs, and

then save your email along with your writing. I go through my deleted

and sent mail folders several times a day, trying to figure out who

said what and when.

FIRE SAFE - This isn't a computer attachement. It is what it is-- a

fire safe. Keep your flash drive and DVDs in the safe, in case your

house burns down. Put them in a plastic bag first, to protect them

from flooding. Paranoid? Talk to anyone who has lost their home to

fire or flood. It doesn't hurt to also keep some copies in the car, or

at Mom's house.

FILES - NEVER save just one file. I always save in different formats

(wpd, doc, rtf, txt) in different places on my computer (C: drive,

Desktop, My Documents) under different names.

SECOND HARD DRIVE - Also cheap, you can install an extra hard drive in

your computer for less than fifty bucks. It's like having two

computers in one case.

SECOND COMPUTER - Networking is a pain to set up, but using the Shared

Documents folder can be a lifesaver, and is still the fastest way to

transfer data.

NORTON ANTI-VIRUS - Still the leading trojan slayer. MacAfee is also

big, as is Panda. Whatever you use (and you must use something,) make

sure it offers updates.

Computer running slow? AdAware and Spybot are free tools (available at

www.pcworld.com) that clean your computer of spyware, malware, and