Not long ago photos and documents were carefully packed up in saddlebags and carried to the next location. Nowadays a lot of people keep everything stored on their computer. During an Austin move any number of things can happen – the computer can get dropped, rained on, lost or stolen, etc. Heck, hard drive crashes can happen any day, it doesn’t take a move.
Before packing your computer up, it’s a good idea to back up any documents and files you don’t want to lose if a worst-case scenario were to happen. Here are a few options.
External Hard Drive
An external hard drive is a compact device that has some serious storage space. With up to eight terabytes or more there are hard drives that can back up your entire computer system and settings. They are easy to use – just plug them into your computer and go through the quick setup steps. Some are even specially made to be compatible with certain types of computers.
The one thing that might cause a moment of hesitation is the price tag. Hard drives come in all sorts of capacities, as low as 32GB. Devices with smaller capacities of can be found for as little as $20, but the larger hard drives can cost hundreds of dollars.
If you have an email server that offers unlimited space, like Gmail, this can be another option for backing up data. Simply email yourself any files that you want to store. You may have to send yourself a lot of emails since there are file size limits, but an added bonus is easy searchability by using folders and descriptive subject lines. It’s also FREE.
Cloud Services
Cloud services are one of the latest ways to backup your data. It’s an online service that stores your data at an off-site server location. Your files are secure and can be accessed at any time. You can also set up a schedule for automatic backups and sync the cloud account directly with your PC, Mac and other devices.
If you’re going to opt for a cloud service just make sure it’s through a highly reputable company that isn’t at risk of going under. That would be the only instance where getting your data back may be difficult. Cloud services usually come at a low monthly cost. There are a lot of providers including the iCloud for Mac users.
Regardless of the backup method you choose the important things to keep in mind is that it fits your budget and you actually use it. The best part is you’ll have everything stored for future use even long after your move is made.
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Original Source: https://squarecowmovers.com/choosing-the-best-data-backup-option-before-your-move