Actually, I just checked and my external HD is 160 gigs too. Y'know, Bob, I have two HDs on my computer (80 gigs apiece)--don't ask why--but I hadn't thought of doing the backup of the C drive to the D drive. Good idea. But, if I ever get my many projects done, I plan to store a lot more photos and I really need the space. If I were ever to lose the data I have on my CPU I would have to give up genealogy; there is no way to retrieve what I have on there. You didn't say how you are using the external HD and how often. -- polly shaw Bob Geldart wrote: > > I agree with Polly. I've started using an external 160gig HD for my > image files--they take up too much of my fixed drives. > > However, my backup procedure is to back up my C: Drive to a Backup\ > folder on my D: Drive. Similarly, I backup D: Drive to C: Drive. If one > crashes, I have the alternate. > > Once a month I copy the segmented files to CD-Rs and store offsite. > > I stopped using re-writable CDs long ago--too many problems. If you need > CD's, just get the write-once types; In bulk, they're only about 50 > cents each. > > By the way, I've been working with computers for 20 plus years--both as > part of a small network or 25 or so, and as a personal PC user. I have > had only one HD crash on me in all that time, and that was an early > 20meg PC. They usually get upgraded before they get broken. I know HDs > crash. I know backups are worthwhile insurance. Just saying that be > safe, but don't be paranoid. > > Bob > > At 2/25/2007 02:02 PM, Polly wrote: > >> You might want to consider using an external hard drive. I am >> extremely careless about doing backups but recently started to do a >> complete backup to CD's and realized it would take way too many to do >> the kind of backup I wanted. I opted to get an external HD; I think it >> is 40+ gigs. It is much more practical than doing multiple CD backups. >> I have it all planned that if a fire breaks out I grab the external HD >> off my desk and I won't worry about the computer, printer, etc -they can >> all be replaced. -- polly > > > Bob Geldart BGeldart@verizon.net > Maynard, MA >