Home PC backup is cumbersome at best for home computer users. Most people have tons of data on their home computers that they don’t even know where to start when thinking about backing up their files. Even if they do backup their data, their either burning several DVD’s or copying their data to an external hard drive. Either way, both tasks are time consuming and require the user to initiate the task. Which means finding the time to do the manual backup. In addition, some home computer users don’t understand the importance of backing up their personal computer files. If a hard drive crashes on a home computer and the data isn’t backed up, it means that all of your pictures, important personal budget files, and video’s of your children are gone.  JUST. LIKE. THAT.

One of the best ways to backup your home computer data is to use an Internet website called Carbonite. I personally use Carbonite at home and it’s a fantastic service. Upon signing up for Carbonite you will be asked to download a small piece of software to install on your computer. This piece of software will backup all of the data on your computer and send it up to the Carbonite servers quickly and securely via your home Internet connection.  After doing the initial backup of your computer, Carbonite will automatically recognize changes made on your computer and will back them up on demand, without the user having to do anything. Carbonite offers you unlimited storage space for your data. So if you have 200 gigabytes worth of pictures and music, Carbonite will backup that as well as anything else you may have.

You will know that your data is backed up completely by the little green circle on the bottom right corner of files and folders. If the data has yet to be backed up and is currently waiting for backup, you will notice a yellow circle.

Carbonite costs $54.95 per year and is a great investment in knowing that your personal data is backed up safely and securely in case anything ever happens to your computer. We invest money for retirement, college education, and spend money on life insurance to protect us in case something horrible was to happen. Look at this as $4.57 per month to protect yourself against losing the video of your child’s first steps, your entire photo library, or your monthly budget that holds all of your financial information. You might be thinking “does this guy work for Carbonite or something?” Not in the least and I promise you, I am not even receiving a year of free service for writing this blog. What I can tell you is I have seen the pain on people’s faces when I’ve told them that their hard drive crashed and their data is gone.  Hopefully I don’t have to say that to you and if I do you can say “I backed it up and I’ll get it back.”