Free Computer Consultant Tip-Of-The-Week e-Zine for January 11, 2008
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Is Your Data At Risk?

Over the holidays I installed a new hard drive for a family who had
*MOST*, but NOT ALL, of their data and pictures backed up.

The hard drive was toast. The only way to get any data off of it
would be a $500+ recovery service.

- - -

How many times do you THINK about backing up, but never get around
to it?

I was at a very profitable small business the other day, and one of
the owners was complaining about the speed of her PC. Should she get
a new one?

Well, her Pentium 4 PC wasn't really that old, so I decided to embark
on a quick tour of the PC to see where I could gain some speed back.

First question I always ask: Do you backup frequently, when was the
last time?

Her answer was not uncommon:

"I think about backing up, sometimes I wonder how to go about it, I
wish there was an easier way..." and she wasn't through talking yet.

I interrupted her, not something I usually do with clients. "When
was the last time you actually DID backup?" She didn't know.

I cover a lot of ways to backup on my website at
http://www.FreeComputerConsultant.com/computer-backup.html

Now I realize that for some of you this information gets too
technical. In fact, I had a reader unsubscribe last week because
he thought the information was just over his head.

I will try to simplify.

- - -

Step 1: Buy a USB hard drive, at least 250GB capacity - under US$100

Go to
Buy.com

Put "Seagate USB Hard Drive" into the search box (without the quotes)
My advice is to buy Seagate and NOT Maxtor.
Make sure you get the 5 Year warranty
You can probably get F*R*E*E SHIPPING
Plug it it.

Step 2: Some of these drives come with software, I suggest:
http://www.FreeComputerConsultant.com/acronis-true-image.html

Step 3: Whatever software you are using, click the BACKUP button

- - -

For the most part, that's it. Naturally I recommend you try to read
a few instructions to get the most out of the software, but at least
get that first backup.

Paretto's law says that 80% of you will think about this, but not do
it. Only 20% will take action.

Are you in the 20% or the 80%?

Where is your data?

* * * New Attraction * * *

I'm delayed in getting this out today because I'm working on a new
page where I tell you what vendors I use to buy computer hardware &
software and why.

These are online retailers that I use every week in my professional
business and I whole heartedly recommend each and every one of them.

Here it is:
http://www.FreeComputerConsultant.com/recommended-vendors.html

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Recent Blog entries:

Acronis True Image Home version 11
< http://freecomputerconsultant.com/blog/2008/01/13/acronis-true-image-home-version-11/ >

ReadyNAS Gripe #1 - Redux
< http://freecomputerconsultant.com/blog/2008/01/08/readynas-gripe-1-redux/ >

Asus P5LD2 Deluxe needs current BIOS to support Processor
< http://freecomputerconsultant.com/blog/2008/01/08/asus-p5ld2-deluxe-needs-current-bios-to-support-processor/ >

Vista now allows non floppy input for F6 drivers
< http://freecomputerconsultant.com/blog/2008/01/08/vista-now-allows-non-floppy-input-for-f6-drivers/ >

What is NAS and how is it different from SAN?
< http://freecomputerconsultant.com/blog/2008/01/08/what-is-nas-and-how-is-it-different-from-san/ >

Netgear ReadyNAS - Gripe #1
< http://freecomputerconsultant.com/blog/2008/01/07/netgear-readynas-gripe-1/ >

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When was the last time you backed up YOUR PC?
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Thanks for subscribing,

The Free Computer Consultant
http://www.FreeComputerConsultant.com