Genealogy Basics: Backup

Hello all!

Disasters, natural and self-inflicted, can hit your computer at any time. No matter whether you are keeping your genealogy data on index cards or the latest iMac, you must back up. Your choices are so varied, that it is silly not to!

If you are using paper, such as index cards or a notebook: Make photocopies. Store them at a relative’s house.

If you are using a computer, choose any or all of these:

1. Use a Thumb Drive to back up your databases at least once a week.
2. Write your data to CDROM C’mon. They’re cheap now!
3. Use an online service such as Xdrive, MozyHome, or iBackup. These services can backup specified directories automatically, so you don’t have to remember.
4. Use an external hard drive such as a MyBook.
5. Use a site such as Kindo to create a backup of your data.
6. Or print it all out and take it over to a relative’s house!!

Documentation and backup are essential. As I say in my book, Genealogy Online 8th Edition on these two principals hang all your effort and investment in genealogy. Next week, I’ll discuss documentation. Until then, happy hunting!

Posted by elizabeth in Genealogy, How to | Trackback |