The most popular computer backup method
Recently, Noobie conducted a poll on its website asking How do you back up your computer? Most of the results were typical but one particular statistic did stand out to me.
I'm referring to the I back up to CD or DVD option which garnered exactly zero votes. In other words, not one person who answered the poll backs up their computer data to a CD or DVD.
This shocked me as I thought this would still be a popular option with some people. But I guess the widespread availability of USB hard drives and flash drives has all but obsoleted backing up to CD or DVD. In fact, nearly 44% of respondents said they back up to a USB hard drive or flash drive.
The second most popular back up method was the one I use, an online service like Carbonite or Mozy. Just over 21% of respondents said they use this method.
Wrapping up the poll were 11% of respondents that said they used a backup method not listed in the poll. And finally, the scariest of all, nearly 25% of respondents indicated they use no backup method whatsoever, either through negligence or their own choice.
And to those 25% I'll say it to you one more time. It's not a matter of if something bad happens to your computer. It's a matter of when.
7 comments for this blog post so far...
September 12, 2011 at 10:53 am
Steve Jensen
Mr. Welch:
The result of your survey about the most popular online backup methods was very interesting. I’d be curious to know how many people you polled.
Best regards,
Steve
September 13, 2011 at 7:10 am
asudduth
in the list of online services, I’d like to mention Crashplan. I haven’t used it, but think it should be evaluated if one is looking for online backups. The thing that catches my attention with this one is that you can do PC-to-PC backups. In the same house, that is interesting. However arranging with a friend is a cool idea… you could back up to eachothers houses… and maybe even be in different cities!
September 14, 2011 at 11:23 pm
Boise Ed
I didn’t see your poll, but I back up twice weekly to a partitioned, 2-terabyte FireWire drive. This gives me a *bootable* backup, which can be handy if the internal hard drive goes on the fritz. The partitioning lets me alternate virtual discs, so I can keep the last two backups.
September 15, 2011 at 7:56 pm
Rosey
Can you backup an external drive on another external drive? I’m about to put all of my doctorate work on one and if it breaks, I’m gonna be so out of luck for my comps. I realize it probably won’t break, but just in case, can I back up my back up?
September 18, 2011 at 10:43 am
Patric Welch
Steve, the poll just ran on my web site for a few weeks and 57 votes trickled in. Not enough data to deduce worldwide statistics or anything. It was more the 0 votes on backing up to CD or DVD that stuck out to me.
September 18, 2011 at 10:44 am
Patric Welch
asudduth - Ironically, I have Crashplan on my list of future blog topics. Last time I mentioned backups, someone brought it up (I don’t think it was you, was it?) and I made a mental note to check it out. I remember liking a feature that it could prioritize files (ex: data files first, then videos).
September 18, 2011 at 10:46 am
Patric Welch
Boise Ed - Great backup solution as long as nothing physical (like fire or other damage from mother nature) hits your house. Then both your computer AND your backups would be destroyed. That’s why I like the online backups.
Rosey - I see no reason why you can’t plug in both external drives and just copy files from one drive letter to the other.
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