I need to take files off my current computer - what's the best way?

[luvmyfam444]

where is the best place to move them? I manage to lose jump drives. I have some files in a 2 different Google Drives that I'd like to get into one but not sure if that's the best place .

 

[sam_gordon]

where is the best place to move them? I manage to lose jump drives. I have some files in a 2 different Google Drives that I'd like to get into one but not sure if that's the best place .

Do you want permanent storage or temporary? If permanent, I'd recommend some kind of cloud storage. That can be google drive, dropbox, or amazon among others. You'll pay a monthly fee (depending on how much you need to store). Odds of failure would be extremely slim.

Or you get portable hard drives. Basically just large jump drives. Pay one time (cost increases depending on the size) and you're done. However, failure is a matter of "when", not "if". You can get RAIDs to help with the failure issue, but that ups the cost.

 

[Praying Colonel]

IMHO it's good to have 2 different locations for backup. I use my ICloud and I also use an external hard drive.

 

[Imzadi]

I like this article that explains the Rule of Three backups. It's an oldie article, but the basic info still applies. I particularly like how it explains having two different formats and one different location. With all the climate changes of sudden flash floods (Kentucky 2 weeks ago,) and wildfires in drought areas, and of course hurricanes & tornadoes in those parts of the country, you want a secondary location.

http://www.hanselman.com/blog/the-computer-backup-rule-of-three

Google Drive is a good, free, off-site, backup cloud storage. You get 15 GB per Drive account. One is allowed 4 different Google accounts per phone number. I have 5 different accounts as I always liked to split my emails by subject, and now the data is split per subject: personal, business, photos, eBooks, etc.

And if you want to move files from one Drive account to another, you can use the "Share files" Drive function to move files. First share and make a copy on the second account, then delete them off the first account once you know they are successfully copied and not just shared - and still on the first account. That frees up megabytes on the first account.

My other backup is an external hard drive, 1 terabyte. And once I re-format my old laptop and wipe off many apps that are just bloat now that I don't use it, I will use that as a third backup.

 

[_19disnA]

Depends on how large the total amount you have to store, how secure you need them to be and how long you want them to last. Storing it in a backup removeable hard drive will be more secure then online somewhere. Any type of online storage could be hacked and not where I would put confidential information like tax returns, information with your SS#, password files, etc. Even if someone hacked some online storage of family photos, the 'risk' to you is relatively small.

Backup storage should also be in a physically separate location. If you house burns down, having all backup copies in the same place isn't the best plan.

 

[rwdavis2]

IMHO it's good to have 2 different locations for backup. I use my ICloud and I also use an external hard drive.

This. I have an external drive plus iCloud storage.

 

[RedAngie]

Yeah, but if it’s a totally sunny day, how do you access your cloud storage???

 

[kdonnel]

Yeah, but if it’s a totally sunny day, how do you access your cloud storage???

You just wait for a rainy day. The data downloads from the cloud really fast on rainy days.