As any computer user that has experienced a crash before knows, it is incredibly important to backup your PC. In the event that something goes awry with your PC, you do not want to risk losing all of your important files, whether you use your PC for work or strictly for personal use. The consequences of not backing up your PC can be dire. If you use it for work, you risk losing files that are integral pieces required for you to actually do your job. If you use it for play, then you risk losing precious family photos, a movie you love, or mp3s of an album that you hunted for for years.

To avoid this special kind of nightmare, then you need to back up your data on a regular basis. The methods you employ to do this will vary depending on your needs. So the answer to the question, “How should I backup my PC?” will simply depend on what you use your PC for, why and how. There are several different methods you can use to get the job done, from the standard backup discs like CDs or DVDs to offsite backup services.

For the casual computer user that stores photos, then CDs and DVDs will do the trick. Simply burn the files to the discs, label them clearly, and stow them away somewhere safe. If you have a lot of data or a lot of large files, though, this method may not be the best one for you. When there is a lot of data to back up, then it can become time consuming and inefficient to be continually racking up piles of discs on your desk. If the files themselves are large, then they also may not fit on a single disc or be the only thing you can fit on that one disc, meaning you will need many more on top of the already numerous discs you’ll have.

For those people, a more efficient method is to use an external hard drive. These work independently from your computer, so if your computer crashes, all of your data will still be safe. All you need to do is regularly copy your files over to the external drive and you will have an up to date backup storage method. Just make sure to choose an external drive that has its own built in cooling units, like a fan, because heat is one of the most common causes for hardware failure and an external drive that overheats will be useless to you. External hard drives can hold huge amounts of data, so they are not only convenient, but practical.

If you use your computer and data for work, especially if you run your own business, then it is vital to back up your data, even more so than it is for the casual computer user. While it’s okay to use discs or an external hard drive to back things up, you may want to consider offsite backup services instead. That way, your data is protected not only in case of computer failure, but in the event of a fire or some other disaster that could ruin your backup methods on top of your computer. There are many services out there that will store your data on their equipment at their facilities, so even if your house burns down, you won’t lose your important files.