| Computers today are used in every part | | | | USB Drives are becoming more popular as |
| of life. They are used for | | | | a back up tool. A USB drive is a small |
| communication, work, play and even to | | | | device that holds large amounts of |
| buy food. Therefore, when you lose a | | | | information. It works like a floppy disk |
| computer or even just a file from your | | | | in that you can place files, delete |
| computer, it is like losing your best | | | | files or move files around within the |
| friend. You can't back up or replace a | | | | USB. All recent computers have USB ports |
| best friend, but you can backup files, | | | | that should be able to read any USB |
| or your entire computer if desired. | | | | device. |
| Several back up methods exist. Some | | | | CD ROMs are also a popular way to back |
| computers will automatically back | | | | up your files. A CD ROM looks just like |
| themselves up; you just need to find the | | | | a music CD you would buy in a store, but |
| folder where the back up is stored. If | | | | can hold up to 700 MB of information. |
| your computer does not have this | | | | This allows for large files or a large |
| function, or you are not sure if the | | | | amount of small files to be stored on |
| function exists or is working, manually | | | | this disk. Once you put information onto |
| back up your files. For example, after | | | | a CD ROM, you can not add files or |
| creating an important Microsoft Word | | | | change the files on the disk. This can |
| document, save it at least twice in at | | | | be one way of ensuring nobody else |
| least two different locations. | | | | tampers with your work, but can also be |
| If however, you lose your entire hard | | | | frustrating when you would like to back |
| drive, it won't matter how many times | | | | up a newer version of your work. In this |
| you have saved the same document. To | | | | case, a CD RW disk may suit you better. |
| avoid this dilemma, save your files on | | | | RW stands for re writable disk. On this |
| something other than the computer's hard | | | | kind of disk you can add, delete and |
| drive. Floppy disks are not commonly | | | | rewrite files until the disk is full. |
| used, but they will work for small | | | | When using the rewrite option, be sure |
| files. Be ware that floppy disks can be | | | | you do not accidentally rewrite |
| unreliable and often crash just as your | | | | something you wanted to keep the back up |
| computer did. | | | | of. |