Ok... I am not a tech person. This is what I need:

Some type of external backup storage device, so if my computer ever crashes, I won't lose my files (I am really only concerned about photos and documents).

It must:

- Be easy to use (I don't have time/patience to configure a bunch of stuff)
- Automatically back up at regular intervals (I'll forget to do it if I have to tell it to manually backup my stuff)
- Reasonably priced
- Be reliable. I am starting to turn my work office "paperless," which means all of my documentation for my job is sitting in my computer.

Any suggestions? Thoughts? When I go to Office Depot, what should I ask the salesclerk for?

Thanks to all the tech-savvy peeps out there!

I currently use Software known as Norton Ghost. It creates backups that you can burn to DVD or CD. It works very well and can also copy one drive to another.

What size hard drive to you currently have? If it under 40-60GB, backing up to DVD-RW might be a very economical choice. If it is larger, then backups to a secondary hard drive might be better. There are even online backup storage options.

Let me know what you currently have and I can give a better recommendation.

Ok, CPD... This is what I found out:

Pentium® 4 CPU
2.53 GHz
256 MB RAM

Does that help?

The problem with burning to disks is that I won't remember to do it... I want something that will backup for me with no work on my part.

Nope.

try this:
go to windows explorer and right click on your C: drive and select properties and find TOTAL CAPACITY

Ok... I am a total computer loser.

I THINK this is what you want:

Layout: Partition
Type: Basic
File System: NTFS
Status: Healthy (System)
Capacity: 38.25 GB
Free Space: 24.10 GB

Is that it? There's also another one with the same stuff, except under "Status" it reads "Healthy (EISA Configuration) and the "Capacity" is 31 MB.

(I feel stupid for not knowing this stuff...)

Thanks, CPD!

OK!
So basically you have a 40GB drive. Most drives sold today are going to be quite a bit larger (<100GB) buy you might be able to find a 80GB. I have seen something called a one-touch backup that is an external HD with a single button on it that when pressed preforms a full system back up. I think it will suit you very well. One-Touch Check this one out.

Let me know if you need any more help.

That is perfect! It just plugs into a USB and becomes another drive on my computer, right? Should be just what I need. Thanks!!

Yup! and much cheaper here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...CMP=OTC-Froogle

Thanks for the help, CPD! I ended up with a basic SimpleTech 60GB drive. It seems to work fine. Although it hums, which I'm not too keen on. But now I'm no longer "living dangerously." LOL