Short Circuits
Newcastle Herald
Tuesday July 3, 2007
Q What is the difference between a storage device and a backup system? Can they be used interchangeably?
A A storage device stores files outside your computer. It could be an external hard drive (such as the Seagate 100GB Portable External Hard Drive pictured above), a USB flash-memory drive or even recordable CDs and DVDs. You can use a storage device as part of a dedicated backup system. You can also just use it to hold all the files that won't fit on your computer or to transfer big files between computers. A backup system typically refers to a combination of hardware and software whose primary mission is to regularly make a copy of your computer's contents. To do this, the backup software deposits those files onto an external storage device to keep them safe (and separate) in case something bad happens to the computer itself - or if you accidentally delete something you need. Because of their large capacity and relatively low price, external hard drives are a popular choice to use as backup hardware. Look for models that include software for automating the backup process so you don't have to remember to do it yourself.
© 2007 Newcastle Herald
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