After losing data on my hardrive again, I'm feed up with synching manually!

I want to get either Cloud or Carbonite so all my files, pictures, videos, and music are never lost again.
My question, which do you recommend?

Eventually, I am going to get an apple mac, which comes with cloud.  For now, I have an older PC with Windows Vista.  Now I know they say Cloud works with a PC, but I have yet to see anything saying you can 'purchase' cloud for you non apple computer.

I currently have a PC, and an older version of the iPod touch.  Is there anyway I can get cloud so I can back up my PC and my old iPod, or is Cloud only for the NEW iPods and Macs?

Regardless, which (Cloud or Carbonite) do you recommend?When you say cloud what exactly do you mean?  There are lots of back up services that could be considered cloud based, including Carbonite.  I tried one free back up service but it required using up my CONNECTION for all the time it was doing backups.  I ended up using a flash drive. Much faster.  Carbonite, as I understand it, is a fee based service, but it works during periods of non use.I mean apple cloud.

Basically I am tired of losing data.  I have a backup hardrive but that requires manual synching, I want something which can backup all my data, files, music, pictures, and videos, automatically.

As I know it there is:
-Apple Cloud
-Carbonite
-Dropbox

which works best so I can always have all my files anywhere?Dropbox, IMOhave u tried ur isp? i know comcast offers one and it is pretty reasonable. u schedule when & what needs 2 b backed up. the only thing that i don't like about it, is that it needs 2 go on a credit/debit card. they don't bill it on ur account. Why dropbox?  It is way more expensive (20 per month) than carbonite (55 per year).

I think I am going to go with iCloud as long as it works with a PC, because I just got the iPhone4s which comes with 5GB of cloud.

Question is, with these backups, do they backup just documents/music/picturs/video or do they also backup software?

Example...when my hardrive crashes, not only do I have to get my documents back, I also have to re-install itunes and all my programs AND say I have to redo all the settings (like say my Windows XP user name was Greg, I have to re-type that).

Would cloud/dropbox/carbonite backup all of that, or just the files, meaning if the hardrive crashes, I have re-install all software and re-do all desktop settings/icons?With Dropbox you get 2GB free. Surely that's enough for personal documents?I'm just so 'Old School' that there's no way in heck that I would ever trust my data files to some off-site storage company, when I can just save everything to my own storage drive, External HD or CD or flash drive.

I have written a batch file using the old DOS XCOPY command with appropriate switches, to back up all my Documents, Pic's, email files, etc, to my second internal hard drive.  I can do that daily by clicking the shortcut to that batch file, which I keep on my desktop.
When done properly, my daily backup consists ONLY of the files that have been added or changed since the last backup.
That assures that my data-file backup will only take a few seconds to run.

Then once a week, or sooner, I back up my entire C: drive to an external HD using The DOS version of Ghost.

All my data, from the past 12 years, is right here, in my own keeping.  Even files I've deleted in the past, can be resurrected from old DVD backups, using Ghost Explorer.

No clouds for me!

Cheers Mates!
The Shadow 
I have a seagate, it can automatically backup my PC, but I have no idea how to use it.
Instead, I just copy and paste my documents, pictures, and alike.

I really want peace of mind, I want to know no matter what, all my documents, music, pictures, videos are backed up.
I would like as well, though not required, that all my software and settings are backed up, this way next time PC crashes, I can access everything.

Would cloud/carbonite/or dropbox work?
Do you recommend backing up files and software/setting or just files?Carbonite is 'cloud backup'


However, based on what you stated, I would recommend that you look into SugarSync.  I believe it will backup/sync your PC and your handheld devices.


Link to: SugarSync  Link to: online storage review siteIs this a plug for Carbonite?
Why would a PC user ever want or need on-line storage?
You can buy a 8GB flash drive for a few dollars. Using FREE software you can schedule incremental sync  hourly.
One of a number for free tools:
http://download.cnet.com/AutoSync/3000-2160_4-10571674.html
EDIT For under $100 you can buy a home router that also doubles as a file server. Uses USB flash memory. Sped is at least 5  times faster that any piratical Interpret connection.

Yes, IT manages have specific reasons for using cloud service for their mobile clients. These reasons haven LITTLE meaning nor one individual  with one PC.I get 3-5 calls per week from people who have lost data due to hard drive crash, spilled soda,...well, you know.  Some of these people had the "flash drive backup system" going, but, low and behold, they didn't back up today's critical Excel file, or their software indicated a good backup when it was doing nothing, their dog chewed it up, they 'just forgot', etc.

Now, I almost never hear from my customers with Carbonite, Mozy, Backblaze, etc.  Why?  Because it works.  It doesn't forget, and it fails FAR LESS than traditional backup software does when used by most computer users.  Most computer users need this done for them automatically, in addition to their local backup regimen.

It's common sense; just routine for me and other 'computer GUYS', but most people are not interested in putting this much thought and effort into their computer.  Yes, perhaps this is sad, but it is a fact.

That is the chief reason I recommend automated, off-site backups to my customers.  Then there is the risk of theft, fire, earthquake damage, power spikes/drops, and on, and on.  As well, some of the features that online backup services provide, such as file syncing across computers and handheld devices, file/photo sharing, local backup built-in, Carbonite's new full-system local backups, the ability to setup user permissions, etc., provide additional reasons/benefits.

Finally, you can do this for very little money.  Backblaze and Carbonite will store unlimited data for under $60 per year.

It's not perfect, and it's not for everyone, but I think it's a good idea for most computer users.

My $0.02.805Tech. you made your point.