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Q: I ran across an article by you concerning the use of USB connected hard drives for backups, etc. This was to ensure your files were stored in a safe place in case the PC hard drive failed. Are these external drives less prone to failure, and would it be better to back files up on a CD? Would you suggest a combination of both?
Jim Cook
A: Both CDs and hard disks will eventually fail. So, yes, using a combination of the two -- especially for your most critical information -- would be smart. For data that really is mission critical, the best of all worlds would be to use an online backup service, which would store your data away from your PC. I like this service:
Carbonite.
As far as external hard disks, they are mechanical devices that will eventually stop working. One study, made by Google in 2007 looking at the life span of its own hard disks, found that one in 14 drives older than two years failed during any given year.
CD failure rates are all over the board, and scratches, extreme heat and exposure to strong sunlight can hasten the process. In a perfect world, a CD-RW will last about 30 years, according to one study. But if you Google you'll find wide variance in predicted life span.
No backup system is perfect. But even an imperfect system puts you miles ahead of folks who don't make backups at all.
Q: I have been getting my print cartridges refilled for my Canon printer, which is 10-12 years old. A friend said she began having trouble with her printer and was told it was because she was using refilled cartridges. True, or not?
Barbara Byrd
A: Well, first, it's rare for an ink jet printer to last that long anyway. Believe me, if refilled cartridges were hurting the printer it would be dead by now. Many that use regular cartridges don't last that long.
So my message? Don't worry. And if the printer does stop working my guess is the cause would be old age, not refilled cartridges.
Send questions to Bill Husted at tecbud@bellsouth.net.
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