Where to store backup??

Just now poking my head out of Hell... starting fresh after a complete (apparently self-induced) hard drive scramble.
I'm determined to be Mr. Backup from now on, but I'm not sure how to save this amount of data.
With the system packing the bare bones stuff it came in just under 700MB and I got it on a CD. If anything else is added I'm out of luck.
To me bare bones is fully operational; good to go with basically everything that came on this old bird (circa 1999) except the totally useless crap like encyclopedias, dozens of AT&T, Compuserve (yup!), etc bells and whistles, trials/demos of 'bundled' stuff.
Am I fortunate to be able to get all of what I consider absolutely necessary to get going on one CD?
If I do a total backup once a week as per recommendation, I'll be trying to pack in major gigs within a month. Is there anything that can hold 10-20 gigabytes or more...and be practical for someone who still has a six year old computer (translated: no bucks to spare)?
I'm thinking, use what I have to recover from the next disaster and be diligent in separately backing up the other important but non-critical data until the bunker gets full of CDs.
I'd appreciate your ideas on how to backup the most stuff with the least hassle.

 

what is the capacity of your hard drive?

the easiest way to keep data safe is to have a separate partition (or a completely different hard drive) for storing important data.

I usually make my Windows partition a small portion of the hard drive, and keep all my important things on a separate partition. This way, if i need to reformat my windows partition, all of the important data is preserved.

 

Thanks for the reply. Sorry for the delay in getting back.
I have a 12GB hard drive.
I'm not very computer savvy and every task is a major challenge and a chore that takes 100 times more effort (and aggravation) than is necessary. That's why I rely on the Geeks!
I've read a little on partitioning, and have concluded that I don't understand it and would probably screw something up...again.
My first plan was to get a huge external hard drive and simply do a Backup to it regularly. Problem encountered: existing computer is USB 1.0 and, regardless of claims, USB 1.1 and 2.0 will not be recognized. I can't find a true USB 1.0 external hard drive. For me, if this option were available, it would be the best as it fits the K.I.S.S. requirement.
Internal hard drive is out due to the abovementioned technically-challenged problem.
Anyway, thanks for taking the time to help.

 

12gb harddisk is not enough.
Cheapest thing would be to use a cd writer.
Use an internal harddisk as usb 1.0 is too slow.

 

Best options I have found is to install a second hard drive (I prefer internal). My laptop has a swoppable second hard drive, very handy. Next step is to use a full backup program that backs up the entire hard drive and/or a cumulative backup program like

Karen's Replicator 2.2.3 http://www.majorgeeks.com/download3917.html

or

Karen's Replicator http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=3917

Not sure which is the current link. It is free and on MG.

I use a paid ($$$) full backup program and Karen's backup program on alternative weeks. I keep the past 2 full backup programs only (deleting any more than 2) and the cumulative backup on separate drives. Belt and braces approach, I guess but it works for me. Bazza

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Thanks for more info!
kadavill -
I know, now. When I bought it 12GB was HUGE.
I have a writer (burner?), but the CDs I have only hold 700MB. Don't know how to do seamless copying/retrieval from several CDs.
USB 1.0 is the best I can do.

bigbazza -
A second hard drive is the answer I think, but as previously discussed, there are some snags.
I used the "Backup" tool in Windows and it looked like it captured everything. My concern is if it will be possible for me to figure out how to recover it when the time comes. I'll keep your suggestion re: Karen's in mind if I find a way to store the backup.
I'm with you 100% on overkilling the backups.
(Belts and braces...Braces are U.S."suspenders", right?)

Thanks again, "Geeks".

 

Yep, you're right OZ belt and braces = USA Belt and suspenders.

Wish you lot would speak English. Bazza

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(Belts and braces...Braces are U.S."suspenders", right?)

 

Wetrat, if you have a CD Writer and a decent backup program you shouldn't have any problems.

If it fills the first CDR up it will just tell you to insert another and label it and so on.

When it comes time to use the backup, you just start with the first disc, then insert the second when it tells you to and so on.

The only hassle in this system is that if you have a lot to backup then it can span quite a few CDR's, however in your case that is not really an issue.

 

Insomniac -
Really sorry for the belated thanks.
I'm going to try it using the writer I already have.
I hope it works like you say.
I'll try both ways; using "Backup" and with the aftermarket software, to see which is more forgiving of my 'novice-nis'.
Thanks again!