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Just for fun, take a 9-pound hammer to my PC's hard drive. I won't mind a bit because I know a copy of my data is safe on an external hard drive. I'm backed up to the hilt, but you might not be. Here's my faultless, safe, and automatic backup routine--and why I think it'll work so well for you.

I've tried dozens of backup techniques and devices, and for the last year my method's been simple: daily backups using Maxtor's OneTouch II ($265 online). This 250GB external hard drive links to your PC via USB 1.1, 2.0, or FireWire. It comes with a simple yet powerful version of my favorite backup software, Dantz Retrospect Express. My backups are fast, and I never have to worry about running out of space.

The OneTouch series meets the Bass automation rule: I want the software to make it happen--and don't bother me with the details. That's because my procrastination gene kicks into action if I have to spend time swapping CDs, DVDs, tapes, or cartridges. (I'd do anything instead, even--cover your ears, honey--help my wife fold the laundry.)

Even with the automated backup set for 8 p.m., I often want an extra margin of safety, so I press the button on the OneTouch II while, say, proofing this column. In the background, both of my system's internal hard drives are automatically backed up--no fuss, no muss. And more important, no Bass intervention. The software verifies the backup's integrity; and I can restore anything I need, from a single important file to the whole drive.

If you're on a budget, you can get a 120GB Maxtor OneTouch USB for about $155 (read last May's "The Outsiders: Disks That Do More" by Seán Captain for more on your external-drive options).

External Hazards

External hard drives protect you from the two biggest threats facing home PC users: a failure of your primary hard drive, and accidental deletion of files (something I have never done, of course).

I have to admit, there are two clear advantages to backing up to a CD or DVD: You don't have to worry about a virus or Trojan horse wiping out your data (a real risk for any hard drive), and you're protected from power surges (another real risk, for any peripheral).

I keep my external drive's data safe by updating my antivirus software daily. And to protect the drive from surges, I plug it into APC's $55 Back-UPS ES 500 uninterruptible power supply. If you don't have a UPS, be sure to disconnect the drive's power and data cables between backups, even though it's inconvenient.

Lastly, I built my own external drive for my off-site backup. I just plopped an old 3.5-inch hard drive (it was gathering dust in my garage) into a $43 hard-drive enclosure from ADS Technologies; other enclosures are as cheap as $30.

I removed the enclosure's cover by unscrewing it from the back. Then I attached a flat data cable to the hard drive, keeping the edge with the red stripe facing the power connection. I put the power plug into its connector (it fits only one way, so don't worry about doing it wrong), set the drive into the enclosure, and secured it with the four screws provided. Then I just slid the cover back on, replaced all the screws, plugged the unit in, and connected the USB cable to the enclosure and then to my PC, and I was good to go. The Dantz software differentiates between the Maxtor drive and my homemade one and syncs them. I keep this second drive with my neighbor Harry, and once a week I retrieve it, update the backup, and return the drive to him. That's reassuring.

Hey, it looks like it's time for me to go hit my backup button. I think I see someone holding a hammer.

Contributing Editor Steve Bass is the author of PC Annoyances, published by O'Reilly. Contact him at homeoffice@pcworld.com.