Windows 7: What do you backup

I found alot in the users folder. I also found bookmarks, but they were in a list and I am not sure how to get them to a place to copy them. I use yahoo with firefox. When I reinstall yahoo if need be, wouldn't my emails automatically be there? My flash drive is only 8 gb and my users folder is already 11 gb before bookmarks . So I have to get something else. Do you think this one would be good. I don't want to spend much.
Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex Desk 500GB USB 2.0 Hard Drive STAC500100

good point ignatza..,

this is what we are doing now patty with the skydrive.
( click on the screenshots twice to enlarge them patty!)
when you open the windows live page then along the top you will see different shortcuts hotmail,messenger skydrive and msn.



click the skydrive shortcut and you should see a dropdown it may in your case show a list with "getting started"
then the skydrive page will open, along the top there is a create line of icons including a folder,



click the folder
then the next pane will prompt you to name the folder , call it test or whatever for now you can change it later.
then click next,then click the link to "select documents from your computer", then a window will open for you to navigate to your folders you want to back up I.E. desktop.



to select the files you want for instance if you have a folder for photos on the desktop then click the photos folder then when it opens and you see all your photos then click organise then select all.



then click open ,the photos should start to upload.

then repeat the process for a different folder.
and be sure to have the setting for the folders once uploaded to be only viewed by you ,it should say shared "with:just me" when done correctly

That Seagate should work fine.

Your entire Firefox configuration and bookmarks are located in the Mozilla folder at this location:

C:\Users\yourusername\AppData\Roaming

As you see, it is a subfolder of C:\Users. So if you back up C:\Users and its subfolders, your bookmarks will be part of the backup.

`Is it the one for $69? It does get good reviews, a little more than I wanted to spend though. Any other ideas for a good one but cheaper.

That price is no longer available, it is now $60 or $69. I really would like a cheaper one, but a decent one.

Your directions sound clear, but I am going to give myself a break right now. Too much of this stuff gets overwhelming to me - thats a newbie for you. Hopefully you will be around tomorrow for more help if needed????

Can I just keep using skydrive instead of getting an external hard drive. If my computer crashes or something, I wouldn't be able to access skydrive? What do you think?

If your computer crashes then you couldnt access your externals either, although you could plug them into another computer.

you can access skydrive from any computer, just sign into your "live" account.

personally i would use an external for backups as well as you can get to the folders easily and you can edit them freely,
having several back ups of you most treasured memories cant be a bad thing.
best be covered for all instances

yes im around most evenings, if not you can PM me or leave a message on my homepage,just click my username on any post of mine and select view user profile.
bye for now.

I would not personally rely on Skydrive or any similar application as my only backup. I have a lot of very important stuff that I just can't entrust to a website in the sky that might go out of business or be unavailable for whatever reason.

If your personal data isn't particularly important to you, then Skydrive might suffice.

Keeping backups on an external is more foolproof and is entirely under your own control.

Here is a Western Digital 500 GB external drive for $50 at Newegg, with free shipping:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136466

HELP PLEASE HELP!!!! I know this isn't the right forum, but doing all the above, I lost my expense folder where all my tax info is kept. All I have is shortcuts and it says it cannot find the file. I have no backup. Does anyone know how to get it back? I probably deleted it. OMG