Backup or Save data?

OK, I am going to ask a daft question now.
I have a 3 drives on my PC
C: I use for Windows and Installed software etc
D: I use purely for data which is mainly photo's and video plus some other bits and bobs
L: I use as a further backup for D: when I say backup I mean all files copied across.

I also have an external drive which gets another copy of the data

I do not use Backup I just copy the data, I have in the past used backup software or windows backup.

So am I running any unnecessary risks? If C: was to go down then I can just re-install windows and software I guess and I suppose I will have hassle finding the drivers and such. So I suppose being able to restore will save this problem, what else am I not getting?

There is nothing wrong with your plan. However, you could improve things in terms of the space required if you use either backup software or some sort of zip process, both of which will compress the stored files in order to save space. Another advantage of this would be that all of the backed up files would be packaged up in a single container - very convenient for copying the whole lot to yet another location if you want.

Your method is actually less risky than if you use backup software, because the entire backup set is in standard Windows file format, which means that you can just copy items directly out of it; there is no risk of losing the files because you don't have the proprietary backup software which is needed to extract items out of the archive.

Risk is reduced when you keep multiple copies, not when you use a particular backup software, because the danger is that a drive will fail; so the more copies you have spread around in multiple locations, the more likely it will be you will always be able to recover your files.

As for your Windows drive, I suggest that you do an occasional backup of your Windows drive, because it is always easier to recover if you have a good backup than if you don't.

I agree with Roland about unplugging your external drive except when it is needed - that's the only real concern I have about your current way of doing things.

Thanks guys, the external is never left connected except when use but I admit that was not with security in mind, but I shall make sure it remains this way.
I will take a look at OS backups :)

The other option is to use free google photos google drive or ms one drive google photos is unlimited so you can have 1,000

samuria said:

The other option is to use free google photos google drive or ms one drive google photos is unlimited so you can have 1,000

Good idea I shall take a look thanks

Lady Fitzgerald said:

For OS and program backups, consider using imaging. Macrium Reflect Free is an excellent program for imaging.

For backing up your data, I suggest using FreeFileSync.

I used to own Macrium Reflect a few years ago, the pay version but never really used it as i should. perhaps I will look again.

What do you consider the advantage of backing up data rather than just copying the files elesewhere? Space saving? What worries me if compressed by software that i will not be able to recover it at some point when needed.

I worked for ICI and they backed up but later they wanted to recover the data only to find the software that backed it up had gone and new version was different and couldnt recover old backup that is the danger and often happens