IT Question: How to Back-Up 3 Computers

[TheExpertish]

Hey guys,

I have a brand new imation D200 2T external hard drive and I need to finally backup/transfer all my old old stuff from 3 different computers all running different OS versions. My main computers now is my HP Pavilion dv6 which I need to back up videos and pictures which runs Windows 7. I also have my two old desktops that I need to get pictures and music off of. One runs XP and the other is 2000NT. How do I go about this and in what order?

[Rivers]

Partition the backup destination drive and use a dedicated partition for each computer. Unless it's a networked drive (NAS), you'll have to connect it to each computer for a backup session.

[rspar]

Or use a clickfree drive or transformer hook to a usb port and it backups then if not networked you move to the next it knows it's on a different computer.

[BigFatGuy]

all the major networking companies (Dlink, Cisco, Netgear, etc..) make devices that connect to your home network, to which you install a large hard drive for backup purposes.

Then use the software AllwaySync (freeware) to do scheduled backups.

USB drives don't work for backup, because you will start to get lazy eventually, and THAT is when your computer will die. (ask me how I know...)

[E81]

Make a folder of everything you want to back up. Make sure you label them good. Sub folder should also follow some type of naming convention. When your done organizing that then you can just drag the back up folder to your external hard drive. Order of pc doesn't matter.

I would sign up for an online back up service. That way you can back up automatically and access the data from anywhere.

[Akers]

Onsite or offsite and how far back do you want to be able to restore from?

Also, system state backup/restore or file level only?