At 03:45 PM 10/3/2011, PICdude wrote: >Not hard drive, but flash drive. > >BTW, as of a couple months ago, I've been shuffling between 3 >computers and data-syncing has been tedious (and one is a netbook in >my car's glove box so don't want to leave any data on it). So I got a >32GB flash drive for my active & personal data and all machines have >apps installed and more static data (datasheets, etc). Worked well >for over a month, until today's failure. And of course it happens >when I miss one backup. I know that we've (the PIClist) had this discussion previously, but I=20 should mention it again: both Dropbox and Sugar Sync work EXTREMELY=20 well for keeping files synchronized between several different machines. Dropbox offers a 2GB account for free, Sugar Sync offers a 5GB=20 account for free. Sugar Sync also costs about half of what Dropbox=20 charges for a yearly account. I use both. My free Dropbox account handles all of my PIC and CAD=20 stuff, as well as all the little miscellaneous stuff that I tend to=20 gather. Sugar Sync (30GB account) has all of my ebooks and magazines=20 (about 20GB so far) as well as my Windows Utils install-files=20 directory (several GB). Shameless plug: use my referral link to sign up and both you and I=20 get extra space for free. This free space is perpetual - it never=20 expires or needs any payment - ever. Dropbox referral link SugarSync referral link One final advantage (for me): both Dropbox and Sugar Sync maintain a=20 complete copy of that data 'in the cloud'. That means that I can=20 access it anywhere I can get an Internet connection. Obviously, I=20 use very strong passwords for those accounts so as to minimize risk=20 of data snooping. I mention this because there are those folks who=20 can not tolerate the risk of a third party holding a copy of sensitive data= .. Neil: you could use one of those services and still keep a copy=20 synchronized to your flash drive. If the drive ever dies like your=20 previous drive did, you would still have access to those files. dwayne --=20 Dwayne Reid Trinity Electronics Systems Ltd Edmonton, AB, CANADA (780) 489-3199 voice (780) 487-6397 fax www.trinity-electronics.com Custom Electronics Design and Manufacturing --=20 http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .