. . . . Usually a little later, following the Holidays, I remind myself and you, to back up your photo image files and clean up your HDD's. If you have only an internal Hard Disk Drive, you'll need to back up your image files, photos that is, to CD's or DVD's depending on the room needed. But remember these have a lifetime so doing this once a year keeps the lifespan worry a minor concern. But forget it for a couple of years and you're likely to forget it more and more often. Do it annually at the very least. I backup my image files every time I make a change to any photo. I keep an external hdd right next to my desktop, unplugged and turned off, then I go through the motions and disconnect and shuut down. I don't like running the risk that it could fail while connected so this ensures that the lifespan is extended. Yes I know there are no guarantees. I also take a hdd to work for safe-keeping as an additional safeguard against fire & theft, F/T
