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When you get a new computer, don't forget to also get a new external HD for your Time Machine or Windows Backups. Your data is the most important part of your computer and the life span of a HD used for backup is the same as the life of your computer. So if you replace the computer, replace the backup drive as well. Alternatively, users should also be using Dropbox to store their files, and also consider using Code42's Crashplan Cloud backup solution available from IS&T to help save guard their data.
Be aware that external backups are pretty fast but they still require time to run. Do not shut down your computer or interrupt the backups until they are done. The more frequently you run your backups, the faster each backup cycle will be.
For Internet backup solutions like Crashplan, be aware that this solution only works as well as the speed and stability of your Internet connection. If the machine using Crashplan is always at MIT, then the performance should be pretty stable. But because most of our users take their machines home with them, variability in the speed and stability of home internet access can delay a complete backup of files with Crashplan.