Back up your Pics and Never Lose them Again

Need to back up and restore your pictures? There are many ways to do this. We’re going to show you four ways to backup and restore your data using Windows Live SkyDrive, Flickr, Photobucket, and Picasa.

SkyDrive

Windows Live SkyDrive is a nice and convenient way to backup and restore your system. Many of you may be using Windows Messenger or Hotmail. To use SkyDrive, you will simply use your Windows Live ID in order to get started. Skydrive allows 25GB of free storage, along with photo sharing and editing.  You can also store your files and folders and access them from ANY computer that is web enabled. You can upload content easily with Skydrive’s easy drag and drop option. If you are working on a project with a co-worker, family member, or classmate, you can share files or folders using Windows SkyDrive. To start using SkyDrive, simply sign up for a Windows Live ID, and you’re on your way.

Flickr

Another way to backup and restore your data is using Flickr. Flickr is a video and image hosting website with other web services. It is popular for users that want to embed and share photographs. It is also used by bloggers. Here, bloggers can host images that they want to embed in social media and blogs. To start using the Flickr backup, follow this link and you’ll be given step by step instructions on how to use their services. It’s an easy and convenient service!

Photobucket

Photobucket is another option for backing up and restoring your data. Here are the steps to backup your Photobucket items:

• Go to the Photobucket home page and log in to your account. This will take you to your account page.
• Next you’ll need to create a sub-album by naming it in the text field which is next to “Create a New Sub-Album” This will create an album inside another album. Click on the “Create” tab.
• Now you’ll need to wait for the confirmation. When “Album Added” is displayed, you can view the sub-album whenever you want to.
• Now delete a sub-album. On the main page of your Photobucket account, click on the radio button. This is next to the sub-album you want to delete. Select the “Delete Selected Album” icon. “Album Deleted” will now appear.
• Now you’ll re-name the sub-albums from the main page by choosing the radio button next to the sub-album that you desire to re-name by clicking “Re-name Selected Album”
• Now you can rename the album by clicking “Re-name”. A confirmation will now appear “Album Re-named”, and the new file name will appear.
• On the main page , find the video or image you want moved and click “Move”
• Select the album that you want to move the file to. You will get a drop-down box with a list of choices. Click on “Move”. You will now get a message “Files Moved”
• Before deleting any videos or images, you’ll need to make a backup file. Photobucket cannot retrieve images that have been deleted, so you need to make a copy and save it in another location.
• If you want to manage files that you don’t want, go to your account’s main page. A link will appear for thumbnail images – “Delete”. Click on this link, then OK. A confirmation will appear “File Deleted”

Picasa

If you want to use Picasa to backup and restore files, Picasa offers many options for you to back up your edits, photos, and albums. They can be backed up using a DVD or CD. They can also be uploaded to a different drive or to upload them at their full resolution, using the Picasa Web Albums. Here you’ll get one GB of storage at no charge. If you have a large collection, using an alternative drive may be the way to go. Follow these easy instructions to back up your videos or photos to an alternate drive:

·    First, you’ll need to connect to the alternative drive on your PC.

·    In Picasa, click on Tools, then Backup Pictures

·    You can either create a new backup or use an existing one that you’ve already created. The backup will record what type of backup (Alternative drive or DVD/CD). It will also make a record of the backup files.

These are the steps for a new backup set:

·         Click on the “New Set” icon in order to create a new backup set for your albums and folders. For first time Picasa users, select this option.

·          Now enter a backup set name

·         From the “Backup Type” area, choose “Disk-to-disk backup”. Click on the “Choose” icon, and then locate your drive. Select OK

·         Now you’ll need to specify what type of files that will be included in your backup.

·         Select the “Create” icon

These are the instructions for an existing set:

·     From the “Backup Set” drop-down box, choose your backup set that has been already made. This will let you update any sets with changes made since the last time you did a backup.

·     Select the “Edit Set” icon in order to make any changes to your set since the last backup.

·     Next to any album or folder that you want to back up, choose the check box(s) from the “Folder List”. Only the albums and folders you select will be backed up. If you want to back up all albums and folders, click on the “Select All” icon

·     Now click on the “Backup” icon, and the process is underway!

For those of you who need to save and backup crucial files, especially pictures, these are four great solutions for you. By using Windows Live SkyDrive, Flickr, Photobucket, or Picasa, you’ll have your information backed up in no time!