One of the NaNoers in my regional forum suffered a computer failure, and it reminded me I should share this with everyone else. Dropbox is your friend. An automated file synchronization service to the web and any other computers you may have. I'll post this in the tech forum, too. Here's an invite. https://www.getdropbox.com/referrals/NTQ4NzE4OQ I live by this thing having my files synchronized effortlessly across my laptop, netbook, the web, and even my usb drive (a different, portable version, but you'll have to download it separately). Please, check it out. You'll be glad you did.
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53,387 / 50,000
Nov 3, 2009 - 20 54
I just recently discovered this, and set it up on my laptop.
And was thoroughly thrilled to find that I no longer have to email files from my desktop to my laptop . AWESOMESAUCE.
Perfect for backing up novels.
----------Heather Dudley
Forums Moderator
Liquid Story Binder, on sale for 50% off during November!
A Dragon Writes
47,524 / 50,000
Nov 3, 2009 - 21 08
FYI: Be sure that you zip up your file first if you are using any sort of software that is actually a package of files (i.e. Scrivener, ywriter, LSB). One .doc or one .pdf is not considered a package. If there is a glitch during your upload (i.e. power fluctuation), unzipped files can and DO become corrupted. There are threads on this very issue on the support sites of the software mentioned above. If you zip it... no corruption!
Apollo16
41,287 / 50,000
Nov 4, 2009 - 20 55
Also recently discovered this- it's amazing! No need to worry about back-ups any more (although I'm still saving separate copies on three different computers and a flash drive, because I'm paranoid like that! ^_^), and no need to transfer files (e-mail, flash drives, etc.) any more! It's such a great thing. Wish I would have discovered it sooner. It's perfect for NaNo! I can even log in online, so it doesn't even need to be installed on the computer I use (which means I can write at the library, at school, on a friend's computer...).
----------2008 - The Portal - won!
2009 - Run This City - 17,306/50,000
Guns pointed: 11
Criminals met: 7
Supernaturals encountered: 14
Injuries incurred: 2
115,000 / 50,000
Nov 4, 2009 - 22 18
Another amazing feature of Dropbox is that you can recover older versions of files, so if a file were to become corrupted, you'd only lose a little bit of work instead of everything.
----------~o~
If live gives you lemons, make orange juice. Let the rest of the world wonder how the #$%# you managed it.
Si la vida te da limones, has jugo de naranja y deja que el resto del mundo se pregunte cómo carajos lo lograste.
52,226 / 50,000
Nov 11, 2009 - 00 51
Just an update for everyone. Dropbox has switched from getdropbox.com to just plain dropbox.com. The current link should continue to work for awhile and automatically redirect, but the site is having trouble with the new domain name. Turns out the previous owners of the domain used to distribute some malware, and both Google and Firefox are flagging it as an attack site---which it very much is not. I've emailed the guys at dropbox and they're working with Google to fix the problem as quickly as possible. You can just disable the messages you get, but if you're still worried about them, just give it a couple of days and it should be back to normal.
When I next get a chance, I'm going to post a link to the portable version of dropbox, which will automatically sync your flash drive with your dropbox account, creating an instant backup that can be used on any computer, and, when used in conjunction with some other nifty portable applications, will allow you to have an entire word processor with your document on your flash drive.
----------30,141 / 50,000
Nov 12, 2009 - 17 14
DropBox is one of the greatest services ever. I use Windows/Mac/Linux computers and DropBox allows me to keep all of my documents synced across multiple computers (and backed up to the cloud).
When I need to upload something particularly sensitive (personal data) I put the files into a TrueCrypt encrypted volume.
DropBox is pretty great. I share some of my folders with another DropBox using friend. It makes it a snap for us to send files back and forth. Fantastic.
Tim
43,280 / 50,000
Nov 13, 2009 - 15 28
I discovered dropbox last weekend and friggin' love it. It's so fast and easy to back up my novel. Brilliant idea.
----------Imagination is the one weapon in the war against reality