I am a Software Professional and I agree with Wayne's post. It is always better to have multiple methods in place. I back up to multiple computers because I can. There are some inexpensive software packages that can "sync" files between multiple sources and I prefer that to some backup software. I just recommended to a friend that if you don't have access to a network that one of the most practical ideas today is a USB drive, attached to your computer...but I believe in multiple backups. As to the article about tape backup. I have a small business and have had several tape backup devices over the years, none of them cheap and the biggest problem is the hardware goes bad, and then you can't retrieve what's on those tapes (and when I say can't I mean without big expense or heartache). Software that operates these devices change and it takes a lot of time and brain work to sort it all out. It's just not practical for a small user to justify the expense or headache. I always buy name brand media (CD's, DVD's, etc.) and I have CD's that have lasted well beyond what that article says. Like 6 years...but I don't rely on them as the only source of the data. More is better, Debbie DeHart To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html