External SSD vs HDD for backups: capacity, speed and portability
Compare external SSDs and HDDs for backups by capacity, transfer time, portability and connection speed, then check a restore before relying on your purchase.
Read guide →Backups, synchronization and file sharing
Synchronization brings locations toward the same state; sharing grants access to another person. Understand where deletions and overwrites propagate, and consider a separate way to restore earlier data.
Before choosing a task
- Decide where to store data and who needs access, including whether cloud upload is necessary.
- Check deletion propagation for sync, and viewing/editing permissions and revocation for sharing.
- Open transferred files at the destination and test whether required documents remain available offline.
Compare the options
NAS vs cloud backup: costs, recovery time and maintenance
Compare NAS and cloud backup costs, recovery time and maintenance. Distinguish PC backup from NAS backup services and test recovery before moving all your data.
Read guide →Bitwarden Free vs Premium: sync, authentication codes and emergency access
Compare Bitwarden Free and Premium for device sync, integrated verification codes, attachments and emergency access, including billing and recovery setup checks.
Read guide →OneDrive vs Backblaze: Which Do You Need for PC Backup?
Compare OneDrive and Backblaze for Windows file protection, including backup exclusions, recovery history, subscription choices, and a practical restore test.
Read guide →CMR vs. SMR Hard Drives: Tell Them Apart by Model Number for NAS, RAID and Backup
Understand CMR versus SMR using Western Digital and Seagate documentation: WD Red (SMR) and WD Red Plus (CMR) model numbers, Seagate's recording-technology list, why SMR struggles in RAID rebuilds, which type fits each use, and how to verify the model number before ordering.
Read guide →Choosing a FIDO2 security key: what the certification level means, and the combinations the OS already rules out
What have L1 and L2 on a security key's product page actually been assessed against, and who decides that NFC or BLE is unavailable on a given OS? Read from the FIDO Alliance and Microsoft. Before buying, the combination matters more than the key's own specification.
Read guide →Sync vs Backup: Recovering from Accidental Deletion
Is syncing enough for a backup? Compare mirrored changes with recoverable past copies, and plan how to restore files after an accidental deletion.
Read guide →OneDrive vs Google Drive: Choosing the Right Workflow
OneDrive or Google Drive? Compare Office and Google document workflows, sharing and local file access to choose the service that fits how you work.
Read guide →Obsidian vs Joplin: Data Storage, Sync, and Encryption
Obsidian or Joplin? Compare local note storage, sync, encryption and export to decide which approach fits your Markdown and research workflow.
Read guide →Bitwarden vs KeePassXC: Sync and Storage Responsibility
Bitwarden or KeePassXC? Compare synced vaults with managing a KDBX file yourself, including device access and responsibility for backups and storage.
Read guide →IMAP vs POP3: Multiple Devices, Server Storage, and Backup
IMAP or POP? Compare multi-device access, read status, server storage and local downloads, including the consequences for deletion and email backups.
Read guide →Google Drive Streaming vs Mirroring: Storage and Offline Access
Google Drive streaming or mirroring? Compare disk use, offline access and where copies are kept, then choose the sync mode that fits your PC and workflow.
Read guide →Choose an app
LocalSend: Transfer Files Between Devices on the Same LAN
Send files between a phone and PC with LocalSend on the same LAN. Check the recipient and transfer results without first uploading files to cloud storage.
Read guide →Syncthing: Sync a Folder Directly Between Two Devices
Sync a folder directly between two devices with Syncthing. Check Device IDs, folder sharing and sync results, plus how to stop sharing when needed.
Read guide →FreeFileSync: Compare Folders and Create a Mirror Backup
Choose between mirror, update and two-way sync in FreeFileSync. Review folder differences and planned actions before running a backup or synchronization job.
Read guide →Transfer files to SFTP server with WinSCP
Upload files over SFTP with WinSCP. Check the connection and host key, choose the remote folder and verify the transfer before closing the session.
Read guide →Share files between Android and PC with KDE Connect
Share files between Android and Windows with KDE Connect. Install both apps, verify pairing and the recipient, then test a transfer and learn how to disconnect.
Read guide →Follow the steps
The recovery drive to make on day one: what it holds, what it does not, and which USB stick to use
A recovery drive contains no personal files, works on the device it was made for, and is recommended to be recreated every year. From Microsoft's own pages: what to know before making one, the one checkbox that matters, how it differs from Reset this PC, and what else you will need on the day the PC will not start.
Read guide →Check which folders OneDrive is holding, and the two choices when you stop
Once Desktop and Documents come under OneDrive, both where files live and how free space looks change. Where to see which folders are covered, the difference between keeping files only in OneDrive and only on the PC, and the warning that appears when cloud-only files are in the way.
Read guide →Windows 11: Share Files Between Nearby PCs
Transfer a file between Windows PCs with Nearby sharing. Set the sharing scope, choose the recipient and verify the received file in its destination folder.
Read guide →Windows 11: Sync Settings and Folders with Windows Backup
Back up Windows settings and folders. Check the Microsoft account and selected items, then confirm backup status and the corresponding files in OneDrive.
Read guide →Back Up Files with Windows 11 File History and Test a Restore
Set up Windows 11 File History on an external drive, check folder coverage and saved versions, then test restoring files without overwriting current work.
Read guide →Move Files to a New Windows PC with an External Drive
Move documents and photos to a new Windows PC using an external drive. Check cloud files, copy conflicts and readable results before retiring the old PC.
Read guide →Copy Large Folders with Robocopy: Preview, Resume and Check Results
Copy folders with Robocopy using restartable mode and no deletion flags. Preview with /L, retain a log, interpret exit codes and verify the copied files.
Read guide →Restore an Earlier OneDrive File Version Without Losing Track of Current Work
Restore an overwritten OneDrive file using version history. Preserve a current copy, review the earlier version and check the restored file after syncing.
Read guide →Sync bookmarks between devices with Firefox Sync
Sync Firefox bookmarks between devices. Sign in with a Mozilla account, choose what to sync and check the results before relying on another device.
Read guide →Create a OneDrive sharing link: permissions and expiration
Create a OneDrive sharing link with the right access. Check recipients, viewing or editing permissions and available expiry settings before sending it.
Read guide →Use Google Drive files offline
Prepare Google Drive files for offline use. Select the Docs, Sheets or Slides files you need and test access without a connection before going offline.
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