Going online to save data safely.(Personal Computing)(Column)

I'm a compulsive saver. I save backup copies of all important computer documents I'm working on, and backups of my backups.

As I'm working, I frequently hit the Ctrl-S keys to save my current document to the hard disk. Somewhat less frequently, I periodically save a backup copy to a floppy disk, provided the file is small enough to fit on it, which it usually is. Somewhat less frequently, I periodically save a copy through the Internet to an offsite backup disk. And somewhat less frequently than this, I make a complete backup of all the documents on the hard drive of my primary work computer to a writable DVD disc.

I've never lost a document, despite making the not-so-uncommon but no-less-brain-dead …