Disconnecting drive might not be enough to save files

Q: In a recent column you warned that an external drive connected to a computer could be damaged if the computer suffers a power surge. But I need to leave my external drive connected because I use it a lot.

What if I simply copy the important data from my connected drive to my external hard drive (the one that I use only for backup), then disconnect?

Other than the time it would take and using a lot of space, is there any reason not to do this?

— Bob Knudson

A: Yes, if you back up to your external drive and then disconnect it, you'll remove the risk that a power surge could wipe out both your computer and the external drive.

But, so long as the external drive is stored in the same location, it shares certain risks with your computer. If there's a flood or a fire, both your computer and the external drive are likely to be damaged or destroyed.

The key issue is this: Just how important is your data?

I'll be honest. I back up to a connected external hard drive. If my computer crashes, there is a very slight possibility that it may also fry the external hard drive. If, however, there's a flood or a fire in my office there's a very good chance that my external hard drive will be destroyed.

So I carry a USB flash drive that has copies of files that I really care about. (Because my office is in my home there's always the chance that if there's a fire I may run out without my pants, in which case, my data is ... well ... toasted.)

If your data is pretty important and you want a hassle-free way to ensure its safety, I'd suggest looking into an online storage option. Expect to pay at least $5 per month for 5 gigabytes of storage space. Be aware that some of the very low-cost services don't encrypt your data so it's not as secure as higher-cost services.

Q: I'm running Windows 98SE as a guest system under a host running Windows Vista. Microsoft Virtual PC is a valued capability for a user like me, with favorite old MS-DOS based applications, old software compatible only with early Windows, and the need to program and run Basic and Fortran programs.

The guest W98SE system recognizes the computer's DVD/CD-ROM drive, the printer, and, of course, the monitor.

However, it does not recognize the external CD burner or the card reader. The search under "Add New Hardware" does not find these. The host computer can use all of these normally.

I can find no way to get the guest OS to recognize these components, both of which worked as peripherals connected to my old Windows 98 computer.

— Elliott W. Brogren, Bellevue

A: What version of Vista are you running? Virtual PC is fully compatible only with the Ultimate, Enterprise and Business editions of Windows Vista.

Q: I have an older computer that runs Windows 98. I periodically download the recommended Windows security updates from the Microsoft update Web site.

Some time ago, it would appear that one of the updates added a task to the Task Scheduler to automatically go to the Windows Update Web site and find updates for downloading.

The problem is, this ties up my computer so that nothing can be done until the Web site is connected to and the latest updates found. The hourglass icon appears almost continuously, and the computer cannot be used. As a result, it can take a long time after startup before my computer can be used.

I always delete the task from the scheduler in the hopes that it will not be there next time I start the computer, but the task is always there next time I start my computer.

Do you have any suggestions on how to permanently delete the task, short of having to reload my operating system?

— Keith Amy

A: This one took a bit of tracking down.

Microsoft says what you're running into can happen if you've installed the Critical Update Notification from the Windows 98 Update site.

Try this: Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. Next, double-click Add/Remove Programs. On the Install/Uninstall tab, click Microsoft Windows Critical Update Notification, and then click Add/Remove.

Next, follow the instructions on your screen to remove Windows Critical Update Notification. After that, double-click the Task Scheduler icon on the taskbar. In the list of scheduled tasks, right-click Critical Windows Update, and then click Delete. On the Advanced menu, click Stop Using Task Scheduler.

Finally, quit Task Scheduler, and then restart your computer.

Questions for Patrick Marshall may be sent by e-mail to pmarshall@seattletimes.com or pgmarshall@pgmarshall.net, or by mail at Q&A/Technology, The Seattle Times, P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111. More columns at www.seattletimes.com/columnists.