How to back up

I would like to know the easiest way to back up my "data". I have a CDRW on computer. Can a backup to a CD be done? I have put some stuff on floppy disk in past & am always reading about the need to back-up. I do not have any business stuff on PC --just my mail & favorites & so on.
Just finished an article on this from Tech TV & am more confused than ever.
Thanks

 

You can backup to a CD, but it would be a big help if you specified something about your configuration. How much data in how many partitions would be a start. There are 100's of backup utilities that write to CD-R/RW drives.

 

I don't understand what you mean by"how much data in how many partitions". I will be happy to tell you- but don't know.
I'm not a very advanced user--have read of people getting in over their head with Nortons "Ghost" and other programs. I would like the least problematic method to back up the most data.

 

Which is precisely why I ask how much data you intend to backup! As I mentioned, there are literally 100's of solutions to the problem, the correct one is going to depend on the exact nature of your "problem".

 

Well, as I said , I don't understand about partitions.

I would like to back up my programs , e-mail, favorites as much as I can. I have backed up e-mail attachments with floppy disks but this was not very efficient. I would like to back up as much of the hard drive as I can--may have to get help as I did when changing from old computer. I still don't have all of the stuff from my old computer as I had to re-download a lot of the programs & silly stuff for the grandkids.
Will I have to purchase a program for this or can it be done to a CD? Is it do-able for anyone who is not advanced?
Thanks