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General discussion

online storage

Apr 29, 2007 8:11AM PDT

This may be the wrong forum, but perhaps someone can help me out.

I use approximately 4 computers on a daily basis, working in different clinics as a medical resident. I like to access files I have created (mostly pdfs, word, excel and powerpoint during the day) and my memory key doesn't work on all computers because of network security issues at the cancer centre I work at.

Is there a way of storing all of my files (I would like at least 4 GB) on a website, that is preferably quite secure so only I can access (and could potentially put patient information on), that isn't too expensive.

I was using a dell pocket pc, but it keeps crashing, and the screen is so small that it seems much easier to just use a website. My gmail account works for the most frequently used word and excel files...though it doesn't have the same functionality, and a can't store pictures, pdfs etc...

Any recommendations would be appreciated. Free would be best, but a small fee is fine by me.

Discussion is locked

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OK
Apr 29, 2007 2:23PM PDT

Is there a way of storing all my files?
-- Yes there is, even 4GB

Can it be secure?
-- Yes it can, via SSL encryption (shared SSL if need be)

Can you only access it?
-- Yes you, or anyone you give access to. Of course, the securest thing is if nobody knows about it, nobody will care about it.

What can you store?
-- Any file of your choice PDF, DOC, etc

Now, what do you need?

You need a webhost (not going to be free, since we are talking about a lot of webspace and we are looking for something secure), we don't necessarily need any type of software to manage your files (we can, if you want to make it searchable), but you could use basic indexing/directoy service... of course password protected and via SSL.

The only other option would be is to use a portable hard drive. Maybe like 12gb or even 30gb. They come in fairly small sizes, and all you have to do is plug it into the PC. Personally, especially with sensitive data, I would go that route. Since you were gonna put it online, which requires a PC, putting it on a portable HD requires a PC also... and that's it.

Let me know if you have any questions.

~Sovereign

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which web host?
Apr 30, 2007 2:18AM PDT

Thanks for the advice.

The memory key, portably hard drive doesn't work well because the hospital I work at won't let me set up my memory key with every computer, for security reasons...however I can access a web page.

Therefore, based on your prior answers, I think a web host would be the best...can you recommend one. No one else but me will visit it, I want it to be simple, and be able to edit the website and files from any computer (don't have to have an editing tool like frontpage installed on the computer).

The website does not have to be fancy, as it will just store all of my files in different categories. The data won't be overly sensitive, but I do want to password it so no once can erase the files, or change them, etc...

Thanks.

Rob

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I see
Apr 30, 2007 9:00AM PDT

Well, without hesitation I would recommend totalchoicehosting.com - I've been with them many years, and they have great support, and it is very SIMPLE to setup what you need, BUT, since you are looking for 4GB of storage, this will be not cheap with them. Just for only 3GB of space it will cost around $26.95, which is a lot.

I did some research, and a good host that meets your needs would be www.hostmonster.com - for $4.95 / mo you get 300GB of space ... yes you read it right, 300GB ... and here are some reviews of hostmonster.com :

* http://www.webhostingdoctor.com/hostmonsterreview.shtml
Rated #1

* http://www.hostmonsterreviews.com/
Only positive reviews, no negative

* http://www.webhost-advisor.com/hostmonster/review.php
Overall score, 95%

* http://www.cheap-web-hosting-info.com/hosting_review.php?id=5
Good reviews as well.

So, I would definitely give them a shot... even if you only try it for one month - it's $5, and as you can read, I think this is just what you want.

PS: You can only get the $4.95 when you click this referral link from another website http://www.top10webhosting.com/click/gomonster.php?ads=review otherwise it will be $5.95.

Give it a shot, and let us know if you need help setting it up.

So, your next steps would be to go buy a domain (I get mine at godaddy.com for $9 a year). Get a webhost, either the one I recommended or any other with the same features. Setup your domains DNS (usually they explain how to do that, come back here if you have questions). Wait until everything is activated. After that, you ready to go.

~Sovereign

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One last thing :)
Apr 30, 2007 9:02AM PDT

When you were talking about your "memory key" I wasn't quite sure what you meant, otherwise I wouldn't have mentioned the external HD. Usually we call it a flash drive, thumb drive, USB drive, memory stick, something like that. I just thought I'd mention that.

~Sovereign