In case you missed it, back in August 2023, Google Drive stopped supporting Windows 32-bit operating systems, Windows 8/8.1, and Windows Server. Those who want to use Google Drive must upgrade their Windows computer to Windows 10 (64-bit) or higher. (more)
"We are writing to inform you that the Takeout Transfer Your Content tool, which allows students and staff to transfer Drive and Gmail files to another Google account, will no longer support shared-with-me file exports. The change will begin rolling out starting early 2024. . .Users can transfer copies of documents and folders they own in My Drive." (more)
Google Drive users are reporting files mysteriously disappearing from the service, with some netizens on the goliath's support forums claiming six or more months of work have unceremoniously vanished. The issue has been rumbling for a few days, with one user logging into Google Drive and finding things as they were in May 2023. According to the poster, almost everything saved since then has gone, and attempts at recovery failed. (more)
Google has confirmed that the issue is specifically related to the Google Drive for Desktop application. (more)
We’re investigating reports of an issue impacting a limited subset of Drive for desktop users and will follow up with more updates. In the meantime:
Do not click “Disconnect account” within Drive for desktop
Do not delete or move the app data folder:
Windows: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Google\DriveFS
macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Google/DriveFS
Optional: If you have room on your hard drive, we recommend making a copy of the app data folder. (more)
Add hashtags (#Mtg) to Folder/File titles
Make a list of hashtags and link them so you can find them later (#Mtg)
Keep folder organization simple (e.g. year, one or two levels of subfolders
Avoid leaving loose files/documents at the root level of your Google Drive. Start with the end in mind, putting stuff where it needs to go from the start.
Avoid using document starters shortcuts like:
docs.google.com
slides.google.com
sheets.google.com
Start with drive.google.com when creating a folder to house a new project's files.
I know how to start with Google Drive when logging in.
I am familiar with search and location options.
I can navigate to the Settings and understand what each means.
I am aware of how to upload documents for conversion.
I know how to use the File Manager to create files and folders, and copy files between folders.
I know how to organize files, including adding colored folders and tags.
I know the difference between grid and list view.
I understand how to share folders and files with others, both in and out of my organization (a.k.a. domain).
Substitute less effective practices with those that have more evidence and probability of impact
Replace more expensive interventions with less expensive and equally effective solutions
Streamline practices that have become over-designed
Scale down use of a still needed process with less frequent use or being more selective about who gets to use it
Stop doing things that cause unnecessary stress and that give us time to do other things better.
Saving all your critical files in one place ("putting all your eggs in a basket"),
Trying to remember which files to backup to USB drive you keep in your bag (what if it gets lost or fails?)
Your data backups are not secured or encrypted. There may be confidential data caught up in your backup
Continue to backup your important files.
Make several folders on your desktop that reflect the importance of data saved:
Make a "Keep" folder for your most critical files you need to backup
Make a "Secure" folder where you safeguard critical information
Make an "Extras" folder where you put everything that is NOT critical or requires security. This should be the largest of your folders, like downloaded software and forms go that you may only need once or twice. It's OK to lose these.
Reduce the number of files you back up to your USB drive
Only backup your Keep and Secure folders
Make several folders on your desktop that reflect the importance of data saved:
Make a "Keep" folder for your most critical files you need to backup
Make a "Secure" folder where you safeguard critical information
Make a "Extras" folder where you put everything that is NOT critical or requires security. This should be the largest of your folders, like downloaded software and forms go you may only need once or twice. It's OK to lose these.
How You Select Files to Backup. Use a free tool like Free Commander and/or MuCommander. Free Commander, for example, includes a synchronization (sync) tool. This makes it easy to backup only the files that have changed in a folder.
Save a Step Encrypting Your Files. Tools like Cobian Backup/Cobian Reflector and Duplicati allow you to make your backups encrypted, so they are secure.
Automate Synchronized Backups. Backup your Keep and Secure folders using a backup utility like FreeFileSync or AllWay Sync.
Your episodic backup efforts that may or may not happen depending on how busy you are, how much will power you have to expend to decide what to save or not.
Substitute your effort with Google's Drive for Desktop or other tools that allow for cloud storage (e.g. Duplicati) or copying data to another open computer (e.g. SyncThing).
Put Your Keep, Secure, and if you like, Extras folders inside of a single "Data" folder. That "Data" folder should be inside of a "special folder" that is synchronized to USB external drive or Google Drive.
School educator? Use Google Drive for Desktop (or Microsoft OneDrive) to ensure your work data is backed up to the cloud.
Educator with personal data? Use Google's Drive for Desktop (a.k.a. Backup and Sync) to backup your data to your personal Google account Drive.
Educator who doesn't trust the cloud? Use a solution like Duplicati to back up to secure cloud storage or external USB drive in encrypted format. Make sure you backup to more than one medium at different locations
Google Workspace for Education. This is your organization's Google, not your personal account. As a result, you should use Google's Drive for Desktop (f.k.a. File Stream) solution.
Google's Drive for Desktop for Google Workspace. Instead of saving files on your computer (and taking up precious space), all files are in the cloud. When you save files to File Stream, they don’t stay on your computer. Instead, they get moved to Google Drive in the cloud. But File Stream makes accessing them a matter of a double-clicking to open.
Google's Drive for Desktop for Personal Google Accounts (f.k.a. Backup and Sync). Files stored locally on your computer are automatically backed up to your Google Drive account. They take up space on your device, as well as in the cloud. Make sure you have enough space online. You may have to pay for more storage; see plans and prices.
Google Photos
Archive Images (e.g. memes, cat pics)
You can see I have quite a bit of usage going on in Google Photos...probably due to that 50th Anniversary Celebration I took about 1000 pictures and captured video for to share with the party.
You probably do NOT have a storage issue with 100 TB plus 20 GB for each paid license (Education Plus) and possibly 100 GB for each paid license (Teaching and Learning Upgrade).
Backup files with Google Takeout, Google Takeout Transfer, CloudHQ, or MultCloud. Learn how.
Will you switch from whatever you are doing now to a new backup solution?
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