What's the best way to keep computer files automatically updated between hard drives (read details)?

I think you just realized that you have 2 different needs: 1- you have a set of files that you want backed up "immediately" and always kept current, and 2- you want a (possibly different) set of files archived so that you can go back to an earlier version. I think you have 2 options: either treat these as separate functions and set up 2 different back-up procedures, or go with a single backup app that creates "versions" of files whenever they change. The problem with the "versions" approach is that it is really hard to easily restore a set of folders or an entire drive without also getting all the old versions of the files you worked with.

If I were you, I would set up a nightly backup (or another convenient schedule, e.g. weekly) that keeps a current copy of what you want backed up, and then I would set up a 2nd backup that backs a file up immediately whenever it gets changed. That way, you always have a current copy AND you have the older copy from the previous scheduled backup. Obviously, the destination folder trees for the 2 different backups would be different.

I've done both approaches myself in the past, although for my own needs, I've settled on the nightly differential backup approach. There are a lot of back up programs that will do this. I use a free one called Cobian. It sits in the tray all the time, but kicks in according to the schedule you set up. I like Cobian because it retains the original file names and doesn't stick the backed up files in an archive, unlike some programs. That's just my personal preference.

For the continuous back ups, in the past I used a free program called AutoVer. In fact, my wife still uses it. I quit using it only because I decided I didn't want to back up my files right away, and sometimes it would back up files while I was still creating them. I'm sure there are a lot of other apps that will perform the same function.

Ghosting is a different animal, and in my opinion is not well suited to routine back-ups, where you want the ability to retrieve a file or folder instead of restoring an entire drive. You should think about how easy it is to restore what you want to, instead of just making sure the file set is backed up.

One last consideration is, how do you want to handle files you delete? Do you want them removed from your backup, and if so, on what schedule (immediately or later)? This answer is really long, so I will leave it at that.

back some of them on CD and DVD but lock them up.use a combanation lock.because friends and family can still your keyes.put a code on your computer.to block people from using your computer.use yahoo book mark and yahoo VIP mail to save data buy sending data wb sites to your self in email to your VIP mail list.don not let friends put in MEMORY sticks in your computer.this will put in a virus or still data.nero / dell computer and yahoo have saved data web sites that you can use.but most of them cost money.look for the free ones.most DVDs last longer then CD's for ware and tare.sony is the best so far.i had problems with all of them on data piling off the dvd and cd and fading . but not sony so far.all ways keep computers off the floor.about 9 inches.this will stop mold or rust.try windows up date and ask an phone computer tech.they always have the best answers.

Get "always sync" A good little FREE utility that should do what you want:

http://www.allwaysync.com/download.html

I back mine up on flash-drives