Windows SkyDrive: Free 1GB online hard drive

One of the most frustrating things about upgrading to the newest Operating system is that you usually loose a lot of the files saved on your system because a) you can’t afford an external hard drive b) you are not sure about how to save the files or c) the new OS decides to delete the files any way, leaving you with an empty hard drive, and a broken heart. Well now there is a simple, and free way, to save all of your important files, up to 1GB that is, online.

As part of the new revamped Windows Live Windows Skydrive aims to allow you to have a virtual hard drive online without the hassle of fees or without any complicated features that may scare you away. So what is a virtual hard drive? Basically its a hard drive that you can save files to without them having to be on your computer. Its a convenient way to make sure that you don’t loose some of your most important files.

All you need for this service is a Windows Live account, you can use your Xbox Live account from your Xbox 360 or even your MSN user account, that includes a Live, MSN, or Hotmail account. Once you have signed up just point your browser to SkyDrive and choose between the folders you which to store your files, its broken up into music, documents, pictures, videos. You can even set up a public folder so anyone can download a  selected file from your virtual hard drive, this is great if you would like to pass around a project you have been working on. I find my self using this service mainly for school. At home I work on my iMac and when I am done instead of saving it on a unreliable floppy disk I can save it online and access it when I get to the school, easy as pie.

The Windows Live team has hit another home run this service and with the recent Windows Live Suite you can best believe that I will be praising their services for the a while.