AOL Xdrive will close Janurary 12, 2009 – How to Backup Files

AOL sent out an email today warning users to backup all your storage from Xdrive. Xdrive will shut down on Janurary 12, 2009. This also affects Bluestring users as well since both websites use the Xdrive platform. We’ll help you along the way and run through some steps you can use to backup files. We’ll also add in some tips for other websites you can backup your files to.

Did You Know: By backing up all files from Xdrive…
You are also backing up pictures from AOL Pictures.

How to Backup Xdrive Files

• First log into Xdrive
• Click Download Your Entire Account

As you reach this step either you’ll see a link of a zip of all your files or not. It depends on if your zip is ready or not. If it is, download the file and you can extract all your files in a Zip File. Click here to learn how to open and extract a zip file. If your files are not ready yet, please keep reading on.

How to Generate A Zip Backup

If your files are not ready, go back to the previous page and click on Xdrive Classic, a new window will now pop up on the screen.

Click on the small tick box next to the word name, then click the green download arrow. It will take several minutes for the download box to appear, please be patient as Xdrive generates your zip file.

One it pops up, click save, or save file. Choose the location you want it to download in, like for example, Desktop. Don’t understand zip files? Click here to learn how to take files out of a zip file.

Where can I backup my Xdrive files online?

Well there are several places, we shall list some we deem appropriate for your Xdrive content. Each site has their own rules and limitations, you may not be able to get back the same amount of space you used up before. Below there will be a review for each site and you can decide whether you want to use it or not.

Box.net would be the first choice for Xdrive Users

• 1GB of Space (4GBs less than Xdrive)
• 25Mb File Size
• 10GB/Month

ADrive.com has as much storage as the premium version of Xdrive.
It has some of the features Xdrive has.

• 50GB of Space (Same as Xdrive Premium)
• 2GB File Size
• Unknown Bandwith

For Xdrive users who liked having a program to upload files, Dropbox has a similar experience where one can just drag and drop a file, and it will be uploaded into storage.

• 2GB of Space (3GBs less than Xdrive)
• 350MB File Size
• Unknown Bandwith