My newest (basement) home computer doesn't have a 3.5 disc drive. I purchased a stand alone zip drive (for the sole purpose to transffer files from my original home computer (1st floor computer) onto the basement ONE. Also, the basement computer has ADDITIONAL available USB ports that I could install a "memory stick" (I think that's what you call it) into. I also have a CD burner and DVD burner on the basement computer. I would like to back up files on the basement computer in case the hard drive crashes.

Basement computer USES Windows XP.
I looked up the folder / file sizes in "properties" of the ONES I want to back up.
They are;
folder #1 size: 125mb size on disc: 131mb
folder #2 (my documents) size: 1.21GB size on disc 1.21GB
folder #3 size: 232mb size on disc: 233mb
folder #3 size: 5.76mb size on disc: 16.0mb

Is a Zip cartridge the most economical and fastest way to back up the above?
Can a "memory stick" work for the above and be economical & speedy?

I plan to back up the files every 2wweks or so. I thought burning a CD would be time consuming and EXPENSIVE over time. Your thoughts?

Also, keep it simple... I am far from profecient on computers!burn to one blank dvd if you can or a couple cds