How to Use Gmail for Data Storage

Gmail, Google's free web email service, offers each user 6700 MB of storage. This is far more storage space than any individual should need for even a heavily used account. Let's tap into some of that free storage space to back up valuable files, making them accessible from any computer with an Internet connection.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A gmail account

The email way

1. Make one or more labels. Decide how you want to identify one or more of the files you want to save on gmail and make some corresponding labels. For example, if you want to save some business documents, create a new label called "business docs" and save the label. Some other example labels might be "pictures", "tunes", "programs", etc.To create a label, click Settings and select Labels. Any current labels are listed. At the bottom of the page is the option to add new labels.

2. Make a filter. On the settings tab, select Filters any current filters are listed. Click create new filter and add a keyword to the subject line. You might want to use something really specific like "StoreDocuments", "StorePics" etc. so that other email coming into your account don't accidentally trigger the filter.

3. Click Next step. Check Apply Label and select the label you want to use. Click Create filter

4. Send the file you want to save to your gmail account. On your computer, find the file, or group of files you wan to save. You might want to zip them up, or compress them. They can always be unzipped when you need to retrieve them.

5. Right mouse click on the file and click send to > email recipient. This will generally open up your default email client. It works best if you use a different client than gmail otherwise your saved files appear in the sent folder in gmail as well, basically being saved twice.

6. Send the file to gmail as an attachment. In the subject line, use one of the keywords you used for your filters "StoreDocuments" for example. Send the email. When received, the label is automatically applied for easy retrieval in gmail.

The file transfer way

7. Get the gspace plug in for your Firefox browser. Gspace acts as an online disk drive you can use to store files. In the Firefox browser click Tools > Add ons > Extensions and search for gspace and download it.

8. Restart Firefox to activate the extension. Find the "G" icon in your browser toolbar and click to begin using the control. This opens up a typical file transfer window, with your system windows on the left and gmail storage space on the right.

9. Create new folders on the right in the gmail space just as you would when creating a different directory on your computer.

10. Select the files or folders on your system on the left and the folder where you want to move them on the right and click upload arrow. Files already sitting in the gmail space can be downloaded too.

11. Access these files from any web browser. Gspace applies a File label to all files uploaded for easy retrieval and file recovery.

Tips & Warnings

• You'll need Firefox to use the Gspace extension, but the email method works with any browser.
• When you create filter rules, don't choose delete as the final option or your files will disappear.

Who Can Help:

• eFax is the world’s #1 Internet fax service.  Send and receive faxes by email and kiss your fax machine goodbye. 30-Day Free Trial

[eeknothow]

on 7/8/2009 using gmail for file storage is a great way to have google disable- or delete your account