How to Backup Your Computer Files

As I write this, it is early December, and that I may try, I do not remember what my new year resolution is that the last time around. One thing I can say with almost one hundred percent sure what it is, I can not save them. Perhaps it is the same. Maybe he decided to stop smoking, lose weight or to learn more. We all make promises with ourselves, then they failed to keep promises. Worst of all, promises that may be exactly what we need again. Consider this: When was the last time you supported files on your computer? Last month? Last year? Ever?

Let's make a new years resolution together, you and I. Let 's promise to back up our computers. It 'important, I promise. Just yesterday automatic backup feature in MS Word saved me about an hour job, when my computer froze up. Since I have not been supported by my computer almost a year, I can not even imagine how much data I will lose if I suffered from the increase of power or hard disk failure. This can happen in the best of us, and often does not. Even high end hard drive manufacturers report an average failure rate between five and eight per thousand each year. This may not sound like much, but face it, someone should look like five to eight people. Feeling lucky? There are about 185 million PC households in the United States, according to the almanac the computer industry, then that means about 150,000 hard drives is not every year. But even if the unit remains intact, one-tenth of all computers suffer minor data loss in the year. Increased power, the magnets in the home stereo speakers or even an accidental push can affect the data. According to reports from OnTrack data recovery service, data loss can be caused by natural disasters (3% of cases), computer virus (7%), problems with software (14%), and plain old user error (a large 32%). Now, I believe that you did not press the wrong button, but do not have a button on your computer to prevent themselves from lightning? I do not think so.

Given that our data is important and disaster can befall even the most noble and undeserving of us, both the Open and you make a back-up our computer files immediately.

Amen, brothers. Now, where and how do I start?

The first step: Choosing a Favorite

Not all the files necessary to maintain adequate grandchildren. The most important file on the computer is the operating system files. If you're a po 'of consumer goods, has purchased the operating system and required to reach the CD and secure from loss of data. If you do not, then do not forget to go stand in the corner later. Microsoft drones that have not been working for many years only to see you steal their work. And 'people like you who continue to buy Bill Gates for the second planet. Now that you are correct punishment, or to buy legal copies of the operating system, or include a file that is required "should be back to" list.

The same principle applies to software applications. You may buy an ad and spyware blocker you really want, but the company has dikodifikasikan that out of the company (perhaps because other consumers not as careful as you). If so, the files needed to run the application in the list of needs.

Is the time to view the files on your computer and priorities. If your digital Packrat like me, you can save everything. If so, congratulations. I do not have ten gigabytes of portable media in exile, so that when I back up my computer, I leave the concert a few MP3s and questionable Windows Media files at risk. One of the first things that you save is the folder that is used to store my writing task, because the data that reflect the money in the pocket. I will return e-mail address book, plus my digital photography and fiction writing efforts. I can not live without "Milkshake" (what was I thinking?), But the guitar piece my friend recorded and sent to me going on the list. Results may vary.

STEP TWO: In which I tell you where you can Put

The right, this is the part where I tell you where to store data. It is not a good idea to create a backup file to another disk on the same computer. Defeats the purpose. Duplicating a file on another computer in the LAN is almost same as those at risk, because the virus can spread quickly as the imaginary Anna Kournikova JPEG. You need a portable storage medium that can contain all the files you need a list. The options include floppy disks, portable disk drives, optical drives, tape drives and remote servers. We will see each in turn.

Hard disk, the old familiar 3.5 "squares, hold up to 1.44 megabytes of data. They are cheap, but 1.44 MB is less than ten percent of the two concerts at the hard data. Even if each file is less than 1.44 MB (and not each), I'm not fond of the idea, buy, labeling, and save fifty diskettes. Next idea, please.

Most computer experts rely on removable hard disk to back up the memory. The most popular of this unit is the Iomega Zip drive from the ORB and Castlewood. They are relatively inexpensive and resistant to two concerts of data. Basically, you store data on Zip disk, the disk from the disk to the portable. The catch is that not on removable media, often as a normal hard drive. They may also be more vulnerable to damage from rough handling and dust. A sub-option to keep using the hard drive as a removable drive. Up to two hundred concerts, conventional hard disk is larger than the removable media, and the price came down enough in the last few years to make this idea practical. All kinds of hard drive you decide to use, make sure to save them isolated from dust, magnetic charges, and static electricity.

Optical drives use a laser to store information, rather than a magnet. Even if you're not a tech junkie, that may be enough to provide clear information about what we are talking about: namely, CD and DVD. Less common are EO (erasable optical) and Worm (Write Once, Read Many) media; less common as the cost of more than $ 1000 for each unit. CD, on the other hand, cost less than one dollar and can accommodate up to 650 megabytes. DVD stores up to five concerts, and cost about fifteen dollars in the head. Most computers have at this time a CD or DVD (or both), but write times can be slow. My CD burner, for example, works best at 300 kilobytes per second, if the settlement. I will use the server of choice. A $ 250 and up, tape drives are more expensive and more slowly from the hard disk or optical media, consequently, less common, but also very powerful.

Remote servers are third party companies that store data on-line payment. This is a choice for broadband Internet users, especially people like me that not only data from the author. SkyDesk running Backup.com, Back-Up Solutions to keep BackUpHelp.com, Iomega and host iServer (Iomega.com / IStorage). XDrive.com, after a free service, now charges ten dollars per month for up to five concerts storage. Tariffs and other promotions, so better to buy before the selection of remote storage services.

STEP THREE: Git 'er Done

Now is the time to put the file you want to save on storage media you select. There are several ways to do so. You recorder, for example, can go with the software belong to the disk. This application may also include a backup option. If not, and are more familiar with the functionality of Windows software, then this is the way to go. If not, back-up is relatively easy on all MS operating system since Windows 98. Windows 98, Windows ME and Windows XP Professional includes a built-in reserve for use. To run it, click on Start, All Programs, then Accessories, then System Tools, then Backup. An easy way? If you are using XP Home Edition, you may need to add the value manually. If so, insert the Windows XP CD into the disk drive and wait for "Welcome to Microsoft Windows XP" screen. (You may need to double click the CD icon in My Computer). Then click Perform Additional Tasks and Browse this CD. In Windows Explorer, double-click the folder ValueAdd, then MSFT, and then Ntbackup. Double-click to install Ntbackup.msi utility. Once installed, you can run this program by clicking Start and Run, then type msbackup.exe (Windows 98 and Windows ME) or ntbackup.exe (Windows XP) in the Open field. Click OK, and you will be active to race.

Incidentally, the Backup utility in Windows XP also includes a bonus application called automatic recovery wizard. This makes bootable floppy disk to start the backup if the hard drive must be replaced. Other options for "disaster recovery" including Backup MyPC from Stomp (StompInc.com, $ 79), and Symantec Norton Ghost 9.0 (Norton.com, $ 69.95). Ghost actually allows users to copy the contents of your computer on the Internet. Both have a top recommendation from the famous magazine PC.