Backup Your Data

What methods are used for backing up data?

Tough question? Hard drives fail, computers get stolen, viruses destroy data and catastrophes can happen. Backing up your important data is an inexpensive form of insurance. Computers and applications can be replaced. Most data (documents, photographs, financial data, music, etc.) cannot be replaced. Maybe it could be re-created, but it would not be the same. Good backup procedures include the following:

1. Backup often. (How much new stuff can you afford to lose?)
2. Use automatic backup if possible. (Because we tend to forget.)
3. Store backups off site. (Chances are against a catastrophe from happening in two places.)
4. Use more than one method. (Sometimes backups fail.)

 What data needs to be backed up?

Most people need to back up the following:

1. “My Documents” folder for each user.
2. Financial data including Quicken (stored in “Program Files\Quickenw\backup) or QuickBooks (stored in Program Files\Intuit\Quickbooks\companyname.qbw).
3. Email unless using web-based email such as Yahoo, Hotmail, AOL or Gmail. Outlook Express is typically stored in “C:\Documents and Settings\user name\Local Settings\Identities” and Outlook is usually stored in “C:\Documents and Settings\user name\Local Settings\Microsoft\Outlook.”
4. Desktop for each user.
5. Favorites for each user.
6. Possibly “Shared documents” if that folder is used for data.

Some other programs may store data in their own folder or some other folder. Make sure you know where the data is stored or it won’t get backed up.

 What methods are available to use?

From the least to the most expensive, these are the best choices:

1. Backup to another computer on your home or business network. NTBackup is free and can be used to backup automatically.
2. Backup to online storage such as Xdrive.com or Inbox.com (5 GB of data is free and can be setup to backup automatically.)
3. Burn data to CD or DVD and store off site.
4. Flash memory stick. (2 are needed to keep one off-site.) NTBackup.exe is free and can be used to backup automatically.
5. External Hard drives (2 are needed to keep one off-site.) NTBackup.exe is free and can be used to backup automatically.
6. A tape drive can be purchased and tapes rotated off-site.

Occasionally test the backups to make sure they are working. You should use any combination of two of these as the best practice. Remember, backups can fail, too.

If you need any help with this or other computer issues, please feel free to call me.