How To Backup Important Data.
Posted on September 9, 2008
Filed Under Submit a Tip & Trick, Vista Tips & Tricks, XP Tips & Tricks
| New to the World of Office, XP and Vista Tips & Tricks? |
Here are a few posts the other readers recommend you check out. |
|
This guest post was written by James Ricketts who writes on a number of subjects related to Windows registry tools and PC fixes.
How to Backup Important Data
Research conducted by a major software company has reported that 9 out of 10 computer owners do not make regular backups of their data. If you belong to the majority in this survey, you have come to the right place.
This article provides a methodical approach towards developing an efficient backup plan. It discusses four important decisions that will help you create a backup strategy and ensure that your important data remains safe from hard disk failures, computer freezes and natural disasters.
Decision # 1: What Data to Backup
There is a huge amount of information residing on the hard disk of your PC. The more frequently you use your PC, the more files you add to the system. The files stored in the hard disk include your operating system, software, applications, settings, as well as, personal and business data. This is the reason why, the first decision you should make in creating your backup strategy is to decide what data to backup. This is a very personal decision and creating a checklist helps. The rule of thumb is that any type of data that is difficult to replace should be on top of this checklist. Some of these include financial information, digital photos, projects, purchased software or music, Internet favorites and book marks, and Email addresses.
Decision # 2: Where to Store your Backup
The next decision of your backup strategy is to decide where to store your Backup data. The following are some of the most popular options that are available to you:
The most popular option is external storage devices, which are easy to use. These devices can store data in many different ways. Among them are external hard drives, which find popularity among both business owners as well as home users. These drives have the capacity to copy or clone your entire hard disk, without the bother of having to decide what to backup. Pen drives or memory sticks are used for backing up small but critical data as they are very easy to carry with you. CDs and DVDs are also a good choice for people who are constantly on the move.
Another backup solution that is more popular among business owners is remote online storage. This ensures that your data is stored on a remote server in a secured location. The main advantage for selecting this backup solution is protection in case of disasters or natural calamities.
Decision # 3: Which Method to Use to Backup Your Data
There are various types of utilities available for creating data backups. Windows Operating Systems come with some of these tools. NTBACKUP utility is shipped along with Windows XP (Professional), and is one such useful tool. Similarly, Windows Vista comes with either Complete PC Backup or Automatic Backup features, depending upon the edition purchased.
In addition to these utilities, third-party tools can also be used to backup the configuration settings of your system, files and folders. Under this category come reliable registry tools that can help you easily perform registry backups and registry restore, when required.
Lastly, many Online Service Providers are providing economical backup services that help you backup your data on a regular basis and store it at an offsite location.
Decision # 4: When and How Frequently to Back up Your Data
The decision of when and how many times you make data backups will depend upon the speed with which your data changes as well as its importance. For example, you may want to backup your important work projects and proposals on a daily basis. On the other hand you may backup your photos, music, etc. on a monthly basis.
We recommend that you take the benefit of a backup service that will assist you in scheduling a backup at regular intervals. You may also decide to have your own manual schedule for backups. The efficacy of this decision, however, will depend upon sticking to your backup schedule.
If you liked this article or you thought it was helpful then you would do us a real big favour by hitting one of the below icons. Thank you!! That’s really cool and we really appreciate your support.
Comments
2 Responses to “How To Backup Important Data.”
Leave a Reply
-
-
Custom Search -
-
-
Our Friends
Great post!
Mostly when people wanna make a back up, it’s already too late
(I speak from own experience)
At the moment I’ve been busy with making (data)back-ups of my laptop. I’ve got a -till now on- unknown problem.
Maybe one of the WO readers recognize this problem or know a solution?
The problem is that my Internet browser refuses to open a link, an extra tab or dropdown menu etc.
but, I still can scroll back- and forward and visit every arbitrary other site.
Also I can not open my configuration window because then must the system open a new window and that is what the system refuse.
tomorrow I gonna recover or formater my laptop.
I’m curious if some of the readers recognize this problem of know what the problem could be.
Thank you.
On the subject of file backup, sharing and storage …
Online backup is becoming common these days. It is estimated that 70-75% of all PC’s will be connected to online backup services with in the next decade.
Thousands of online backup companies exist, from one guy operating in his apartment to fortune 500 companies.
Choosing the best online backup company will be very confusing and difficult. One website I find very helpful in making a decision to pick an online backup company is:
http://www.BackupReview.info
This site lists more than 400 online backup companies in its directory and ranks the top 25 on a monthly basis.