Why should you backup
your computer? I think you know why. The real question is, why have not you
backed up your computer? Technology is great, but it is unstable. Important
information is lost in a glitch, and accidental click of "delete", or
when the whole thing just crashes. Viruses are also prolific and can wreak
havoc on your computer if you catch one. Creating disc and offsite backups is
crucial for your peace of mind and safety.
How Backups Save Your
Work
There are the obvious
things you lose when a hard drive crashes, including documents, photos, videos,
etc. What you may not have thought of are drivers, browsers and email. The
drivers are the software that communicate between your computer and peripherals
hooked up to it, like a printer or scanner. You do not want to have to dig
through manufacturer information to install those again.
Most computer users have
a web browser or two that they prefer, and they have customized it with
bookmarks and settings. A backup means you do not have to look for those
favorite websites again or redo all your favorite settings. And if you have
some important emails you do not want to lose, make sure to duplicate those as
well.
It is Easier Than You
Think
Disc or Flash Drive: If
you have a blank CD, DVD, or flash drive lying around you can get started by
picking and choosing specific files you want to copy. These will not
automatically update files when you change them though.
External Drive: An
external hard drive will backup your whole drive and, as long as the drive is
plugged in, the system will automatically update itself. Choose one that has
about twice as much memory as your computer so that there is plenty of space as
you continue to add more data. Attach the drive and a window should pop up that
gives you the option of creating a backup. On Windows you can search for
"Backup and Restore" from the start menu. With a Mac go to the
"Time Machine" through System Preferences. Then choose the
"Select Backup Disc" option.
Synchronization: Dropbox
and SugarSync are two free programs that automatically sync your files between
all your PCs. They even have some online storage (you can buy more) so that you
do not lose everything if your computer crashes.
Online Storage Services:
These services solve the problem of having your backup next to your computer
and thus susceptible to fire and theft. Backing up your whole computer can be
excruciatingly slow, but you can then access your data from anywhere. Google
Drive and iCloud offer some initial space for free, with additional space
available at a cost.
There are a few other
ways to back up your system and there are a plethora of software options. Get
started with the basics. Pick up one of your extra flash drives or install
Dropbox and start copying files over. Don't just make one backup. The more ways
you duplicate your files, the more likely you can access it when you need it.
Do not wait any longer. Just do it!
Your data is important
and you should do everything you can to secure it. In addition to the steps
above, if you are running a business it may be wise to hire an IT Company to
handle all of your IT needs and protect all of your business data.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Melissa_DeGuire
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8199554
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