, the better your chances will be of retaining your data in the event that your computer decides to suddenly go kaput. If you're going to back up your data manually instead of using an online service, make sure to do so every two to four weeks. Although backing up your data may seem like a chore, it's far less costly and complicated than delving into the world of data recovery. So if you currently don't have any type of backup system in place, you should purchase an external storage device or sign up for an online backup service as soon as you can.