Backing Up Files – Which Files to Backup and Which Files to Skip

Author: Celeste Stewart, Filetonic Tech Jock

The Importance of Backups The more you use your computer, the more you realize that its hard drive contains valuable data. You may have your familys entire history complete with photos, videos, genealogy research, and more stored on your hard drive. You may have all of your business records stored on it. You may have a 100,000 word manuscript on it. No matter what data is stored on your hard drive, if its important to you, it needs to be backed up. Why backup your data? The answer should be obvious. Computer crashes, fires, and theft are all compelling reasons to backup your files. While data recovery software is effective in many cases, it should be used as a last resort. Plus, data recovery software is useless if your entire computer has been stolen. What to Back Up Okay, so youre convinced. You must backup your computers hard drive. However, the thought of transferring hundreds of gigabytes of data is often overwhelming to computer users. The good news is that you do not necessarily need to backup the entire hard drive. Think about your computer for a moment. Its contents can be broken down into three primary categories: system files, program files, and data files. Worst case scenario: your computer is destroyed in a fire. Which files do you need the most? Data. Youll buy a new computer. Youll buy new software. But you cant necessarily buy your data! Priority number one is to backup the files that you value the most. What about if your system crashes? Shouldnt you backup your computers system files? Sure, you could. However, you likely already have a backup in the form of your computers recovery CD. In addition, if you have a relatively modern version of Windows, you can use the System Protection / System Restore utility to create snapshots of your system files. Dont bother backing up your program files for similar reasons. For example, if you have the programs CD, you can reinstall the program as needed. If the program was a download, create a document detailing all software youve downloaded, where you downloaded it, and any registration information associated with the purchase and backup that document. Should you need to later reinstall the downloaded program, refer to the document and contact the vendor for a replacement. Types of Backup Utilities Many backup options exist ranging from simple file transfers to USB flash drives, backup software, portable hard drives, and online backup systems. When considering a backup type, consider how you use your computer and which files are the most important to you. If you have a large amount of data to backup, a high capacity USB or portable hard drive might be the best choice. If the size of your data is more modest, say 2 gigabytes or so, you may qualify for a free online backup service such as Mozy or iDrive. If youre concerned about fire or theft, an online backup is the perfect choice because your data is in the cloud and accessible online. No matter what type of data you need to protect or which backup method you choose, regular backups are essential. Use a backup utility that features automatic, scheduled backups so that your latest versions are safely backed up.About the Author:

Celeste Stewart writes for Filetonic.com where you'll find a huge File Extension Library and loads of free computer advice. You can even write in and "Ask a Tech Jock" for specific answers to your computer questions.

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