Computer Data Backups
Our computers have become a necessary part of our lives. We use them for doing work, corresponding with friends and family and even for entertainment. Over time, most computer users create many file that are important documents which could cost both time and money if lost. Data backups are the best way to ensure you don’t lose any of those files.
Many people think of backups as something large companies or computer geeks do.
Or they might plan on doing it when the get the chance. Every one of those people has either already lost data due to some kind of problem with their system or they will one day. Every piece of computer equipment has a lifespan and is going to fail one day or another.
When that happens, you’ll be faced with one of two things. On one hand, you’ll have a backup of all your critical information and can restore it all back onto your repaired computer or a new replacement. On the other hand, you’ll lose the financial information, music, digital photos and all the other important files on your computer.
There are a number of things that can cause data loss. There’s the obvious hardware failures, where something in the computer breaks down but there are also things such as floods, fires or even your dog bumping the power off button at the wrong moment. You could also be the victim of a virus or spyware that wipes out all your files.
Often the only way you’ll get your data back is by having a backup copy. And even if a data recovery service can get it back for you, it can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars for them to do so.
What Should You Be Backing Up?
In most cases you don’t need to backup every single thing on your computer. It can take a lot of storage space, and take a long time to complete the backup. The critical files to backup are all the things you have created, such as word processing documents, digital photos and spreadsheets, and any software you can’t reinstall from the original CD or DVD.
But backups need not.
The easiest way to do backups is to use the backup software that comes with the operating system. Windows has a free, usable backup program while similar ones are available for Mac, Linux and others. The software is easy to use and backing up is a simple matter of selecting which folders to backup. It even has a scheduler so backups can be automated to occur at convenient times.
If you want something with more features, there are plenty of programs you can purchase. These paid versions often include additional features, such as the ability to backup only the files that have changed since the last backup was done.
Some types of data are a little more difficult to backup. Email is a good example. Some email programs don’t actually store the messages on your computer – they’re stored on the server instead. In these cases, you can usually export the messages into a file on your computer that can then be backed up.
Backups can be saved to almost any type of drive or media – writable CD’s, DVD’s, USB memory sticks or removable hard drives for example. If you’re really stuck you might even be able to backup your files to a floppy disk. Word processing documents and spreadsheets don’t take up very much space at all.
Running a daily backup may seem like one more thing to accomplish in your already busy day, but the first time you lose a file that you need and don’t have saved, you’re going to wish you made the time.
