The data on your personal computer can be very important to you, especially if you are like those of us who make a living using a PC. Over the last many years, the personal computer has become a part of all of us, making our working lives a great deal easier. For that very reason, it’s very clear that if we lost the files on our PC, it could completely destroy a majority of our personal identity. Losing files can be an overwhelming thought, at the very least. Although personal computers most of the time store your files reliably, such devices have been known to break down without notice. The three main ways to backup your data are DVD backups, complete hard drive backups and offsite backups.

Even though the computer has become a lot more reliable in the last few years, it is virtually impossible to prevent personal computers from losing files. You must not give up without a fight though, because you can indeed take control. The ideal method to guarantee that you don’t lose your valuable information is to back up and keep backing up. You ought to back up the files on your computer at least once a week, with a backup daily for new or changed information being the recommended way to go.

Previously, and even for some people today, the DVD disk is the usual method used to back up the files on your personal computer. Although they can keep a fairly limited amount of files, DVDs are easy to purchase, easy to utilize, and almost every personal computer has one. So decide which folders – usually ‘My Documents’ and maybe your folders for your Email, Music, Photos and downloaded software – then copy them directly to a data DVD or compress them to a zip file and burn that archive to the DVD. If you utilize DVD/RW disks, you can keep on adding data to them the next time you run a backup. If you do not use the RW (re-writable) media, then you won’t be able to come back at a later time and add more information to the DVD.

If you plan to make use of disks, you will need a DVD drive, which you can get for a low price these days. The disks are inexpensive also, which just makes this way of backing your files up so much better. Copying files directly to DVDs is the method of backup which most people are making use of nowadays, however, a preferred way of backing up your files is to copy the entire hard drive. Those of you who are looking to move up to the next level ought to look into backing up the whole hard drive. Backing up the entire hard disk is indeed one of the prime and most reliable techniques to backup your personal computer. When you create a backup of your entire hard drive, it will copy all of your files, so if something bad occurs you’ll be sure to have your files.

Doing a full backup of your whole hard drive is tremendous, although it can be very time consuming. To make matters worse, it is recommended that you make a complete backup at least weekly. On the other hand, however, if the information on your computer is vitally important, you will discover it is more than worth the effort and time required to back up your stuff. You will need an extra hard drive that’s at least as large as your primary hard drive.

The latest method you can back up your files and programs is to utilize offsite backups. Several companies offer offsite backup services, and you may learn about them at the link below. Just like using DVD disks, when you set up one of these offsite backup services you must specify which folders to backup, then you simply let the service make the first full backup of those folders which usually takes a few hours. From then on, it’s all automatic: the backup program checks for new and updated files, and transmits them to its offsite backup computers.

A significant factor to think about is whether your offsite backups preserve earlier versions of data. This is called “versioning.” This way, when you have to restore one or a few files that in some way got updated incorrectly, just go online – often you may use your web browser – and download a previous version to your personal computer. Using offsite backups means that you need not worry about someone stealing or destroying your backup media – DVDs or extra hard drive – together with your computer.

Whether it’s for business or for personal reasons, you cannot go wrong if you back up your files. You must always strive to back things up in the right way, including the registration keys for all software you bought, because this will ensure that your programs as well as your information will always be accessible when you need to restore them. You can most likely get copies of installation programs on the Internet or by asking your friends, but you’ll need your own registration keys to install those programs legally.

So if you accidentally delete some files, or your computer is stolen, lost, or destroyed in a fire or flood, or your hard disk happens to burn out and you lose all the data on it, you’ll be sure to have your backup files to go back to. This by itself should save you a lot of time, effort, worry, and very possibly even hard-earned cash – just for the fact that your files are all but a simple copy away to restore, either from DVDs, an extra hard drive or offsite backups.

Best regards,

Robert Hosken
“Dr. Bob the CompuNerd”

Dr. Robert Hosken, the author, has more than 30 years of professional work in software development. Starting in his teens he has established and headed a number of businesses and charitable entities. You can get his free e-Book “How To Maintain Your Computer” and learn the modern techniques to backup your valuable files at offsite backups or see his homepage at www.CompuNerds.Net or write him at Robert@CompuNerds.Net – thank you!

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