| For many of us, our computer has become a critical | | | | amount of storage and can take a long time. The |
| part of our life. We use them for working, | | | | critical things to backup are all the files you have |
| entertainment and corresponding with people we | | | | created and any software that cannot be replaced. |
| know. Over the course of time, most people create | | | | Financial records, word processing documents, legal |
| a number of files that are important to them and | | | | files - the list goes on and on. |
| would cost time, money or both if they were lost. | | | | But backups needn't be. |
| Data backups are the most effective way to make | | | | The easiest system for backing up your data is to |
| sure you won't lose those important files. | | | | just use the software that's included with most |
| Don't make the mistake of believing that backups are | | | | modern operating systems. Windows, Mac OS X, and |
| only for computer geeks or large corporations, or a | | | | Linux all include quite capable backup software. You |
| task that can be performed 'when I get around to it'. | | | | just need to select the files and folders you want to |
| On the contrary, backups are a necessity for | | | | backup and get it started. Many of these programs |
| everyone. Even if your computer has been running | | | | will even let you schedule the backup to run at a |
| reliably for years, it will fail one day - either through | | | | time you won't be using your computer. |
| virus attack, user error or just age. | | | | If you want something with more features, there are |
| When that happens, you'll be faced with one of two | | | | plenty of programs you can purchase. These paid |
| things. On one hand, you'll have a backup of all your | | | | versions often include additional features, such as the |
| critical information and can restore it all back onto | | | | ability to backup only the files that have changed |
| your repaired computer or a new replacement. On | | | | since the last backup was done. |
| the other hand, you'll lose the financial information, | | | | Some data, such as e-mails are only slightly more |
| music, digital photos and all the other important files | | | | difficult to protect. Some e-mail clients can be |
| on your computer. | | | | configured to keep copies of received and sent |
| There are a number of things that can cause data | | | | e-mails on the e-mail server. When that's not an |
| loss. There's the obvious hardware failures, where | | | | option, most can export messages to a file, which |
| something in the computer breaks down but there | | | | can then be backed up. |
| are also things such as floods, fires or even your dog | | | | You can backup your information to almost any kind |
| bumping the power off button at the wrong | | | | of removable media - removable hard drives, writable |
| moment. You could also be the victim of a virus or | | | | CDs or DVDs or even the USB memory sticks that |
| spyware that wipes out all your files. | | | | are so common these days. In a pinch you may even |
| Having that data stored in a backup is often the only | | | | be able to fall back on the old floppy disk. Documents |
| way to get it back. And even if it can be recovered | | | | don't take a lot of space and often fit into a small |
| by a data recovery service, it can cost thousands of | | | | storage area. |
| dollars for them to do the work. | | | | Daily backups are one more thing to do in a busy |
| What to Backup? | | | | schedule. But the day you lose that file you need and |
| Most people don't actually have to backup every | | | | can't restore, you're going to be a whole lot busier. |
| single file on their computer. This can require a large | | | | |