As any experienced computer professional will tell you, you’ve got to back up your data. There are a a few different ways that you can back up your computer.
Choose a back-up program. For personal computers, there are many options. If you are using Microsoft Windows, there is a back-up program built in (Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Backup). You can also use third party back-up managers, ranging from small programs to full online backup services. If you use a flavor of Linux, there are many open source options available in repositories for all of the major distributions.
Do’s and Don’ts
- Do back up your system weekly. Most computers and virus software gives you the option to set this up.
- Do purchase an external hard drive and back up your data to it as an added precaution.
- Don’t use your computer while a back-up is in progress. If you change a file during the back-up operation, you won’t know which version was actually saved, or you could halt or corrupt the back-up. It will also slow your computer down.
- Don’t leave your back-up media in an environment that has a tendency to get wet or is not climate controlled. Computer equipment is fairly sensitive, and there is a chance you will lose your back-ups.
Backing up your computers is extremely important. We store our lives on our computers these days from pictures, to resumes and everything in between. My advice to everyone who owns a computer, back up as often as you can, in order to keep your important data.
If you need help backing up your system or choosing an external hard drive, we’re happy to be of service. Just give us a call.
