Backing Up Your Computer Hard Drive

Backing UpYour Computer Hard Drive Lou Koch June 27, 2006

Tonight’s Program • Introduction – Why? • Terminology – concepts • Methodology – software, media, etc • Tips and suggestions – organization, preparation, frequency, etc. • Demo

Why Backup? • Hardware Failure • Most serious … generally cannot easily recover anything from damaged hard disk • Viruses • Can target specific files or erase entire drive • Accidental deletion • Single or few files • Software Problem • Generally lose program but not files

Types of Backups • File or data backups • Backs up individual files • Typically you can back up personal files or key data onto a CD using a file backup • You can just highlight and copy the files to your backup media OR • Lots of software to do this which can automate and execute the backups • Typically does not back up OS or open files.

Types of Backups • System Restore • A restore point backs up key files (registry, drivers, etc) to allow your to restore your PC to previous configuration. • Typically this is done automatically by Windows when you install new software or drivers. • You can access System Restore to either restore your computer to a prior configuration or to manually create a restore point by • START  All Programs  Accessories  System Tools System Restore. • This is valuable protection but it consumes hard drive capacity – default is 6% of hard drive … you can adjust this. • My Computer View System Information (or properties)  system restore  select drive  settings

Types of Backups • Drive Image or Mirror Backup • Copies all files from PC to backup … including OS and boot sector files • Allows you to restore system to look exactly like it is at the time of the backup without installing files one at a time • INCREMENTAL and DIFFERENTIAL backups can be done after a full backup to reduce space and time • Incremental – all files since last incremental or full • Differential – all files since last full. • Restoring with incremental or differential backups requires multiple steps but will still provide full restore

What should you back up? • CRITICAL - Personal files or data • These are files and documents that you create or obtain from some outside source – documents, music, pictures, etc • For most people this is the most important category since it is the most personal • Use file backup utility

What should you back up? • Software/Programs • Typically you can reinstall software that becomes corrupted but it is time consuming • Also most software allows customization that will be lost if it is reinstalled • Software backup is less critical because it can be recreated

What should you back up? • Operating system • Generally WINDOWS • Includes your preferences and customization • What opens when you start up • What the desktop looks like …. etc • Hardware Drivers • Every user has different monitors, printers, modems, scanners, etc that have to be configured to your preference using these drivers • Boot sector files • Tells PC how to start up before Windows is loaded • This info is mostly contained in Restore Point.

Hardware • Large choice of media for backups • CD’s • Cheap and will hold most personal data • Almost all PCs come with burners • Burner software allows you some ease of use • DVD’s • More expensive but still not bad • Will allow you to store significant number of audio and image files • Many PCs have burners and software.

Hardware • Additional Media • Flash Drives • Easy to use • Can handle short term backups and file transfers • Internal Hard Drive • Can hold multiple image backups • Fairly expensive but prices are dropping • Susceptible to Power surge failure in PC • External Hard Drive • Similar to Internal Hard Drive but can be unplugged from PC/power and not be susceptible to power surges. • Easy to connect via USB port • OTHER • diskettes and tapes … obsolete? • On line … available … I prefer to physically control my media

Software • File Backup Utilities • Microsoft Backup Utility Included in Windows START  All Programs  Accessories  System Tools Backup …… use backup wizard • Note: during the presentation I learned that this backup utility is not automatically loaded when Windows is installed but it is included on the Windows disk. The following link explains how to load it … http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/learnmore/bott_03july14.mspx • CD R/W utility you can generally save a backup profile and use it often to save info. • Lots of commercial software (including free utilities) that help you configure and schedule file backup • Check freeware sites • Image Backups • Plenty to choose from • http://disk-imaging-software-review.toptenreviews.com/ • http://data-backup-software-review.toptenreviews.com/

Tips and Suggestions • Determine your backup needs • Not everyone needs Image backups • Back up just personal files if you are a casual user • You use computer for Email and internet • You have installed only a few Software programs • Do image backup if you use your PC for a lot of tasks • You have a lot of software installed • You create a lot of files • Organize your Hard Drive • Save ALL personal info to MY DOCUMENTS • Most Microsoft documents are saved here • Other Software may save to a different default location … change default to MY DOCUMENTS • You can create subfolders in MY DOCUMENTS to locate files. • Then back up MY DOCUMENTS frequently … weekly

Tips and Suggestions • Clean up before you backup • If your plan is to do a full backup or image then take a few minutes to delete junk • Run Disk Cleanup • START  All Programs  Accessories  System Tools Disk Cleanup … read description and follow suggestions • Clear any files that you don’t want • Run Image Backup about monthly … incremental backups weekly • If you are paranoid about losing data … run more frequently. Note: While it should not effect the backup this would also be a good time to check to see if your disk is fragmented … START  All Programs  Accessories  System Tools Disk Defragmenter …. Run Analyze

Acronis True Image • Demo

Backing Up Your Computer Hard Drive